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Fifty Plus Years of Math

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 1950s:

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?

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Aerospace SE
Avenger Seawolf Blacksteel

Sounds like your education system is about on par with us here in USSA. Plus we get "no child left behind" so the kids that can figure it out have to suffer through all the slowing down of the curriculum so we can make sure the dumb kids are caught up. I think everything about life was simpler back when, if you aren't ready you don't move to the next level.

Ross

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Colt GMT with Blue dial

Oh crap... it's all true!

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HAHA Love it! so true!

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SA-Baton White Dial/ProII
Tissot Le Locle

Funny, but scary because it's true.

Eso es tan divertido y tan verdad

That is so funny and so true.

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NavitimerNut

I usually employ apprentices. When they apply for the job, I usually used to ask the following question: How much is 10% of 1680. About 80% cannot answer that without a calculator, and even with a calculator half of the answers are wrong. Now I have changed the question to how much is 10% of 100. Still 80% cannot answer it. But now 10% look at me, disbelieving that I would ask them that question. Our school system sucks for the last years. It is getting worse and worse. When I ask them the name of our president, they counter with the following question: "What is a president?"
Of course, people applying for an apprenticeship in a sales job are not the upper IQ elite, but I am allways surprised, how stupid and uninterested young people can be.

The conclusion: 80% of the people cannot calculate with percentages, and the other 50% are stupid...

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