Re:Think Differently
by nostrademons on Wednesday December 31, 2008 @04:25PM
(#415907)
I had a similar experience when taking functions of a complex variable, where a midterm problem asked you to show that a solution existed and several students (not me, alas) found a non-constructive proof that worked without actually finding a solution. Unlike in your case, though, the professor gave all of them full credit.
I had good math professors. Too bad I wasn't a good math student.
it wasn't worth the effort of formally appealing the grade
If the question actually asked to demonstrate that a solution existed, any professor worth her salt will give you credit for doing that if you point it out to her. It's quite possible you weren't given full marks because your exam was one of hundreds that needed to be graded that week.
I gave a very elegant non-constructive proof which showed that a solution existed without giving any hint of what the solution was -- but the instructor expected students to provide a solution. I ended up deciding that it wasn't worth the effort of formally appealing the grade, but I still think that I should have gotten the marks -- it wasn't my fault that the exam didn't ask the question the instructor intended to ask.