Math
Is Hard . . .
Last
week I got a burger at Burger King for $1.58. The counter girl
took my $2 and 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 back two quarters, but she hailed the manager
for help and while he tried to explain the transaction to her,
she stood there and cried.
Why do I tell you this? Read on....
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 exchanges a set "L" of
lumber for a set "M" of money.
The cardinality of set "M" is 100.
Each element is worth one dollar.
Make 100 dots representing the elements of
the set "M".
The set "C", the cost of production,
contains 20 fewer points than the set "M".
Represent the set "C" as a subset
of set "M".
Answer this question:
What is the cardinality of the set "P" of
profits?
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:
By cutting down beautiful forest trees, the
logger makes $20.
What do you think of this way of making a
living?
Topic for class participation after answering
the question:
How did the forest birds and squirrels feel
as the logger cut down the trees?
There are no wrong answers.
Teaching math in 2000:
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100.
His cost of production is $120.
How does Arthur Andersen determine that his
profit margin is $60.?
Teaching math in 2005:
El hachero vende un camion carga por $100.
La cuesta de produccion es..............
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