As a high school math tutor for one of the large national test prep companies, I can say with complete certainty that even when the "box" is replaced with a variable name, students still do this. I find that it's not so much that they don't grasp that the = symbol means equality as much as that they don't realize what equality means.

If I give a problem like:

f(x) = 2x + 7
g(x) = sqrt( f(x) )*5

Many students can solve this problem; a good portion of them just understand "oh, I do a substitution" - they don't understand fully that the equality of a variable with some expression is WHY their answer is correct. Similarly, something like: 3/15 = x/225 Most students get thsi right; "oh, I just cross-multiply" - but they don't understand WHY cross-multiplication is the correct thing to do. Teachers need to start teaching real math in addition to problem solving methods and heuristics.

They explain that Faraday had a severe memory problem (probably due to stuffing all that science in his skull) - hence the excessive notebook use.

But when will they finally add Saibot?

I, for one, welcome our new corporate overlords... In soviet Russia, Pirate Bay buys you!... I pay for my music, games and video, you insensitive CLOD!... All your Bay are belong to us... And on a separate note, the "Cowboy Neal" option is missing! Come on guys, you're dropping the ball!

... welcome our new corporate overlords

I hope you're ready to open a Slashdot rehabilitation clinic in Korea...