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

[Porkchop]

(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]

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

[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*

[Yamerhaw]

:lol

[Smittie61984]

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]

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]

:lol 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]

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.