Fifty Years of Math

[SAWYER]

Fifty Years of Math
1957 - 2007

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 1950's:

1. Teaching Math In 1950's

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 1960's

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 1970's

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

4. Teaching Math In 1980's

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 1990's

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 2007

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

 

[ElFenix]

welcome to the internets

 

[miketheidiot]

meh

my parents can't even work basic algebra, i doubt this is true. Also keep in mind that people working in fast food are likely to be morons. Furthermore, i can attest to the fact that after a day of doing transactions like this your brain starts to fry from the repetition.

 

[zebano]

3/10 though with some truth to it.

Different places cater in the dining hall at work. The other day I purchased hot wings at $2.75. I handed the guy a $20 and he gave me back $19.25....

I was very confused so I taught him how to count up to make change.

 

[sswingle]

LOL @ the 90s because I remember a couple years where the main point in math was to read the story and then figure out what had to be calculated and then do the actual calculation.

 

[TehMac]

yeah, the 90's one got it about right.

 

[paulxcook]

Math wasn't that easy for me in the 90s, but I understand the point of this. Didn't math classes get harder and requirements go up around the time that the space race was going on? The idea was that it would produce more engineers and scientists or some such.

 

[Foxery]

The years are a little off, but I laughed

This is what happens when schools are expected to make everyone graduate no matter what. A system that believes everyone can be above average surely has no grasp of math.

 

[bigrash]

lol

 

[SpunkyJones]

Originally posted by: bigrash
lol

 

[nakedfrog]

Don't know what schools you guys went to, but I graduated in 95 and #1 is the only one I can regard as accurate for my experience.

 

[Rubycon]

How about Calculus in twenty minutes?

 

[CPA]

lol, especially at 2007.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

I chuckled.
What amazes me is that in the 1960's they got a man to the moon using slide rulers and graph paper. Today they can't do anything without a computer helping them.

 

[dainthomas]

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
I chuckled.
What amazes me is that in the 1960's they got a man to the moon using slide rulers and graph paper. Today they can't do anything without a computer helping them.

Every car made has more computing power than an Apollo moon lander, yet people still need their cell phones and GPS to get from their house to the nearest Pottery Barn. Sad.

 

[jonks]

blah blah blah, liberals are making schools dumber, but let's not look at NCLB.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: zebano
3/10 though with some truth to it.

Different places cater in the dining hall at work. The other day I purchased hot wings at $2.75. I handed the guy a $20 and he gave me back $19.25....

I was very confused so I taught him how to count up to make change.

And this is why I don't often give a person change when I'm making a purchase. I think most people can handle $5 - $2.37, but when you make it $5.50 - $2.37 the squirrels fall off the treadmill.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: zebano
3/10 though with some truth to it.

Different places cater in the dining hall at work. The other day I purchased hot wings at $2.75. I handed the guy a $20 and he gave me back $19.25....

I was very confused so I taught him how to count up to make change.

And this is why I don't often give a person change when I'm making a purchase. I think most people can handle $5 - $2.37, but when you make it $5.50 - $2.37 the squirrels fall off the treadmill.

That's not how you count change though, you don't subtract anything, you add until you get what was given. That's why pennies are on the left because you work your way left to right for change and right to left for bills. So for 2.37 out of 5..

3 pennies makes 40
1 dime makes 50
two quarters makes 3
two dollars makes 5.

There's your change.

2.37 out of 5.50

3 pennies makes 40
1 dime makes 2.50
3 dollars makes 5.50

 

[theLION]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: zebano
3/10 though with some truth to it.

Different places cater in the dining hall at work. The other day I purchased hot wings at $2.75. I handed the guy a $20 and he gave me back $19.25....

I was very confused so I taught him how to count up to make change.

And this is why I don't often give a person change when I'm making a purchase. I think most people can handle $5 - $2.37, but when you make it $5.50 - $2.37 the squirrels fall off the treadmill.

That's not how you count change though, you don't subtract anything, you add until you get what was given. That's why pennies are on the left because you work your way left to right for change and right to left for bills. So for 2.37 out of 5..

3 pennies makes 40
1 dime makes 50
two quarters makes 3
two dollars makes 5.

There's your change.

