How's your math?

C

C-Hawk

New member
Last week I purchased a burger at Burger King for $1.58. The counter
girl took my $2 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
producción es $80 ...
 
Now that's funny. Pretty inaccurate, though. Tiffany's 4th grade math assignments made me think a little more than I wanted to admit, and she didn't even bother asking for help on her 5th grade work - I took too long.

I used to be pretty good at some of the basic stuff, but calculators, computers and conversion charts just make it too easy. Probably the biggest cause of my lack of practice is CAD software that does all the geometry for you.

However - one of the lessons that old guy, Slim, drilled into me was how to count change for the customers. I still to this day do the counting in my head when someone is making change for me or someone ahead of me in line, and it drives me nuts when they use an improper method.
 
Mike-
I agree with the counting back of change. I always started with the sale total and counted up to the amount given. Now days they don't know anything but what the register tells them to give back. If they are working out of a cash box, they have to use a calculator to subtract sale from amount given.
I've even asked them to count it back to me some times--- ha!
 
Roger,
We owned our own business for years. That was also the way I was taught. Count from what they owe to what they gave. Simple for anyone to understand. It also keeps people honest.
Dave
 
History is one's interpretation of the facts of past, interpreted by the teller, therefore a version of the truth.

Our history books for school have tried to become more "objective" in their attempt to teach "critical thinking", and less emphasis has been placed on traditional pedagogy with its indoctrination of our youth into American patriotism and its view of history.

Whether this more "objective", "mature" approach is appropriate for school age folks, or whether it simply promotes more confusion and apathy, is open to debate, even among the history teachers themselves, as well as educators and the public in general.

It may well be that it is age appropriate for some honors high school students, but below that our traditional approach yields better citizens with a much greater commitment to our common cause.

Being a science teacher, however, I claim no expertise in this area, and can see that this discussion could be headed into politically and philosophically stormy seas.

I think I'll switch threads to something more concrete and understandable, like propeller design and application. Pitch, cup, or rake, anyone? Joe.
 
Well, actually, I have been waiting for someone to take a crack at my question in my last post in the thread on the right prop for the Honda 150...


Sea Wolf":3iklulua said:
I think I'll switch threads to something more concrete and understandable, like propeller design and application. Pitch, cup, or rake, anyone? Joe.
Click to expand...
 
Nicely said, Sea Wolf.

As a career high school and college teacher, having just retired after 30 years, I have been waiting to post a reply. Although I'm sure that the first post was an innocent attempt at humor, it seems to assume that every subsequent generation is dumber and less responsible than previous ones.

"I'm appalled at the younger generation. They're lazy, ignorant and have no respect for their elders. What will happen to the future?" Paraphrase of Socrates.

It's easy to take a shot at the education establishment and every time I hear some of these generalities bandied about, it seems that those spouting them haven't been in a school for decades, but state "I've heard that...".

In addition, what is taught in schools is dictated by state government and there is always less time each year for the "essentials" because the Graded Course of Study is filled with new requirements needed to satisfy even more "Standardized Testing" of questionable value. Much of this has been created by the misguided No Child Left Behind Act.

I've often wondered what the results would be if the mandated tests given to students in school today were given to the general populace. It wouldn't be pretty.

I'm with you Sea Wolf. I'm going back to another thread, but my pride in my profession dictated this response.

Valkyrie
 
Valkyrie":pprd4z9o said:
Nicely said, Sea Wolf.

As a career high school and college teacher, having just retired after 30 years, I have been waiting to post a reply. Although I'm sure that the first post was an innocent attempt at humor, it seems to assume that every subsequent generation is dumber and less responsible than previous ones.

Valkyrie
Click to expand...


Yes indeed, a bit of humor. But when we see the State mandating that the teachers teach in spanish instead of english because of the kids that come from spanish speaking homes, it makes you wonder. Thankfully, there are still some teachers that believe in "full emersion english".
But, then again, I am talking about California- the northern most state of Mexico. :wink:
Guess you have to be from California to see the humor :roll:
 
Valkyrie":abvt82lo said:
seems to assume that every subsequent generation is dumber and less responsible than previous ones.

I've often wondered what the results would be if the mandated tests given to students in school today were given to the general populace. It wouldn't be pretty.

Valkyrie
Click to expand...

It's probably more accurate to say "In spite of educator efforts, there are more dumb and less responsible individuals in each subsequent generation." Hey, that's a function of increasing population, not poorer educators.

It's also a true statement that "If you don't use it, you lose it" in regard to a test of the general population, and yes, I also agree it wouldn't be pretty.

Spouse often hired entry level receptionists in her office. A truly simple math test resulted in some very embarrassed high school graduate applicants. The same test given to a Jr College class by a teacher friend resulted in over 90% aceing the test. I don't see the applicant failure as a failure of education; I see it as a failure to maintain skills. Not necessarily something only the young can be blamed for.

Twenty years ago I had probably 30 or more phone numbers memorized. Today, due to technology, I have to stop and think to remember my own damn cell phone number!

But I still know not to drive a Dodge... :moon

Don
 
dogon dory":3vohjxod said:
OK I got the history lesson. So what is truth really?
Click to expand...

The truth is that times are 'a changing and us coprolytic mariners need to sit back and enjoy the ride.

I know every CD owner has a chart and a compass of some sort, and could - if pressed - navigate home from wherever he or she lost high tech nav info, given time and motivation. Ingenuity is part and parcel of C-Dory ownership, and it ain't rocket science, given the average C-Dory rarely ventures more than 50 miles from land. Worse case, yell for help and get "should on" for not carrying one. Who really cares - they got home safely, which is the point of the exercise.

The Navy hasn't requires it's Radiomen learn Morse Code in over 30 years now and seems to be surviving nicely.

I don't own a horse as a backup for my car either, but my grandpa did.

Don
 
Sneaks":2sk1o7zl said:
Worse case, yell for help
Don
Click to expand...


"Just whistle if you need help"---- oh, ok- you would have had to be on the Catalina Cruise a couple years ago to know what that means.

Since I'm such a nice guy, I won't name names, but- one of our finest likes to be safe (nothing wrong there) and he always wears his life jacket with a whistle attached (oh, ok- so nothing wrong there either) but on the trip over he had to make a potty stop :oops: , when it seemed to be taking an extra long time, someone radioed if he was ok--- he radioed back that his whistle got stuck in the porta-pot and he was retrieving it :shock:
 
Sneaks":9kn8lifu said:
coprolytic

I don't own a horse as a backup for my car either, but my grandpa did.
Don
Click to expand...

I don't own a horse now either, but I do own a burro (slower and surer, like a C-Dory)..........the burro (aka Amos, even leaves a trail of "copro" when ambling down the trail. :roll:

P.S. Thanks for adding to my vocabulary list. :crook
 
DaveS":1yn00d4c said:
I don't own a horse now either, but I do own a burro (slower and surer, like a C-Dory)..........the burro (aka Amos, even leaves a trail of "copro" when ambling down the trail. :roll:

P.S. Thanks for adding to my vocabulary list. :crook
Click to expand...

LOL! Since my good friend is an old retired marine, I often refer to him as a coprolytic marine; A marine fossil. That Coprolite is fossilized excrement only makes it more appropriate. Marines are known to be full of bull, as are retired sailors like me, so if the term offended you, my apologies. It just meant that Dan and I were a little more than just a couple of old farts with a lot of sea time....

Amazingly inappropriate trivia: If one pours hot water on 3 million year old coprolite, the odor is still easily detectable.


Don
 
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