WolfishMusings-
I definitely did not mean to make a confrontation or be disrespectful, you just have understand that in high school I always had a calculator on me (besides for Shabbos and if I was wearing pajamas that didn’t have pockets). I routinely whipped it out during class (both Limudei Kodesh and Limudeo Chol) with out thinking. The Rebbe got defensive because he knew that he made it up on the spot.
Had I been a person that normally did not take a calculator everywhere I would not have brought one just to put him on the spot.