math

[john]

HISTORY OF MATH (in the USA) 1957 - 2010         





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:

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 2010
Un hachero vende una carretada de leña en $100.             
El costo de producción es $80.
¿Cuánto dinero ha ganado?

[Brad]

6. Teaching Math In 2010

A logger who is banned by the government from cutting trees
is given a check for $1000 every week by the government.
The rest of us have to buy lumber and building materials
imported from China and other countries.
How screwed are we in dollars? (your answer may be estimated
and don't forget to figure interest on the debt)     

[fat6man]

I've had similar experiences in stores at the check out. Think some of these cashiers would have a difficult time with 3rd grade math.     I don't understand the TOTAL LACK of THINKING!
I've seen a few that have had a difficult time just counting the change the register tells them to give.

          ???                    

[alph]

When I use to run my own business, my parents use to tell me, no one will love your business more then you.  Meaning, no one will take care of my business the way I want it taken care of. 

Same thing with your kids.  Don't expect ANY school teacher to care if your kid really learns or not.  They're not their kids, they're their income.  It is up to YOU to teach your kids how to live in the world today, not the schools.

When ever we would go out with our kids, we would give them the bill and teach them how to figure out the tip.  My two girls were both able to figure out 15% gratuity on any bill before they were even ten years old!  Not to mention how to make change!! 

[ricoman]

Have to agree with the timeline. Even with the second number 6 added by Brad.
I believe we have evolved into teaching to the bottom, rather than raising the bar and getting kids to want to learn.
There is little incentive for many kids to want to achieve- just "getting by" is OK as they learn (at home) that they will be taken care of by the system if they don't/can"t make it on their own. Can't make your mortgage payment (based on the loan amount you got when you lied about your income)? It's allright, the rest of us will make it better. Rack up too much credit card debt? That's OK too-there are ways to ignore your obligation.
As for "ANY teacher" not caring if your kids learn- I disagree very strongly. While that may be the case with many in the teaching profession, I do not think it is the norm. I have a teacher daughter who supplies her classroom with materials not provided by the school system. She does this from her "income" and from creatively getting merchant donations of stuff, not money.

[big turkey]

Have a beer it's easier.

[the inspector]

ya gotta love stupid cashiers who can't ADD or SUBTRACT in there pee brain. I love to get more change then I should......I just slide it in my drawers, eat my food and leave. Winfall profits for sure.

"the inspector"

[Daniel Meyer]

I bought $35 worth of diesel for my pick-em-up a few years ago...handed the gal a $50, and she gave me back two $20's and a $5.

I said, "I don't think that's right." and her manager, standing right beside her snapped at me, "You gave us a $50, we gave you your change. Please leave."

Who am I to argue?

[Serk]

Was dragged against my will to a shop in "the maul", and had to buy something... Cashier rang it up, gave me the total, and I handed her cash...

She looked at me like I'd just sprung a second head. She had no idea how to handle the transaction with cash. Said she's been there several months, and I was the first person to try paying with cash.

I just put the cash back in my wallet and handed her my debit card, she was very well versed in handling that one...

Admittedly, I've gotten almost as bad, rarely use cash anymore, but still, a cashier not even knowing how to handle a cash transaction was kinda an eye opener...

[alph]

I bought $35 worth of diesel for my pick-em-up a few years ago...handed the gal a $50, and she gave me back two $20's and a $5.

I said, "I don't think that's right." and her manager, standing right beside her snapped at me, "You gave us a $50, we gave you your change. Please leave."

Who am I to argue?

Well, you know the customer is ALLWAYS right!!

And I take back the "...ALL teachers..." comment I made earlier.  I had gotten school administrators in my head because of one in the local news, it's a long story.

There are a lot of good teachers out there. 

[Bobbo]

There needs to be a line between 5 and 6 that reads:

Teaching math in 2000
Teachers and the school board are so horrified of the prospect of losing federal funding for their school under the "No Child Left Behind" act of 2002, that they give all the answers to the students.  Students pass with better grades, schools and teachers get more tax money, and everyone is happy.

[G-Man]

Remember when change used to actually be counted from the price up to the amount tendered?

Price = $16.50
Tendered $20

The casheir used to drop the 50 cents in your hand and say 17, then count 18, 19, and 20 while laying singles in your hand.  Now they just look at the register and hand you the change in one lump and say "three fifty is your change".

[Strider]

New math.

Ma & Pa Kettle Math

[Jess from VA]

Remember when change used to actually be counted from the price up to the amount tendered?
The cashier used to drop the 50 cents in your hand and say 17, then count 18, 19, and 20 while laying singles in your hand.  Now they just look at the register and hand you the change in one lump and say "three fifty is your change".

G-man... that is exactly the proper way to give change, and how to teach someone to give change.  It is how I was taught at my first W-2 withholding job pumping gas in a Mobil station at age 15.  Done that way, both the giver and the givee see correct change counted out every time. 

The other trick was always to lay the big bill down flat while counting change, so there could be no argument about what that bill was   (like " hey, I gave you a $50, not a $20"...."no sir, here's your $20 right here!!!!"   

[Rocketman]

Back when I worked a job that required the use of a cash register, IF I bothered to punch the numbers into the register rather than calculating change in my head, I would still get people confused.
There was a "00" key, commonly used for even dollars, as in "5", then "00".  If someone gave me 20.06, I would punch "2", "00", "6".  My coworkers almost reported me for "not doing it right".

It's fun to get a rise out of the small minded.