A brief history of math

[.ghoti.]

The Politically Appropriate Evolution of Math Education

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Last week I got a burger at Burger King for $1.58. The counter girl took my $2 and 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 back two quarters, but she hailed the manager for help and while he tried to explain the transaction to her, she stood there and cried.

Why do I tell you this? Read on...

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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?

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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?

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Teaching Math in 1970:

A logger exchanges a set "L" of lumber for a set "M" of money.

The cardinality of set "M" is 100.

Each element is worth one dollar.

Make 100 dots representing the elements of the set "M."

The set "C", the cost of production, contains 20 fewer points than set "M."

Represent the set "C" as a subset of set "M".

Answer this question:

What is the cardinality of the set "P" of profits?

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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.

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Teaching Math in 1990:

By cutting down beautiful forest trees, the logger makes $20.

What do you think of this way of making a living?

Topic for class participation after answering the question:

How did the forest birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down the trees?

There are no wrong answers.

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Teaching Math in 2000:

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100.

His cost of production is $120.

How does Arthur Andersen determine that his profit margin is $60?

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Teaching Math in 2010:

El hachero vende un camion carga por $100 La cuesta de produccion es.....

[Jaheff]

Good one!

[SirSnookalot]

How does Arthur Andersen determine that his profit margin is $60?

If I'm not mistaken one of the reasons they are out of buisness is cooking the books.

Your Burger King episode clearly defines why the United States educational system is dismal.

[IDbasser]

That is pretty good.

[Muddy]

First off  

The shoe also fits this present generation they see no need to learn what does not interest them or they perceive they do not need. It's not like when we were in school and they made us appreciate a well rounded education, which was far more valuable than I would ever have imagined.

[Sam]

.ghoti.,

When McDonald's started putting pictures on the cash register's keys back in the 80's, the need to think about making exact change went down the drain.

So now all cash registers have the option of entering the amount of money tended and the machine will tell the individual how much change to return to the patron.

We will not get into the success of students in schools operated by Democrats vs school districts headed by Republicans as this is not a political forum.  

[moby bass]

First off  

The shoe also fits this present generation they see no need to learn what does not interest them or they perceive they do not need. It's not like when we were in school and they made us appreciate a well rounded education, which was far more valuable than I would ever have imagined.

I didn't know you ever met my son.

[Root beer]

How does Arthur Andersen determine that his profit margin is $60?

If I'm not mistaken one of the reasons they are out of buisness is cooking the books.

That only reason why they are out of business. Enron called it "Hypothetical Accounting".

For instance if you made 100 grands they wrote down 50 grands. If they sold 40 dollar worth of crap they wrote down 100.00

HAHAHAHAHA  

[roadwarrior]

Corporate math simplified:

1st quarter: One for you; one for you; one for them and two for me.

2nd quarter: One for you; one for you; one for them and three for me.

3rd quarter: One for you; one for you; none for them and four for me.

4th quarter: Now it's bonus time...All for ME!

:

[Muddy]

I buy this for the "office" I can put it on the asset list, then I also put it on the liability list as a business  expense . Then I add the depreciation eventually I get to claim it for more than it was ever worth. I think I am getting this.

[hjerk24]

There are lots of opportunities in Education today should you want to step into the halls of today's schools. Just an observation.

[guitarkid]

Today's math: If a logger cuts down $100 dollars' worth of trees, makes a twenty dollar profit, How much bail-out money should he get?

Explain your answer in complete statistical analysis including a circle graph, ogive and time chart to show your answer.

               -gk

[Long Mike]

Today's "What Have You Been Smoking Math."  If a logger cuts down a tree and harvests the bud, what is the black-market price per ounce?  

[Fish Man]

First off

The shoe also fits this present generation they see no need to learn what does not interest them or they perceive they do not need. It's not like when we were in school and they made us appreciate a well rounded education, which was far more valuable than I would ever have imagined.

You never cease to amaze me with your constant generalizations of today's youth.

[Hawghead]

........ or we as parents could get involved in our children's education.  Kinda silly for parents to never open their children's books or review their homework and then complain about the education they received after it's too late.

The original post is comical, but completely inaccurate.  I teach high school science.  Today's kids are no better or worse than when I was growing up in the 80's and early 90's.  Lots and Lots of teachers today are the same ones from a long time ago.  From my view the biggest issue is parenting.

I see it with my nieces and and nephews and students in my class.  A couple of conversations with the parents usually explains the issues in the classroom.  

When someone starts a sentence or conversation with a statement similar to "the problem with today's kids is......" it just means they are old.  ;D

[fourbizz]

........ or we as parents could get involved in our children's education. Kinda silly for parents to never open their children's books or review their homework and then complain about the education they received after it's too late.

The original post is comical, but completely inaccurate. I teach high school science. Today's kids are no better or worse than when I was growing up in the 80's and early 90's. Lots and Lots of teachers today are the same ones from a long time ago. From my view the biggest issue is parenting.

I see it with my nieces and and nephews and students in my class. A couple of conversations with the parents usually explains the issues in the classroom.

