Good for ME! ( And the kid, too.)

[Spiky Bugger]

For three, non-consecutive, weeks this summer, we had our little nine-year-old friend. One of the rules was that we “did school” for a little while every day, so that (I told her) her brain wouldn’t dry up, shrink, and she’d only be as smart as a second grader.

School started and placement tests were administered. Tonight, we had dinner with her dad and MiniSue. Our little princess—who was a failure-to-thrive c-section preemie and never at the head of the pack on academic stuff—did quite well. In fact, she was precisely where they wanted entering fourth graders to be on math and just slightly short of target on language arts.

Actually, I had already heard from the princess that testing had gone well. She said, “They gave us a math “i test” to see what we knew. It even had long division just like we did here, except it was easier because no remainders.” So I had a hunch we did well.

Anyway, I got applause from her dad and MiniSue...which was cool.

When I finish inventing something...unless JackieOnLine tells me it’s already invented...that I can wear and that tells me when I hit the 30° bend at the waist point, so I don’t break any more vertebrae...after that...and the construction projects and finding that new shower curtain, I will open a summer school for long division only...with remainders!

 

[hilary1617]

Well done!

 

[Munchkin]

Good job!!!

 

[JackieOnLine]

you are such a wise and wonderful crone.

When I finish inventing something...unless @JackieOnLine tells me it’s already invented...that I can wear and that tells me when I hit the 30° bend at the waist point, so I don’t break any more vertebrae

never heard of it, and I assume you googled to see?
looks like you're going to be RICH!

or, you know, richER.

 

[DianaCox]

And when you invent it, I know where you can find a patent attorney.

I loved long division. It seemed magical and there are right answers, even when there are remainders.

 

[Spiky Bugger]

And when you invent it, I know where you can find a patent attorney.

I loved long division. It seemed magical and there are right answers, even when there are remainders.

That’s why I love helping with arithmetic, as opposed to “higher levels” of math. And also why I eschew math that involves such obscenities as imaginary numbers and exclamation points. Those things, and even equations where x can equal -2 or +2, just offend me.

 

[southernlady]

That’s why I love helping with arithmetic, as opposed to “higher levels” of math.

Or as I refer to it...kitchen math.

 

[southernlady]

Come on... you can do it... it's high school algebra

I barely passed Algebra I but made an A in Geometry the next year. I can visualize shapes, etc but linear equations drive my brain nuts.

 

[JackieOnLine]

I was the opposite - did well in Algebra but could not grasp geometry at all.
and I need a refresher in kitchen math, when the need shows up in my life I struggle way too much to do it and then I'm not confident my answer is correct.

 

[JackieOnLine]

Ok...

Quick refresher..

What are the roots of

A x^2 +Bx+C=0


While we are at it, what is 4!


Come on... you can do it... it's high school algebra

no idea! sadly!

 

[southernlady]

I was the opposite - did well in Algebra but could not grasp geometry at all.
and I need a refresher in kitchen math, when the need shows up in my life I struggle way too much to do it and then I'm not confident my answer is correct.

Hubby is an engineer, math major in college. He doesn’t grasp geometry that well. Its led to some interesting "discussions" while renovating bathrooms. I see how to make things work in my head that he just can't grasp. And eventually we end up doing it my way but it takes several explainations and drawing to get him to see that.

 

[Webmommy]

I struggled with Math until I got to college and then it all clicked for me with the right teacher and I took Algebra, Physics and Chemistry (stoichiometry). I still use the Algebra with stoichiometry in real life to find unknowns with things known. But that formula George is showing is unfamiliar to me!

 

[hilary1617]

I love math and just am pleased that it is being discussed here. That is all.

 

[southernlady]

Geometry is one one of the most beautiful subjects in beginning math... pure logical progression... I agree wholeheartedly

My Algebra I teacher was also my Geometry teacher the next year. In fact, she taught all the math in grades 9-12 (very small school). She always started off each year with all the students in that class at the same level but before a month was over, she had us divided into three sections. Algebra, I was in the “need the most help” group. That changed the next year. One problem we had to prove, she had us write our steps on the board. Student after student had 13-15 steps. I must have looked a bit confused cause the next round she had me up there. 5 steps, just 5. She spent over half the class time looking at my solution before admitting she never even saw that solution as a possible. I was put in the middle group, ended up after a second month in the “needed the least help” section. I never tried Algebra II, I knew better.

 

[Charris]

Um hummm Spiky Bugger you have let the cat out the bag as to what the other things are that keeping me in good shape is preventing you from doing.....