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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,045
Hard-core CEG\'er
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OP
Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,045 |
i received this email today and it rang true. this is exactly what is wrong with the math skills of students today. i understand of course that not all students have this problem but far too many do. i have even had to fire high schoolers who could not do simple things like add 7 and 3 and subtract that from 20. no joke.
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 h! achero vende una carretada de madera para $100. El costo de la producci�³n es $80
00 black/tan svt, #2052 of 2150, born 2/1/00
formerly known as my csvt
"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than a sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." -Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,211
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,211 |
It�s the student�s choice. I chose to take AP calculus BC in high school. Other kids who didn't give a crap took financial math or even stopped math all together after geometry... But hey...I'm an engineering major...I think math is cool 
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,193
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,193 |
I love numbers, I hate math...
When it looks like cartoon characters swearing... I avoid it.
Brad "Diva": 2004 Mazda 6s 5-door, Volcanic Red
Rex: 1988 Mazda RX-7 Vert, Harbor Blue.
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,165
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,165 |
I aced every math class until I got to things like factoring quadratic equations. Not too involved, infact pretty easy...but... WHEN THE F@!! AM I GONNA USE THAT!? or anything beyond that...NEVER. Every math class past algebra 2 is just preparing you for the next math class and that's preparing you for the next math class and so on... It has no real world value to me...so I stopped trying. I am pretty damn successful for 23yo now, and all I need to know how to do is add and subtract. P.S. It's not that I CAN'T do the Calc...I just don't WANT to.
I live in Detroit, I couldn't give a **** how good my car is in the "twisties."
"I could use a hundred people who don't know there is such a word as impossible."
~Henry Ford
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 3,290
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 3,290 |
Originally posted by 99SVT:
I aced every math class until I got to things like factoring quadratic equations.
Same here. I actually thought the logic behind geometry and trig was pretty cool. I didn't even mind pre-calc. But then came calculus, and man, I abandoned all thoughts of pursuing anything math-related after that.
E0 #36
'95 Ranger
'82 Honda CX500
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,345
Addicted CEG\'er
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Addicted CEG\'er
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,345 |
Originally posted by my csvt:
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.
Unfortunately this is due to the ease of having machines do work for us. It does not allow us to think and use Math. It is all too easy to just punch in the numbers and let the machines do the calculations. If we grew up knowing that we will require all these "simple Math" even to work at a fast food restuarant, you can be sure everyone will pay more attention to Math (rather than those who aspire to be in the mathematical or science related fields).
The portion on the evolution of Teaching Math is probably an exaggeration or discussion of math in different grades in elementary school or in a philosophy class or a Spanish language class (for the language rather than the Math). The list is definitely not the same grade throughout the decades.
"Always do the cheap and easy ones first."
1996 V6 ATX 96K miles
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Addicted CEG\'er
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Addicted CEG\'er
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 7,392 |
god i hate math. it got to the point to where i would only take classes with profs who would give pre-tests, and then i'd memorize the pre-test the night before. 
02 Mustang GT... Tuned by Nelsons. Low 12's, anyone? 
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Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Aug 2002
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Cmon, it's Burger King...what do you expect? Rocket scientists?
Chris G.
~ 98 Mystique LS ATX
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Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,017 |
Originally posted by 99SVT:
I aced every math class until I got to things like factoring quadratic equations. Not too involved, infact pretty easy...but...
WHEN THE F@!! AM I GONNA USE THAT!?
or anything beyond that...NEVER.
you'd be surprised, when you commit calculus/physics stuff to memory, you'll see a problem and say "gee, I could do this and that and figure it out...". do you really wanna pull out a pen/paper and do it? no, but it's nice to know you could
a lot of young teenagers get ignored though. some math teachers just assume "you weren't listening" in the lower math classes (by lower I mean seniors taking alg 2 instead of smarty little sophmores taking alg 2, like I was )
some people just have a problem with numbers, but a lot of teachers are fed up with students not caring and wasting time, they're blind to those that don't fall into that category.
but yes, some people are just plain ignorant and uneducated.
1995 SE
2.5L V6/MTX
187k
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Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 7,117 |
Originally posted by Tony2005:
Originally posted by my csvt:
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.
Unfortunately this is due to the ease of having machines do work for us. It does not allow us to think and use Math. It is all too easy to just punch in the numbers and let the machines do the calculations. If we grew up knowing that we will require all these "simple Math" even to work at a fast food restuarant, you can be sure everyone will pay more attention to Math (rather than those who aspire to be in the mathematical or science related fields).
The portion on the evolution of Teaching Math is probably an exaggeration or discussion of math in different grades in elementary school or in a philosophy class or a Spanish language class (for the language rather than the Math). The list is definitely not the same grade throughout the decades.
<<< (Worked for a wine shop that REQUIRED you to calculate tax manually. No electronic register.)
Must be that jumbly-wumbly thing happening again.
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