Evolution of Teaching Math

[beezyshaw 0]

Last week I purchased a burger and fries at McDonalds for $3.58.

The counter girl took my $4.00 and 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 2006

Un ranchero vende una carretera de maderapara $100. El cuesto de la
produccion era $80. Cuantos tortillas se puede comprar?

[Royd 0]

How true!

[KellyF 16]

I bought a smoothie a while back for something like $4.52. I gave the girl a 5 spot and 52 cents. She missed one of the pennies and gave me back 99 cents in change So much for thinning out my wallet! She didn't even bother to ask if I had an extra penny........

VSE on Facebook

[Squeak 17]

Quote

How true!

Not in my class it's not

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[LisaM 0]

The latest thing that has me confused is checking their work by "casting out 9s" whatever in the hell that means!

~ Lisa
~ Do you Rigminder?

[Airman1270 0]

!

A few years back I just about ruined a teenage clerk's life at McDonald's. They offered two sizes of shakes: "medium" and "large." I asked why they didn't just call the smaller size "small." He looked at me very uncomfortably, as I had just done more to challenge his intellect than had the previous two years of public school. He replied "...uh, it's medium."

I pressed the issue, noting that the word "medium," by definition, implies a midpoint, and that, when offering a choice of two sizes, it would make infinite more sense to describe them, accurately, as "small" and "large."

After summoning the full breadth of his brain power, he responded by reminding me that the size in question was indeed "medium." No further analysis was necessary.

As his life unfolds, this guy will, no doubt, have very little trouble being selected for juries.

We're screwed.

Cheers,
Jon S.

[billvon 3,120]

>They offered two sizes of shakes: "medium" and "large." I
>asked why they didn't just call the smaller size "small."

Somebody asked me that once when I was working at a snack bar during high school. The conversation went something like this:

"Why isn't there a small soda listed?"

"These are the sizes - medium and large. (showing him the cups.) We don't have any small cups."

"Why don't you call the medium one small?"

"Because then people would ask for medium. Around here people's two favorite sizes are medium and large."

"That's fucking stupid. You should call it a small. It's the small one."

"OK. I don't care what you call it. Do you want one?"

"Yeah, give me a medium."

I thought it was funny.