To put this in perspective, think about long division. Raise your hand if you can do long division on paper, right now. Hands? Anyone? I didn't think so.

I went back and looked at the long-division algorithm they teach in grade school, and damn if it isn't annoyingly complicated. It's deterministic, sure, but you never have to do it by hand, because it's easier to find a calculator, even if you're stuck on a desert island without electricity. You'll still have a calculator in your watch, or your dental filling, or something. Why do they even teach it to you? Why do we feel vaguely guilty if we can't remember how to do it?

Update: You know, I posted this link because I thought he had some interesting comments on math education and on how it relates to programming, and you all took it and turned it into some kind of dick-waving referendum on "well of course I do long division every day!" Good for you. Thank you for sharing. Thank you for like, not getting bogged down in the minutiae or anything.

I hate each and every one of you. STFU.