Fifty Years of Math 1959 - 2009 (in the USA)

Porkchop · 03-31-2009, 11:15 PM

(Email from my uncle....)

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 OF TEACHING MATH IN THE LAST 50 YEARS:

1. Teaching Math In 1950s

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

2. Teaching Math In 1960s

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?

3. Teaching Math In 1970s

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

4. Teaching Math In 1980s

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.

5. Teaching Math In 1990s

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, and if you feel like crying, it's ok. )

6. Teaching Math In 2009

Un hachero vende una carretada de maderapara $100. El costo de la
producciones es $80. Cuanto dinero ha hecho?

KSGregman · 03-31-2009, 11:37 PM

Too fucking right....and we're PAYING to fund this shit too.

Particle Man · 03-31-2009, 11:38 PM

I do that on purpose these days... something comes out to 6.31 I'll give them 11.31 and laugh at the ensuing hilarity.
*sigh*

Yamerhaw · 03-31-2009, 11:41 PM

Smittie61984 · 03-31-2009, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porkchop

6. Teaching Math In 2009

Un hachero vende una carretada de maderapara $100. El costo de la
producciones es $80. Cuanto dinero ha hecho?

I bet if we hired Mexicans as our teachers our school systems would dramatically improve.

TYEster · 04-01-2009, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Particle Man

I do that on purpose these days... something comes out to 6.31 I'll give them 11.31 and laugh at the ensuing hilarity.
*sigh*

I don't do that kinda thing because they're actually dumb enough to just put the cash in the drawer like I gave them exact change.

However I DO love when their stupidity works in my favor and I actually end up with more/free food because they can't count the 3 items I order for 4 in the bag they actually gave me.

njchopper87 · 04-01-2009, 02:06 AM

I remember going insane over word problems because there was so much unnecessary wording. I couldn't separate the math from the story.. eh.

I don't understand what's so complex about it, doesn't the cash register do everything for you anyway?

HRCNICK11 · 04-01-2009, 11:11 AM

As the parent of 2 boys in 8th and 9th grades I can tell you I had to help with math in the last few years and they way they teach math now is scary.

My son tried to explain how they make them multiply and divide numbers with several digits these days and I did not understand and I am great at math. I thought my wifes head was going to explode when she tried to help them and she is a engineer for god sakes. They call it "new math" no its the same old math they just screwed up the mind doing it.

My son was haing trouble with times tables and I showed him that he could break up the number to make it easier and he told me "you can't use addition to figure out a multiplication problem". I had to draw pictures to show him how in the end its really the same. His grades in math went from C's to A's in a week it was like flipping a light switch. It was some thing simple like he was having trouble with 5x20 and I showed him that is just twice as much as 5x10 an answer he knew.

03-31-2009, 11:15 PM	#1
Porkchop 125GP Champion Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Worthington, OH Moto: Empty Garage Posts: 3,418	Fifty Years of Math 1959 - 2009 (in the USA) (Email from my uncle....) 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 OF TEACHING MATH IN THE LAST 50 YEARS: 1. Teaching Math In 1950s A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price. What is his profit ? 2. Teaching Math In 1960s 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? 3. Teaching Math In 1970s A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80. Did he make a profit? 4. Teaching Math In 1980s 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. 5. Teaching Math In 1990s 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, and if you feel like crying, it's ok. ) 6. Teaching Math In 2009 Un hachero vende una carretada de maderapara $100. El costo de la producciones es $80. Cuanto dinero ha hecho? __________________ *Coming soon? 2010 Ducati Monster 696 - Sold 1984 Honda VF500F - Sold 1999 Yamaha R6 - Sold

03-31-2009, 11:38 PM	#3
Particle Man Custom User Title Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Central NY Moto: 2003 SV650S Posts: 14,959	I do that on purpose these days... something comes out to 6.31 I'll give them 11.31 and laugh at the ensuing hilarity. sigh __________________ I'm not "fat." I'm "Enlarged to show texture." Handle every stressful situation like a DOG: If you can't eat it or hump it, pi$$ on it & walk away.

03-31-2009, 11:41 PM	#4
Yamerhaw Country Boy Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Hicktown in NC Moto: 07 R1 Posts: 797	__________________ “If trees could scream, would we be so cavalier about cutting them down? We might, if they screamed all the time, for no good reason.” It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man.

03-31-2009, 11:37 PM	#2
KSGregman Get Fit...or Get OUT Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: KS Moto: 07 M109-R Posts: 1,993	Too fucking right....and we're PAYING to fund this shit too.

04-01-2009, 11:11 AM	#8
HRCNICK11 Canyon Carver Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 429	As the parent of 2 boys in 8th and 9th grades I can tell you I had to help with math in the last few years and they way they teach math now is scary. My son tried to explain how they make them multiply and divide numbers with several digits these days and I did not understand and I am great at math. I thought my wifes head was going to explode when she tried to help them and she is a engineer for god sakes. They call it "new math" no its the same old math they just screwed up the mind doing it. My son was haing trouble with times tables and I showed him that he could break up the number to make it easier and he told me "you can't use addition to figure out a multiplication problem". I had to draw pictures to show him how in the end its really the same. His grades in math went from C's to A's in a week it was like flipping a light switch. It was some thing simple like he was having trouble with 5x20 and I showed him that is just twice as much as 5x10 an answer he knew.