Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Fifty Years of Math

A friend sent this to me and I think she wanted to post it, but was a little shy and concerned that it may offend someone. Pffftttt! Like I give a hairy rat’s ass! So here 'tis:

Fifty Years of Math 1957 to 2007

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?

Follow below the evolution of teaching math since the 1950s:

1. Teaching Math In The 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 The 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 The 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 The 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 The 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 2007:
Un hachero vende una carretada de maderapara $100. El costo de la producciones es $80. Cuanto dinero ha hecho?

11 comments:

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

LOL! I remember those problems!

SOme were a lot harder than that.

MY stepson is in Iraq.

We're having two more thanksgivings (we already had one in NY).

One with Stepdaughter and her husband
One two days later with step-daughter-in-law and stepsons children (our grandchildren, hallelujah!)

Too bad there is a family feud that keeps us all from being TOGETHER! :-(

HAVE A GREAT Turkey day and lots of love.

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

Some of those problems were ridiculously convoluted.

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

Remember those? LOL!

CindyDianne said...

*snort*

Coffeypot said...

mst, sorry about the feud. Maybe a little talk about love and family being stronger than any petty shit might work. Or tell them to grow the fuck up, shake hands, kiss and make up because life is to short for petty shit. That might work, too. Sometimes being tough pays off. Or get a motel room, secretly invite everyone at the same time, shut and lock the door and tell them NO ONE is leaving until the problems are solved. I’ll send in food and water and any medical supplies needed very other day or so.

cindydianne, EXACTLY!

e.Craig Crawford said...

Ain't it the truth!

Anonymous said...

Sad, but true. Why bother with math, when you can just click on the calculator icon on your desktop, for example?

And let me add one more question in this vein. Did you know that kids nowadays refuse to read books on paper, because the said books have no search engines in them?

Cap'n Ergo "XL+II" Jinglebollocks said...

BWA HA HA!! That's great!! I used to teach, so this hits home.

Coffeypot said...

raven, yes they do. Tell the kids the search engine in a book is called an INDEX.

hot lemon, if I said that I use to teach it would have to be followed up with “…before I was sentenced to life in prison for killing the little smart mouth bastard and slapping the shit out of his parents.”

Unknown said...

hahaha - so true! Loved this and FYI I am going to copy and paste this to email to a friend. He will love it!!

Pamela said...

it adds up. funny yet too true.