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It's impressive for fourth grade level. My issue with it is that I don't see the practical value in how the question is phrased. Why would I ever need to do such a thing? Yeah, it's neat to know how to do it...but concentrate on either putting it in a form that is realistic or don't ask it at all. Math problems that are contrived are worthlessly abstract. If I want abstract I'll take an advanced math class but not in 4th grade.
I realize you are kind of making a funny, but there is a real point here.
Oh, I'm more than kind of.. But.. You're right as well that it's a valid funny point.
When I first read the question.. the first thing that went through my mind was that it couldn't be answered because we had no way of knowing the price of the desk AND the chair.. After re-reading it, I realized they weren't looking for the individual prices.. Which, as someone else mentioned, is a completely non-real world scenario.
But, I saw a funny one on FB today..
Quote:
Bob has 36 candy bars. He eats 29. What does he have now?
Answer: Diabetes. Bob has diabetes.
Another correct answer due to a poorly worded question.
Another correct answer due to a poorly worded question.
Wait a minute. There's not enough information to answer that question. We don't know if the candy bars were regular or large sized, we don't know over how many days or months he ate them, and we don't know if the HIPAA laws were broken in knowing that Bob has diabetes.
Oh, I'm more than kind of.. But.. You're right as well that it's a valid funny point.
When I first read the question.. the first thing that went through my mind was that it couldn't be answered because we had no way of knowing the price of the desk AND the chair.. After re-reading it, I realized they weren't looking for the individual prices.. Which, as someone else mentioned, is a completely non-real world scenario.
If the wording is bad, how would you improve it? How would you rephrase the question and make it ironclad?
If the wording is bad, how would you improve it? How would you rephrase the question and make it ironclad?
I would NOT reword it! The entire premise of the question is silly and no one would ask that or ever need to know it.
If you're trying to teach a concept or method, do it in a compelling way that shows why it is important or when I could use it in the future. ...contrived...unrealistic....not useful. Fourth grade math needs to teach what is useful. High school math and college math - goes beyond that.
If the wording is bad, how would you improve it? How would you rephrase the question and make it ironclad?
I wouldn't ask such a question in the first place. It's not representative of a real world situation, but is an artificially worded problem to force a student toward a desired path.
If you're trying to teach how to solve a math problem, then use an equation (not a "number sentence"). If on the other hand you're trying to teach how to convert word problems to equation form, then use a problem that is realistic.
I know this may sound funny, but you used algebra at every step.
Step 1: Find X: 108 x 3 = X
Step 2: Find X: 399 - 324 = X
Step 3: Find X: 75 + 75 = X
The fact that 'X' was already isolated on one side of the equation is irrelevant.
Lol. You substituted every answer with a "X". By your own logic,
1 + 1 = X, 1 + 2 = X, 2 + 2 = X , ...... Find X.
Every 1st grader and up is doing algebra every day. US students math performance should be the #1 in our galaxy. Reality check, we are not even in top 10 on Earth.
Let me be blunt, you need to learn more math.
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