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 set “M.” Represent the set “C” as a subset of set “M” and answer the following 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?
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 is $60
Teaching Math in 2010:
El hachero vende un camion carga por $100. La cuesta de production es………….
[…] back in 2009, I shared some humor about math education in government […]
[…] back in 2009, I shared some humor about math education in government […]
[…] P.S. This is a depressing post, so let’s close with a bit of humor showing the evolution of math lessons in government schools. […]
[…] other examples of education-themed humor can be found here, here, here, […]
[…] other examples of education-themed humor can be found here, here, here, and […]
[…] P.S. This is a depressing post, so let’s close with a bit of humor showing the evolution of math lessons in government schools. […]
[…] P.S. Let’s close with a bit of humor showing the evolution of math lessons in government schools. […]
[…] P.S. Let’s close with a bit of humor showing the evolution of math lessons in government schools. […]
[…] P.P.P.S. This is a depressing post, so let’s close with a bit of humor showing the evolution of math lessons in government schools. […]
[…] P.S. This is a depressing post, so let’s close with a bit of humor showing the evolution of math lessons in government schools. […]
I think this piece needs updating for Common Core.
What’s even sadder is that I looked over my collection of slide rules and books about them, and realized that not only would today’s math students not be able to identify a slide rule if shown one, their teachers probably wouldn’t either.
But then, I carry a Russian-made pocket-watch style circular slide rule as a good luck charm.
[…] P.S. This is a depressing post, so let’s close with a bit of humor showing the evolution of math lessons in government schools. […]
I like how it gets racist at the end!
[…] P.S. This is a depressing post, so let’s close with a bit of humor showing the evolution of math lessons in government schools. […]
[…] P.S. Let’s close with a bit of humor showing the evolution of math lessons in government schools. […]
[…] P.S. Let’s close with a bit of humor showing the evolution of math lessons in government schools. […]
[…] P.S. This is a depressing post, so let’s close with a bit of humor showing the evolution of math lessons in government schools. […]
El leñador vende una carga de camión por 100$. El costo de producción es: …
I live in Southern California. Tell me about it. Fortunately for me, I am a Spanish-speaker by birth (Spain).