Math is Figure-Out-Able!
Math teacher educator Pam Harris and her cohost Kim Montague answer the question: If not algorithms, then what? Join them for ~15-30 minutes every Tuesday as they cast their vision for mathematics education and give actionable items to help teachers teach math that is Figure-Out-Able. See www.MathisFigureOutAble.com for more great resources!
Math is Figure-Out-Able!
#MathStratChat - September 25, 2024
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on September 25, 2024.
Note: It’s more fun if you try to solve the problem, share it on social media, comment on others strategies, before you listen to Pam and Kim’s strategies.
Check out #MathStratChat on your favorite social media site and join in the conversation.
Twitter: @PWHarris
Instagram: Pam Harris_math
Facebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education
Want more? Check out the archive of all of our #MathStratChat posts!
Pam 00:00
Hey, fellow mathers! Welcome to the podcast where Math is Figure-Out-Able. I'm Pam.
Kim 00:06
And I'm Kim.
Pam 00:06
And this episode is a MathStratChat episode where we chat about our math strategies. Every week, I throw out a math problem on social media, and people from around the world chat about the strategies they use and comment on each other's thinking. We love it when you comment on each other's thinking.
Kim 00:21
Yeah, I enjoy scrolling through those and like just I smile. Okay, so this Wednesday, our math problem was 49% of 25. And we're curious, how will you solve this problem? Pause the podcast, solve however you'd like, and then come on back to hear how we solve the problem. The problem is 49% of 25.
Pam 00:40
Dun, dun, dun. Okay, I'm going to use the commutative property,
Kim 00:44
Okie doke.
Pam 00:45
Of multiplication. And so, I'm going to think about 49% 25 as 25% of 49. But to think about 25%, or a fourth, one-fourth of 49, I'm going to think about a fourth of 48.
Kim 01:01
Okay.
Pam 01:02
So, a fourth of 48, I believe, is 12 because 4 times 12... Is that right? Fourth of 48.
Kim 01:10
Mmhm.
Pam 01:11
Yes. Is 12. I had think about that. I'm thinking a little tired today. So, if a fourth of 48 is 12, I still need a fourth of one more. And a fourth of 1 is a fourth. Or 0.25. And so, then I would add those two together, and I would get 12 and a 1/4, 12.25.
Kim 01:29
Nice.
Pam 01:29
What you got?
Kim 01:31
Well, last week I want to do Over, and I didn't, so I'm going to do over this time. And so, instead of thinking about 49% of 25, I'm going to think about 50% of 25.
Pam 01:40
Okay.
Kim 01:40
And 50% of 25 is 12.5.
Pam 01:45
Sure.
Kim 01:46
And then, I'm going to do 1% of 25. And 100% of 25 is 25, so 10% is 2.5, so 1% is 0.25. Which makes me think of a quarter. So, 50% was like $12.50, 1% is like a $0.25. So, $12.50 minus a $0.25 is 12.25.
Pam 02:13
Bam.
Kim 02:14
Yeah.
Pam 02:14
Nicely done. Very good. Alright.
Kim 02:17
Alright, we can't wait to see what you guys do every single week on the podcast... On the podcast. On MathStratChat. Let us know how you think about the problems. And while you're there, comment on each other's strategies. Super fun.
Pam 02:29
(unclear).
Both Pam and Kim 02:29
Yeah.
Pam 02:29
We post the problems on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm Central time. When you answer, tag me and use the hashtag MathStratChat. Then join us here to hear how we're thinking about the problem. We love having you as part of the Math is Figure-Out-Able movement because Math is Figure-Out-Able!