Every high school math student has, and some point or another, asked "Why do I have to learn this?!" And every math teacher for the last 20 years has replied "Because you won't always have a calculator handy."

It's true, you know. Yesterday, for example, I had to figure out a bear of a problem, and I didn't have a calculator handy. Well, actually I did, but I was too lazy to use it. Instead, I just posted the conundrum to rec.puzzles and, zam howdie, I got my answer in no time. Take that, Mr. Talrico!