Saturday, July 17

if I'd learned math this way...

So it's no secret that I barely squeaked by in Algebra II. I did not understand Geometry, either. My math teacher was frustrated, and so was I. I'm sure he was more frustrated.

But I do use math. It's when I first realized that there really are practical uses for it that really mattered to me that I started connecting the dots - that I could use this info. (duh)

So for all you creative math teachers out there who help your students understand that math is indeed practical and is not, in fact, just another class which gives them excruciating headaches, this one's for you.

I have a recipe for iced coffee that calls for 1/3 cup of coffee grinds and 1 1/2 cups water. I happened to have 1/2 cup of grinds. How much water would I need? I figured it out! 2 1/4 cups.

Story problems about trains going different miles per hour don't cut it, nor do people with fictional names. Give me a recipe for ICED COFFEE and results I can drink on a hot summer day, and I'll gladly do the math.

Happy Saturday!

6 comments:

Shelldell said...

Very true

Unknown said...

I LOVE math! It's fun (for me) and I see its usefulness in LOTS of areas of everyday life, especially cooking and couponing. You have an iced coffee recipe using used coffee grounds? Pass it on sistah! The only way I do iced coffee is using cold brew coffee (aka toddy) but I don't have the right equipment so it takes me forever to make the stuff.

Mary Ann said...

HA! You make me laugh! I agree with you, show me how what I am learning will be practical in my life & I will definitely pay attention. Still laughing...

Mama Mia said...

I think I greatly frustrated that math teacher too, but not because I didn't understand...I just wanted to frustrate him! He was an easy target. Wasn't I bad?
Practical math is much easier to understand than geometry. I think I asked that math teacher everyday when I was going to use geometry in real life! His answer must not have appeased me cause I kept asking!

Rosemary said...

MATH!!! I am so glad that you found a way to relate to it. GOOD job with the 'kitchen algebra'. My 6th grade teacher actually did teach us intro algebra using recipe conversions. Maybe that is what got me hooked. I must be an official nerd, but math is my MOST favorite thing and my major in college. I love the logic of it. I do math (algebra, geometry, trig, calculus) exercises just for the fun of it. I use math constantly: in my work (bookkeeping, calculating costs), in my hobbies (quilting, baking, gardening), in personal finances, taxes, home decorating. And I used to get SOOO excited when my kids would say 'Mom, can you help me with my math?' :D

Jenny said...

Aunt Rosemary, just don't be surprised when Aaron says, "Great Aunt Rosemary, mommy is not so good at math. Can you help me??"