2.37 out of 5.50

3 pennies makes 40
1 dime makes 2.50
3 dollars makes 5.50

I never knew that!!! How cool it is to learn something new.

 

[miketheidiot]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: zebano
3/10 though with some truth to it.

Different places cater in the dining hall at work. The other day I purchased hot wings at $2.75. I handed the guy a $20 and he gave me back $19.25....

I was very confused so I taught him how to count up to make change.

And this is why I don't often give a person change when I'm making a purchase. I think most people can handle $5 - $2.37, but when you make it $5.50 - $2.37 the squirrels fall off the treadmill.

That's not how you count change though, you don't subtract anything, you add until you get what was given. That's why pennies are on the left because you work your way left to right for change and right to left for bills. So for 2.37 out of 5..

3 pennies makes 40
1 dime makes 50
two quarters makes 3
two dollars makes 5.

There's your change.

2.37 out of 5.50

3 pennies makes 40
1 dime makes 2.50
3 dollars makes 5.50

normally the math was self evident to me, i would see the i needed to make $3.13 in change and then would do that.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: Rubycon
How about Calculus in twenty minutes?

I just showed that in Calculus class about 2 weeks ago - made for an entertaining way to quickly (very) review material from the first half of the year.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: miketheidiot

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: zebano
3/10 though with some truth to it.

Different places cater in the dining hall at work. The other day I purchased hot wings at $2.75. I handed the guy a $20 and he gave me back $19.25....

I was very confused so I taught him how to count up to make change.

And this is why I don't often give a person change when I'm making a purchase. I think most people can handle $5 - $2.37, but when you make it $5.50 - $2.37 the squirrels fall off the treadmill.

That's not how you count change though, you don't subtract anything, you add until you get what was given. That's why pennies are on the left because you work your way left to right for change and right to left for bills. So for 2.37 out of 5..

3 pennies makes 40
1 dime makes 50
two quarters makes 3
two dollars makes 5.

There's your change.

2.37 out of 5.50

3 pennies makes 40
1 dime makes 2.50
3 dollars makes 5.50

normally the math was self evident to me, i would see the i needed to make $3.13 in change and then would do that.

Yeah... I never used the counting up method when I worked in retail. I also never entered the amount the customer gave me into the register - in the time it took me to just hit the "cash" button I could do the subtraction in my head. I worked at a convenience store, so speed was important (although some of my coworkers didn't understand that most people go to a convenience store because they can get in an out quickly).

The pennies were always on the right when I worked retail as well. After I did the subtraction in my head and opened the drawer, I'd go left to right counting out the bills, then left to right on the coins.

 

[Foxery]

Originally posted by: spidey07

That's not how you count change though, you don't subtract anything, you add until you get what was given. That's why pennies are on the left because you work your way left to right for change and right to left for bills. So for 2.37 out of 5..

3 pennies makes 40
1 dime makes 50
two quarters makes 3
two dollars makes 5.

There's your change.

Er, I always think of this in reverse. You start out with the largest bill or coin available to you, and use them until you can't any more. Otherwise, you'll count out 263 pennies. (Not literally, I hope. You know what I mean.)

Can't use 20s
Can't use 10s
Can't use 5s
Use 2x1s
Use 2x quarters
Use 1x dime
Use 3x pennies

 

[ShadowOfMyself]

Originally posted by: Foxery

Originally posted by: spidey07

That's not how you count change though, you don't subtract anything, you add until you get what was given. That's why pennies are on the left because you work your way left to right for change and right to left for bills. So for 2.37 out of 5..

3 pennies makes 40
1 dime makes 50
two quarters makes 3
two dollars makes 5.

There's your change.

Er, I always think of this in reverse. You start out with the largest bill or coin available to you, and use them until you can't any more. Otherwise, you'll count out 263 pennies. (Not literally, I hope. You know what I mean.)

Can't use 20s
Can't use 10s
Can't use 5s
Use 2x1s
Use 2x quarters
Use 1x dime
Use 3x pennies

Yeah I think like this too, its the easiest/most logical way

 

[Joemonkey]

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
I chuckled.
What amazes me is that in the 1960's they got a man to the moon using slide rulers and graph paper. Today they can't do anything without a computer helping them.

Or did we??? :shiftyeyes;