Math is Hard
Tue., February 3, 04:56 PM
I wrote about something like this in a post about my dad. I guess finding good math teachers is even harder. The following came to me in an e-mail. So sad…
Last week I got a burger at Burger King for $1.58. The counter girl took my $2 and I was digging for change when I found 8 cents 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. (I don’t know who’s dumbest: the girl, her teachers, or the parents who obviously rewarded her for crying!)
Why do I tell you this story? It will get worse...
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 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? (That’s right, use a five-dollar word when a nickel word will do. Lesson plan looks erudite, but the kids don’t learn. Must be dumb kids.)
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:
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.
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? (They ask Martha Stewart?)
Teaching Math in 2005:
El hachero vende un camion carga por $100. El costo de produccion es.............
I remember reading somewhere that you can’t have a truly free country without educated citizens. Teaching kids to cope with the world around them is important to me, even if it’s not what I’m paid for. But I might as well attack a windmill.
