You know how to [add/subtract/multiply/divide/exponent/root], but do you know how to do that to a number with THREE digits? Good, now do that 30 times tonight at home or we penalize you is the epitome of busy work - beyond walking students how to break down the problem into the manageable steps they already know how to do, all this serves is to pad out the semester and breed a resentment of math in young people.