[Fischer]

Second year orgo chem, i get a %99.5 on the midterm because I added 3-19 as -22...

This was my final midterm... What do you guys think... Is this math or orgo???

[Archer]

Second year orgo chem, i get a %99.5 on the midterm because I added 3-19 as -22...

This is a simple error but an error nonetheless, do you think you should have been awarded a mark for this?

[Borek]

Is this math or orgo???

Neither.

[spirochete]

You lost half a point. Who cares.

I once lost full credit for a question because I reported my answer as 10^2-12.

My professor claimed that he thought I was saying 12 raised to the power of between 2 and 12. The answer was 10^-10!! We had kind of a antagonistic relationship, me and that one. I was partially at fault but man my grade in that class really suffered.

[curiouscat]

I once lost full credit for a question because I reported my answer as 10^2-12.

Were you lazy enough not to do that subtraction? 

[curiouscat]

Second year orgo chem, i get a %99.5 on the midterm because I added 3-19 as -22...

This was my final midterm... What do you guys think... Is this math or orgo???

Say it's orgo. Say it's neither.

So what? I find the notion bizarre that an exam is limited to testing you on one narrow taxonomic category.

[AlphaScent]

I once committed all of my starting material (12 g) to a step in a scheme I have never done before and got 750 mg after running a column.

Is that orgo or me being and ass?

[discodermolide]

Neither, that's s#*$ happening.

[Fischer]

What I'm trying to say is the fact that the final answer being a calculation mistake should not dictate my understanding of the material.

[curiouscat]

What I'm trying to say is the fact that the final answer being a calculation mistake should not dictate my understanding of the material.

Say you make a calculation error that dumps 20 kg of catalyst into a process instead of 2 kg. What matters is the resultant explosion and whether your understanding was OK is little consolation.

Problem solving is a package not compartmentalized subjects. 0.5% of grade lost seems a light penalty.

[Archer]

What I'm trying to say is the fact that the final answer being a calculation mistake should not dictate my understanding of the material.

It does not "dictate" your understanding, it demonstrates that you haven't taken the time to check your calculations in something as important as a Midterm.

I sympathise with you but as a former academic I don't see why you should be awarded a mark for getting something wrong.