Good point. There are algorithms for manipulating Roman numerals that used to be taught, but that no longer are. And really, little is lost.
People used to practice at long algebraic exercises (e.g., trig manipulations, or tricky integrals) that are no longer considered worthwhile. Just give it to Mathematica. It's like medium-sized linear systems -- sure, you could solve it manually, but nobody does, or even remembers all the shortcuts and tricks that used to be so important.
Comments
Good point. There are algorithms for manipulating Roman numerals that used to be taught, but that no longer are. And really, little is lost.
People used to practice at long algebraic exercises (e.g., trig manipulations, or tricky integrals) that are no longer considered worthwhile. Just give it to Mathematica. It's like medium-sized linear systems -- sure, you could solve it manually, but nobody does, or even remembers all the shortcuts and tricks that used to be so important.
A brief and vivid essay on this is "Forget it" by the late Isaac Asimov: http://readanybooks.net/ScienceFiction/Asimov37/27283.html