The History of Math - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

**drgibson** · 04-26-2006, 02:47 PM

Last week I purchased a burger at Burger King for $3.58. The counter girl took my $4.00 and I pulled 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:
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 sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80. Did he make a profit?
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
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.)
Teaching Math In 2010
Un ranchero vende una carretera de madera por $100. El cargode produccion es $80. Cuantas tortillas se puede comprar?

bud van houten · 04-26-2006, 02:57 PM

excelente posta!

palanon · 04-26-2006, 03:09 PM

Well put.... I do love the vacant look you get when you do that. How 'bout the panic if the power goes out and the kids need to use paper & pencil ?

HAMMERPETE · 04-26-2006, 03:21 PM

Oh you should have seen the news blip locally. They gathered up ten seniors.
They asked them all the same math question. What is 25% of $1?
2 out of the 10 got it right. Ha! and they want to raise the minimum wage....

Rockhead · 04-26-2006, 03:36 PM

At least you didnt get back 5 dimes, which would be ahh 3.58 + 4.00 - a nickel and three pennies. You get back

**Clint** · 04-26-2006, 03:40 PM

Yeah, kids were soooo much smarter in the 50's. Right. There were just as many who didn't care about math then as there are now. Heck, many of them didn't even go to school.

**Louis** · 04-26-2006, 04:17 PM

True, it's terrible. My daughter grabs the calculator to do 2+2. That's of course when I don't see her do it.

sunny · 04-26-2006, 04:30 PM

i guess i've been the mean mom who has hamstrung her kids mathematically by refusing to buy them calculators.

Pinhy · 04-26-2006, 04:35 PM

we werent allowed to use calculators till senior year calc / physics. they figured you ahd learned the basics by then and were working more with principle

i got a 790 out of 800 on the math portion of the SAT so i guess it worked (i think i missed 1 or 2 and left a couple blank)...so i guess teaching math in the 80's wasnt so bad after all.

.

Firedog · 04-26-2006, 04:38 PM

When I read this, I just started thinking about the Simpsons episode where Mrs. Krabapple asked of her students, "Ok now, whose calculator can tell me what (something) times (something) is?"
The response from Ralph (I believe), "Error?"

**drgibson** · 04-26-2006, 04:41 PM

Rowdy I have to disagree. We used to teach kids how to do things for themselves now we teach them to use a machine to do what their brain should be doing. For example when my daughter wants to know how something is spelled instead of looking it up she will first ask us. We will reply "Look it Up" she will then ask her sister. Now depending on weather or not her sister will tell her is what her grade will depend on. Also kids today don't use their brains for reasoning out the consequences of their actions, nor do they conceptualize very well. My youngest 17 sees no reason to stay in school and get a High School Diploma when she can get a GED. Now she wants to get the GED after she works through the summer (at minimum wage) so she can earn enough money to move out. She sees no reason why she cannot do this. She honestly things she can work (at minimum wage) part time so she can take the classes she needs to get her GED, rent an apartment and buy a car. And yes we have repeatedly tried to get her to understand the flaws in this thinking.

Pinhy · 04-26-2006, 04:46 PM

ask her to put together a budget...with hours/week x $/hr...then a list of all bills each month.

then add all the things she didnt realize she would have to pay for when not in the comforts of home and ask her to put $ to those items. when she sees how much she would have to work to make enough...i bet she'll agree to stay in school (maybe even college).

.

Firedog · 04-26-2006, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinhy

ask her to put together a budget...with hours/week x $/hr...then a list of all bills each month.

then add all the things she didnt realize she would have to pay for when not in the comforts of home and ask her to put $ to those items. when she sees how much she would have to work to make enough...i bet she'll agree to stay in school (maybe even college).

.

Someone will need to provide her with a calculator... muahahahaha!

**drgibson** · 04-26-2006, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinhy

ask her to put together a budget...with hours/week x $/hr...then a list of all bills each month.

then add all the things she didnt realize she would have to pay for when not in the comforts of home and ask her to put $ to those items. when she sees how much she would have to work to make enough...i bet she'll agree to stay in school (maybe even college).

.

Been there done that. Haven't seen it yet so I expect that she doesn't want to see it on paper for fear that she would have to change her plans and that would be a great inconvenience.

**drgibson** · 04-26-2006, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firedog

Someone will need to provide her with a calculator... muahahahaha!

Oh the school does that.

sunny · 04-26-2006, 05:00 PM

i played a game with my kids. it was called "how much can i buy with that?"
any time the kids wanted something that was SUPER expensive i would run down the list of food stuffs that that amount would supply us with...

the ones that are out on their own now are doing ok. not great, but they aren't on the street.

