2005 Math

Reply to: [email protected]

Date: 2005-08-10, 9:22PM

Math for 2005

Last week I purchased a burger at Burger King for $3.58. The counter girl took my $4.00 and I was digging for my change when I pulled 8 cents from my pocket and gave it to her. She stood there, holding the nickel and 3 pennies, while looking at the screen on her register I sensed her

discomfort and tried to tell her to just give me two quarters, but she hailed the manager for help. While he tried to explain the transaction to her, she stood there and cried.

Why do I tell you this?

Because of the evolution in teaching math since the 1950s:

Teaching Math In 1950

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price. What is his profit?

Teaching Math In 1960

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price, or $80. What is his profit?

Teaching Math In 1970

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80. Did he make a profit?

Teaching Math In 1980

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80 and his profit is $20 Your assignment: Underline the number 20.

Teaching Math In 1990

A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals or the preservation of our woodlands. He does this so he can make a profit of $20. What do you think of this way of making a living? Topic for class participation after answering the question: How did the birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down their homes? (There are no wrong answers.)

Teaching Math In 2005

Un hachero vende una carretada de madera para $100. El costo de la produccisn es $80. Cuantes tortillas se puede comprar?

Finally, an explanation of why I have no problem with Medicine or Law, but I cannot balance my checkbook!

Heather

LOL!

that was funny.

Actually, I think math is being taught in a more stringent manner today. My son is taking full-blown algebra in the 7th grade. When I was in school, it was the standard to take it in the 9th grade (however, my son is considered advanced).

However... even though this story is probably contrived, I do that all the time (pull out pennies and nickels and dimes to make exact change), and have seen many blank stares as the teenager at the register looks at what he/she is "supposed" to be giving me since they jumped ahead and finished ringing up before they saw my change.

Not sure how contrived it is, most likely the crying part, maybe the manager part, but it happens to me all the time with change.

It also happens with dollars to, if it's $10.75 and I give them $21.00 they have that deer-in-the-headlights look and don't even enter the $21 tendered to see what the change is, they usually give me the dollar back and then enter $20 as tendered....and yes, after they do that I give them the $5, the 4 singles and the $1 they gave me and ask them for a $10.

I can do the addition, subtraction, multiplication and division without even thinking about it. I can do simple algebra with a little thought.

My son knows more about math after 10th grade than I learned in my whole HS career. And he's better at it.

However... this post was humorous, which I believe was the intention. :^)

I always count my change to be sure its right. Many times the clerk has given me back too much. When I say something about too much change and try to return it, the younger clerks just stop and stare at me. Older clerks say "thank you" and put the money back in the till.

How many fingers did she have? She may have lost a few digits in a fishing accident and was a little "short-handed" when it came to counting change. She was so embarassed she broke into tears. You're an awful human being.

MACS -

Funny you should mention that. I am highly educated, great with numbers, do a lot of financial analysis at work, yet my 11 going on 12 year old son brings home math homework that I find challenging and at times I get wrong. I guess it depends where you live.

Sometimes its not that you're wrong, but the school math book is wrong. This happened to me two years ago. Seventh grade teacher marked the problem wrong and I wrote her a note about it. Turns out that the textbook was incorrect. The teacher appologized.

A - in match, C - in spelling... Apologized only has one P in it.

Sorry bro, it presented itself and I just HAD to do it.

MACS(SW)

that's math, short for mathematics, not match, short for matchematics.

sorry bro, it presented itself and i just had to do it.

first of all making change is arithmatic not mathematics.

arithmatic, adding subtracting, multiplying and dividing are the 4 parts of arithmatic.

algebra and calculus are part of mathematic.

i discovered the schools were not teaching arithmatic, when ross was in the second or third grade and i found out he did not have the multiplication tables memorized. that would have been late 60's or early 70's. that summer he and bradley, in kindergarden learned the multiplication tables from me.

most people do not need math. but all people need arithmatic.

Inner city kids are great at multiplying...

tailgater

and this administration is good at dividing.

it's not us, it's them, or them, or maybe them.

I dunno man.............

Math was a lot harder for me than was generalized above. I have a very good math background; in fact, I "cheated" on my placement test when I was accepted to college by taking sections of test that required high-school pre-requisite courses that I had not taken.........and passed well, therfore skipping some introductory classes.

I think that maybe the reason why some kids can't do math is because they are just dumb that way...period.

andytv

given the right teacher, anyone can learn arithmatic and math.

the teacher needs to relate what is being taught to how it will help in life.

it's all in the teaching.