Math explanation

[BeltoneMagoo]

Last week I purchased a burger for $1.58. I handed the
cashier $2.00 and started digging for some change. I
pulled out 8 cents and gave it to her. She stood there
with $2 and 8 cents. She looked bewildered, 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
burst into tears.The incident got me thinking about how our kids were
learning math in school (or not).

Teaching Math In 1950: A logger sells a truckload of
lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5ths 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 4/5ths of the
price, or $80. What is his profit?

Teaching Math In 1970: A logger exchanges a set "L" of
lumber for a set of "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 product ion, contains 20 fewer points
than 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 Anderson determine
that his profit margin is $60?

Teaching Math in 2005: El hachero vende un camion carga
por $100. La cuesta de production es . . . .


And I remember when you had to actually be able to DO math in order to pass a math class. See "Teaching Math in 1950"
__________________

[wkdwitch]

Sad, but so true it hurts.

[Scarab0088]

Es broma tan correcta que duele. Divertido! Divertido!

[wa8yxm]

I have also seen folks completly confused behind cash registers.. Never thought I'd see that. But I did.

Me, I not only know how to make change.. When I was working in a store for a while and the register kind of got FUBAR.. I simply counted back the change to the customer.... Thought I was going to have to do First Aid.. She nearly passed out.. She thought that was a lost skill.

[corvettec3]

In 1990 I was in a drug store right after Easter and they were selling their Cadbury eggs 3 for a dollar so I picked up 10 (not really counting them) and took them to the register. The young lady waiting on me told me that I could only buy them in 3`s so did I just want the 9 of them. I asked her if I was able to buy just one and she said no

[Tankgod82]

Originally Posted by BeltoneMagoo

Last week I purchased a burger for $1.58. I handed the
cashier $2.00 and started digging for some change. I
pulled out 8 cents and gave it to her. She stood there
with $2 and 8 cents. She looked bewildered, 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
burst into tears.The incident got me thinking about how our kids were
learning math in school (or not).

Teaching Math In 1950: A logger sells a truckload of
lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5ths 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 4/5ths of the
price, or $80. What is his profit?

Teaching Math In 1970: A logger exchanges a set "L" of
lumber for a set of "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 product ion, contains 20 fewer points
than 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 Anderson determine
that his profit margin is $60?

Teaching Math in 2005: El hachero vende un camion carga
por $100. La cuesta de production es . . . .

And I remember when you had to actually be able to DO math in order to pass a math class. See "Teaching Math in 1950"
__________________

This made me laugh so hard because it is so true.

[Bob King]

"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."

for extra credit, underline other numbers in this assignment.

[sdennislee]

Originally Posted by BeltoneMagoo

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 2005: El hachero vende un camion carga
por $100. La cuesta de production es . . . .



__________________

I'm visiting California so I get both of these examples, unfortunately.

[jimtoo]

And In 2010: A logger sells a truckload of
lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80 and his
profit is $20. Your assignment: copy numbers and paste the same to your laptop computer and if your computer or calculator comes up with the same answer...You Pass.

[alageezer]

Originally Posted by BeltoneMagoo

Last week I purchased a burger for $1.58. I handed the
cashier $2.00 and started digging for some change. I
pulled out 8 cents and gave it to her. She stood there
with $2 and 8 cents. She looked bewildered, 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.

__________________

I did this very same thing at a Subway shop in the midwest somewhere a couple years ago. When I explained to the girl she owed me 50 cents, she didn't believe me. She called the manager out, a middle aged man, and after several moments, he handed my the 50 cents and a dollar bill. I stuck it in my pocket, and smiled all the way out the door.

[SNAPPY]

Well don't condemn everybody. I was born in the late 70s and seem to be in the same boat as y'all. I will admit though, I seem to be an exception. Almost every time I buy something with cash, I try to round it off in one way or another. Just like the OP. I too get the whole "deer in the headlights" look. You should see their faces when the total is $12.88 and I hand them a $20 and three $1s. It blows their minds. I simply tell them to enter it into the register and it will make sense. I had one girl call me a genius. It's pretty sad really.

Don't get me started with grammar.......

[Ken-55]

Originally Posted by SNAPPY

Well don't condemn everybody. I was born in the late 70s and seem to be in the same boat as y'all. I will admit though, I seem to be an exception. Almost every time I buy something with cash, I try to round it off in one way or another. Just like the OP. I too get the whole "deer in the headlights" look. You should see their faces when the total is $12.88 and I hand them a $20 and three $1s. It blows their minds. I simply tell them to enter it into the register and it will make sense. I had one girl call me a genius. It's pretty sad really.

Don't get me started with grammar.......

That's my standard reply also . .. "Just punch it in and the machine will tell you what to do."

The look on their faces is priceless!

Probably a good thing that I rarely pay cash anymore.

[hdossett]

Went to a steak house a few years ago. Their special was the 12 ounce steak. I ask for the 3/4 pound steak. They didn't have any of those, only the 12 ounce ones! Well, if that's all you have, I will take one of those!

H

[John H...]

Just Friday night, my wife and I were in a restaurant and while waiting for our meals, I went to the lottery register and bought 3 $1.00 lottery tickets. I gave her a $50 bill. She had to go to another register for change, and I didn't see her, but my wife said the $50 bill must of confused her because she had to use a calculator to figure out the change and then recounted it out to herself, before she brought it to me.