Shea · 04-26-2006, 05:39 PM

The problem is very simple to see. Instead of getting kids to do the work and learn, we dumb down the schools. How does this make sense? This is when you get a straight A student getting the same slip of paper as the screw off in emotional support.

blackie1491 · 04-26-2006, 05:51 PM

I had a case where I gave them the coin and then they gave me the correct change plus the bill I tendered. In effect the girl was paying me for shopping there.

I have not been able to understand the inability to use the cash tendered
key on the till.

After 40 years in retail Grocery, it is a habit to offer correct change, but sometimes when I see the problem I am causing I just grin and thank the gods that be, that I am retired.

bud van houten · 04-26-2006, 05:56 PM

calculator???? what's that? i'm 61 and we NEVER had that convenience when i was in school. sort of glad we didn't, but everytime i see a kid with that 'DEER CAUGHT IN THE HEADLIGHTS" look, it makes me realize that these are the same kids that are going to be in charge of things in the future. oh well, i'm sure adults thought the same when i was a kid. i had a high school senior help me a few years ago who couldn't read a tape measure. later, bud

robertc729 · 04-26-2006, 06:10 PM

Most of the people I went to school with dropped out with all the best intentions of getting their GED but never did. I cannot say anything about dropping out, as I did it myself. The difference is, the day I dropped out I went and took the GED pre-test, the teacher giving the test asked me at that point when I wanted to take the test, I signed up for the next date available and did it. Long story short is I have multiple reasons for why I chose the alternative route. I made it work for me.

04-26-2006, 02:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
drgibson Antebellum Mod Joined: Jul 2005 Bike: 2008 Kawasaki KLR 650 Location: Dallas, Texas Directly above the center of the earth. Posts: 10,742	The History of Math Last week I purchased a burger at Burger King for $3.58. The counter girl took my $4.00 and I pulled 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: 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 sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80. Did he make a profit? 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 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.) Teaching Math In 2010 Un ranchero vende una carretera de madera por $100. El cargode produccion es $80. Cuantas tortillas se puede comprar? __________________ “Please Remember to Kazoo Responsibly.”

04-26-2006, 03:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
HAMMERPETE M-J Member of the Month! Joined: Oct 2005 Bike: 2005 HAMMER Location: SOCAL %%%%%ES Posts: 3,031	Oh you should have seen the news blip locally. They gathered up ten seniors. They asked them all the same math question. What is 25% of $1? 2 out of the 10 got it right. Ha! and they want to raise the minimum wage.... __________________ "There's not a whole lot ways this can go right" - Johnny Knoxsville "I did something in a previous life that must have been spectacularly good, because I'm getting paid in this life just magnificently, more than one would dare imagine or hope for." - RIP George Carlin. Life's Journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, But rather to skid in side ways, totally worn out shouting HOLYSHI$T What A RIDE!!

04-26-2006, 04:17 PM	#7 (permalink)
Louis Administrator Joined: Sep 2003 Bike: SV650S '05 (Blue) Location: Gatineau, QC, Canada Posts: 10,657	True, it's terrible. My daughter grabs the calculator to do 2+2. That's of course when I don't see her do it. __________________ Louis

04-26-2006, 04:30 PM	#8 (permalink)
sunny Leaned over, knee down Joined: Nov 2004 Bike: '97 suzuki savage, '90 honda shadow, '75 kh400, and a broom Location: fort worthless Posts: 4,678	i guess i've been the mean mom who has hamstrung her kids mathematically by refusing to buy them calculators. __________________ "blah blah blah, the world revolves around me, blah blah blah, your perception of events can't possibly be valid, blah blah blah, i wasn't there but i know everything about everything, blah blah blah." - 95% of the male population. you WISH this post was brought to you by rum.

04-26-2006, 04:38 PM	#10 (permalink)
Firedog Foil Inspector Joined: Oct 2005 Bike: Yamaha Royal Star Tour Deluxe Location: West Lafayette, IN Posts: 971	When I read this, I just started thinking about the Simpsons episode where Mrs. Krabapple asked of her students, "Ok now, whose calculator can tell me what (something) times (something) is?" The response from Ralph (I believe), "Error?" __________________ "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." -Abraham Lincoln

04-26-2006, 02:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
bud van houten Ditch Magnet Joined: Sep 2005 Bike: 2000 intruder lc 1500 Location: kansas city, mo. Posts: 175	excelente posta!

04-26-2006, 03:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
palanon No Significant Other Joined: Apr 2006 Bike: 2003 Bandit 1200S Location: Newmarket, NH Posts: 2,326	Well put.... I do love the vacant look you get when you do that. How 'bout the panic if the power goes out and the kids need to use paper & pencil ?