When someone starts a sentence or conversation with a statement similar to "the problem with today's kids is......" it just means they are old. ;D

[Pond-Pro]

Ha ha that was good ghoti; I can identify with the 1970s version of math. . . what a joke.

When someone starts a sentence or conversation with a statement similar to "the problem with today's kids is......" it just means they are old.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Street Math

You buy a tree from a guy your friend knows. The tree cost you $400

You cut the tree into 200 pieces that you sell for $5 each

How many trees do you have to sell to get $2500 rims for your 1997 corolla??

[Dan:]

........ or we as parents could get involved in our children's education. Kinda silly for parents to never open their children's books or review their homework and then complain about the education they received after it's too late.

The original post is comical, but completely inaccurate. I teach high school science. Today's kids are no better or worse than when I was growing up in the 80's and early 90's. Lots and Lots of teachers today are the same ones from a long time ago. From my view the biggest issue is parenting.

I see it with my nieces and and nephews and students in my class. A couple of conversations with the parents usually explains the issues in the classroom.

When someone starts a sentence or conversation with a statement similar to "the problem with today's kids is......" it just means they are old. ;D

4 reelz

[guitarkid]

Update of LBH's Street Math

You buy a "tree" from a guy on the corner. The "tree" cost you $400

You put the "tree" in 200 bags "parts" that you sell for $5 each

How many ounces "trees" do you have to sell to get $2500 rims for your P.O.S car?

                  -gk

[.ghoti.]

There are lots of opportunities in Education today should you want to step into the halls of today's schools. Just an observation.

I have. I'm a professor at a community college. I took a substantial pay cut for the privilege. And I deal daily with students with no math skills.

I'm not in the math department. I teach Engineering Technology, and, as you can imagine, there is a bit of math in my curriculum. I find myself teaching algebra, geometry and trig to students who should already have those competencies.

[hjerk24]

I applaud you fellow educator.  I have dealt with kids that have no clue how to do math, simple stuff...without a calculator.  Give a problem, and you see 5 different ways they are doing it.  I teach health, and we do a lot of calculations, etc...and it a frustrating thing to see.  I especially like how they call a dice a "number cube"...paaaaleese!!!!!  I do understand the point of your thread.  Enjoy your career!  I enjoy the kids, it's the other stuff that can drain you.

Peace.

[bilgerat]

As a kid growing up in the Seventies, I can relate. I had trouble learning the "new math" as they called it. Thank God for my dad. I remember him looking through my math books and saying "What a load of crap this is", then he would show me how to figure the problems out his way, which most of the time was easier and a lot less steps involved.

The kicker was when I would go into school and do the math his way and get the correct answer, but still get a load of crap from the teacher because I wasn't using their method. That only happened a few times until he paid a visit to the school. I don't how the conversation went, but whatever he said worked

Now I'm a dad and it's the same thing all over with my youngest daughter (My oldest daughter is a math whiz). I work with my young one on her math every night and I can't believe the steps they make them go through to do simple arithmetic. At least when when my wife and I go to parent night at the school and discuss this with her teachers, generally they don't care HOW she gets the correct answer, as long as she gets it.

Who comes up with this curriculum ?

[hjerk24]

That's the Other Stuff...I was referring to.  We learned it a certain way...and we turned out (other than our fishing obsessions, etc...) somewhat OK.  Right?????   Teachers can actually be reprimanded if the teach certain concepts a certain way...outside of the NEW Math curriculums.  I am glad that i do not teach Math....I stunk at it, but LIFE is better in the GYM.  Please, no Mr. Woodcock comments...please!?!

;D

[atx_newbie]

As a kid growing up in the Seventies, I can relate. I had trouble learning the "new math" as they called it. Thank God for my dad. I remember him looking through my math books and saying "What a load of crap this is", then he would show me how to figure the problems out his way, which most of the time was easier and a lot less steps involved.

The kicker was when I would go into school and do the math his way and get the correct answer, but still get a load of crap from the teacher because I wasn't using their method. That only happened a few times until he paid a visit to the school. I don't how the conversation went, but whatever he said worked

Now I'm a dad and it's the same thing all over with my youngest daughter (My oldest daughter is a math whiz). I work with my young one on her math every night and I can't believe the steps they make them go through to do simple arithmetic. At least when when my wife and I go to parent night at the school and discuss this with her teachers, generally they don't care HOW she gets the correct answer, as long as she gets it.

Who comes up with this curriculum ?

I would argue that making kids do all those steps is beneficial to their math skills. When I was in middle school, just beginning algebra, I was having a terrible time with it. My mom was confused by this, because I have always been a very bright kid. So she watched me do some problems, and come to find out, I was being lazy and skipping steps (things that our teacher advocated). Mom forced me to do the problems in a longer form, writing down every step.  Sure it may take me 30 seconds longer and I'll use a lot more paper, but I haven't missed many math problems since.  Perfect 36 on the math section of the ACT.

In life, there are plenty of things that you can take the short way on, but math problems are not one of them.

Alas, it's been a few years since I took a math class, and now I'm as bound to my calculator as the next person.