Active Now

Element 99
Discussion » Questions » Math » Math homework help please...which one of these methods should I use?

Math homework help please...which one of these methods should I use?

Variation #2:

From the Feb. '96 Reader's Digest:

1960s arithmetic test:

"A logger cuts and sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is four-fifths of that amount. What is his profit?"

'70s new-math test:
"A logger exchanges a set (L) of lumber for a set (M) of money. The cardinality of Set M is 100. The set C of production costs contains 20 fewer points. What is the cardinality of Set P of profits?"

'80s "dumbed-down" version:
"A logger cuts and sells a truckload of lumber for $100. Her cost is $80, her profit is $20. Find and circle the number 20."

'90s version:
"An unenlightened logger cuts down a beautiful stand of 100 trees in order to make a $20 profit. Write an essay explaining how you feel about this as a way to make money. Topic for discussion: How did the forest birds and squirrels feel?"

Posted - December 10, 2017

Responses


  • 53367


    randy d dont do mathics,randee d only do gramer,and he do it goodly two
      December 10, 2017 10:41 AM MST
    5

  • 6124
    Strawberries!















    (I actually LOVED this "question").






      December 10, 2017 10:43 AM MST
    5

  • 44540
    Well, then, I love you.
      December 10, 2017 11:03 AM MST
    3

  • 394
      December 10, 2017 12:28 PM MST
    4

  • 13071
    Use the 1960s one. It isnt the shortest one, and would work for those of us who cant read. ;+
      December 10, 2017 1:35 PM MST
    3

  • 6988
    The first answer is $0. Look, by the time the guy gets the lumber to it's destination, he will use up his profit. The truck will get a flat tire or blow a brake line. The 70s guy can't figger how to make any profit, so he will miss his delivery time. The 80s guy can't believe there is any profit at all because he never believed in Reaganomics. The 90s guy is so worried about owls, tree huggers, and Monica Lewinsky, he fell into one of those tree limb grinders. 
      December 10, 2017 1:49 PM MST
    4

  • 53367

    (its destination)

    No apostrophe. 



      December 10, 2017 1:55 PM MST
    2

  • 17562
    Use the 60s straightforward arithmetic. They keep trying different versions of BS math when all they need to do is teach math.  Many teachers agree that common core is ridiculous.  I understand what they are trying to do in CC math but like most "wisdom" it can't be taught as effectively  as it can just come to be.  We learn to understand math and what the numbers mean by doing math problems.  It works.
      December 11, 2017 1:20 AM MST
    5

  • 3191
    A mother had her daughter do a math problem how she was taught in school and then how mom taught her...

      December 11, 2017 2:29 AM MST
    2

  • 44540
    Perfect example.
      December 11, 2017 6:43 AM MST
    2

  • 3191
    I looked into it several years ago when a friend's son ask me to help him understand his 5th-grade math homework.  I couldn't do it, despite having tutored Algebra in college.  He was not allowed to use standard math computations and would get marked down if he did so.  I looked at four different models used in the US and none of them made sense.  
      December 11, 2017 6:52 AM MST
    2

  • 44540
    Pathetic.
      December 11, 2017 6:59 AM MST
    2

  • Today's version at post graduate level: 
    Consider the following problem:
    "A logger cuts and sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is four-fifths of that amount. What is his profit?"
    You must solve this question using either quantum theory mathematics or indeterminate functions of complex variables, whatever they mean. Submit your assignment six months from now. 
      December 12, 2017 3:46 PM MST
    0