04-26-2006, 03:36 PM	#5 (permalink)
Rockhead M-J.Com Master Poster Joined: Jan 2006 Bike: M50 Location: 1060 West Addison, Chicago Posts: 3,767	At least you didnt get back 5 dimes, which would be ahh 3.58 + 4.00 - a nickel and three pennies. You get back

04-26-2006, 04:35 PM	#9 (permalink)
Pinhy Doesn't think you're funny Joined: Dec 2004 Bike: 05 Boulevard M50 Black Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 5,210	we werent allowed to use calculators till senior year calc / physics. they figured you ahd learned the basics by then and were working more with principle i got a 790 out of 800 on the math portion of the SAT so i guess it worked (i think i missed 1 or 2 and left a couple blank)...so i guess teaching math in the 80's wasnt so bad after all. .

04-26-2006, 04:41 PM	#11 (permalink)
drgibson Antebellum Mod Joined: Jul 2005 Bike: 2008 Kawasaki KLR 650 Location: Dallas, Texas Directly above the center of the earth. Posts: 10,742	Rowdy I have to disagree. We used to teach kids how to do things for themselves now we teach them to use a machine to do what their brain should be doing. For example when my daughter wants to know how something is spelled instead of looking it up she will first ask us. We will reply "Look it Up" she will then ask her sister. Now depending on weather or not her sister will tell her is what her grade will depend on. Also kids today don't use their brains for reasoning out the consequences of their actions, nor do they conceptualize very well. My youngest 17 sees no reason to stay in school and get a High School Diploma when she can get a GED. Now she wants to get the GED after she works through the summer (at minimum wage) so she can earn enough money to move out. She sees no reason why she cannot do this. She honestly things she can work (at minimum wage) part time so she can take the classes she needs to get her GED, rent an apartment and buy a car. And yes we have repeatedly tried to get her to understand the flaws in this thinking. __________________ “Please Remember to Kazoo Responsibly.”

04-26-2006, 04:46 PM	#12 (permalink)
Pinhy Doesn't think you're funny Joined: Dec 2004 Bike: 05 Boulevard M50 Black Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 5,210	ask her to put together a budget...with hours/week x $/hr...then a list of all bills each month. then add all the things she didnt realize she would have to pay for when not in the comforts of home and ask her to put $ to those items. when she sees how much she would have to work to make enough...i bet she'll agree to stay in school (maybe even college). .

04-26-2006, 05:00 PM	#16 (permalink)
sunny Leaned over, knee down Joined: Nov 2004 Bike: '97 suzuki savage, '90 honda shadow, '75 kh400, and a broom Location: fort worthless Posts: 4,678	i played a game with my kids. it was called "how much can i buy with that?" any time the kids wanted something that was SUPER expensive i would run down the list of food stuffs that that amount would supply us with... the ones that are out on their own now are doing ok. not great, but they aren't on the street. __________________ "blah blah blah, the world revolves around me, blah blah blah, your perception of events can't possibly be valid, blah blah blah, i wasn't there but i know everything about everything, blah blah blah." - 95% of the male population. you WISH this post was brought to you by rum.

04-26-2006, 05:39 PM	#17 (permalink)
Shea Third gear and cruising Joined: Feb 2006 Bike: Buell XB12Ss Lightning Location: York, Pa Posts: 521	The problem is very simple to see. Instead of getting kids to do the work and learn, we dumb down the schools. How does this make sense? This is when you get a straight A student getting the same slip of paper as the screw off in emotional support.

04-26-2006, 05:51 PM	#18 (permalink)
blackie1491 I took the All Bran Challenge Joined: Jun 2005 Bike: C50SE Location: Aldergrove, B.C., Canada Posts: 7,326	I had a case where I gave them the coin and then they gave me the correct change plus the bill I tendered. In effect the girl was paying me for shopping there. I have not been able to understand the inability to use the cash tendered key on the till. After 40 years in retail Grocery, it is a habit to offer correct change, but sometimes when I see the problem I am causing I just grin and thank the gods that be, that I am retired.

04-26-2006, 05:56 PM	#19 (permalink)
bud van houten Ditch Magnet Joined: Sep 2005 Bike: 2000 intruder lc 1500 Location: kansas city, mo. Posts: 175	calculator???? what's that? i'm 61 and we NEVER had that convenience when i was in school. sort of glad we didn't, but everytime i see a kid with that 'DEER CAUGHT IN THE HEADLIGHTS" look, it makes me realize that these are the same kids that are going to be in charge of things in the future. oh well, i'm sure adults thought the same when i was a kid. i had a high school senior help me a few years ago who couldn't read a tape measure. later, bud

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04-26-2006, 06:10 PM	#20 (permalink)
robertc729 Forensic Bug Splatter Analyst Joined: Mar 2006 Bike: 05 Boulevard C50 LE, 06 S40 (wife's bike) Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 4,086	Most of the people I went to school with dropped out with all the best intentions of getting their GED but never did. I cannot say anything about dropping out, as I did it myself. The difference is, the day I dropped out I went and took the GED pre-test, the teacher giving the test asked me at that point when I wanted to take the test, I signed up for the next date available and did it. Long story short is I have multiple reasons for why I chose the alternative route. I made it work for me.

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