Teaching Math in 2005

[MTMike]

Last week I purchased a burger at Burger King for $1.58. The counter girl took my$2. 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:

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 2005

Un hachero vende una carretada de madera para $100. El costo de la produccisn es
$80 ...

[nikon]

[img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img]

[Mighty Thor]

Go easy on her. I had the same problem too when I used to work for McDonald's during my sophmore year in High School. She is still learning. There's a difference between math and the act of applying it to the real world.

My best friend who happens to be Vietnamese was a god when it comes to math. He was already in Calculus during his freshman year in High School. But he bombs it when it comes to applying it to the real world. Ofcourse now he's an APA and a financial advisor.

Today giving out changes doesn't phase me out. I used to work for collection and I have taught pre-algebra and algebra to Jr. High kids.

[v6man]

so funny yet so true

[maxcamaro]

i work register sometime at my restaurant (Culvers) and i can't stand it when people give me a five and then like a minuted later throw 13 cents at me. It makes me think and im to lazy for that

[96RS Alex]

I recall a time in 1987 when I forked over a $100 bill to pay for a delicious Whopper Meal at Burger King and the cashier gave me a look like she never seen a Benji before. She then contacted her manager and they both could not find the $96 I was expecting. It was the start of the shift and they gave me the meal for free. They told me I would have bankrupt the other registers from exact change. Talk about having it My Way. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Fbody3400]

Originally posted by MTMike:
Teaching Math In 2005

Un hachero vende una carretada de madera para $100. El costo de la produccisn es
$80 ...

Not trying to offend anybody, but, [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img]

[vanbibber]

Originally posted by Mighty Thor:
Go easy on her. I had the same problem too when I used to work for McDonald's during my sophmore year in High School. She is still learning. There's a difference between math and the act of applying it to the real world.

My best friend who happens to be Vietnamese was a god when it comes to math. He was already in Calculus during his freshman year in High School. But he bombs it when it comes to applying it to the real world. Ofcourse now he's an APA and a financial advisor.

Today giving out changes doesn't phase me out. I used to work for collection and I have taught pre-algebra and algebra to Jr. High kids.

id like to beleive its that hard to give change back. but with high tech registers these days it freakin tells you what to give the person back. all they have to do is punch in the amount you give them and it tells them what to give back. what is hard about that? its not like theyre using a abacus(sp?)

[vanbibber]

Originally posted by Fbody3400:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by MTMike:
Teaching Math In 2005

Un hachero vende una carretada de madera para $100. El costo de la produccisn es
$80 ...

Not trying to offend anybody, but, [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img] </font>[/QUOTE]X2 on the offending but it seems so true [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img]

[that90spunk]

[img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img]

[95FirebirdConvertible]

Originally posted by vanbibber:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Fbody3400:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by MTMike:
Teaching Math In 2005

Un hachero vende una carretada de madera para $100. El costo de la produccisn es
$80 ...

Not trying to offend anybody, but, [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img] </font>[/QUOTE]X2 on the offending but it seems so true [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img] </font>[/QUOTE]X3 [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img] very true

[camaro_speedemon]

Originally posted by vanbibber:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Mighty Thor:
Go easy on her. I had the same problem too when I used to work for McDonald's during my sophmore year in High School. She is still learning. There's a difference between math and the act of applying it to the real world.

My best friend who happens to be Vietnamese was a god when it comes to math. He was already in Calculus during his freshman year in High School. But he bombs it when it comes to applying it to the real world. Ofcourse now he's an APA and a financial advisor.

Today giving out changes doesn't phase me out. I used to work for collection and I have taught pre-algebra and algebra to Jr. High kids.

id like to beleive its that hard to give change back. but with high tech registers these days it freakin tells you what to give the person back. all they have to do is punch in the amount you give them and it tells them what to give back. what is hard about that? its not like theyre using a abacus(sp?) </font>[/QUOTE]Dude, even without the register it's NOT hard to give change back. Lets put it this way, I failed math and am completely helpless without a calculator. Yet I worked a register for about 3 years during highschool.

Total is $3.67

Cash given $20

To give change using the least amount of math possible, You count up to the nearest 10th... then count up to the dollar. Then count up to the amount they gave you.

3 pennies to make .70, and then a quater and nickel to make $0.30

Coins given $0.33

$0.33 makes $4, $1 makes $5, $5 makes $10, $10 makes $20.

Total change given $16.33

Was it really that hard?

[vanbibber]

thats what im saying/\/\ giving change back shouldnt be a 10minute process with or with out a machine to tell you

[Chet Mo and the Camaro]

just some ppl have problems and yet when they are on the verge of freakling out u are like [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img] its just pressure!!! but still very funny [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img]

[MrCoffee]

I know what this topic is going to lead into to. So I'll be the one to bring it up. I was never around for this by I hear several people from generations before me complain about how people just hand them their change, instead of counting it out. I personally dont have a problem with that, and do not even bother recounting it making sure its correct. I just dump the bills in my pocket assuming the computer and the hands of the cashier are in sync.

As a cashier at food lion back in the day I always made an attempt to recount the change at a level where the customer could see what was going on. I understand this was a bad attempt to bring back the good ol days, but it was more than most people do now.

Heck now most fast food places have the change thing that automatically dispenses the correct amount of coins and all the cashier has to do is pull out bills.

I fully believe that as a whole that as the generations continue and we pass down information hoping to make them smarter from our experience, we are only making humans lazy. Sure we can say we're the smartest most technological that we've ever been. but there will be a time where you stay in bed all day because everything has been automated around your life. At what point is it overkill?