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 - April 30, 2025
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on April 30, 2025.
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 00:07
And I'm Kim.
Pam 00:08
And this episode is a MathStratChat episode because we chat about our math strategies. Every Wednesday evening, I throw out a math problem on social media, and people from around the world chat about strategies they use and comment on each other's thinking.
Kim 00:21
Alright, so this Wednesday, our math problem was 12 times three-fourths. How would you like to solve this problem? Solve the problem... Solve it however you want people. The problem is 12 times three-fourths.
Pam 00:37
Okay, no if we're really doing 12 times three-fourths. Oh, pause, and then come back. But 12 times three-fourths, I should like 12 divided by 1. And then I should do, you know like, multiply straight across. We could do all. We could do rules, right? But we could actually think about 12 times three-fourths. Can I start first?
Kim 00:53
Sure.
Pam 00:54
Okay, so I'm going to think about 12 times 1. But 12 times three-fourths is a fourth less of 12.
Kim 01:03
Mmhm.
Pam 01:03
So, that's 12 minus a fourth of 12. And a fourth of 12 is 3. So, 12 minus 3 is 9. Is that right?
Kim 01:13
It is indeed.
Pam 01:14
Okay. That's a new strategy for me. So, I'm...
Kim 01:18
To go Over?
Pam 01:19
Messing with it. Well, to think about 12 times three-fourths that way, yeah, is a little new for me. Kind of happy that it's pinging for me.
Kim 01:27
Yeah, it's great.
Pam 01:27
Alright, what are you thinking?
Kim 01:29
I don't know. It was kind of weird today. For whatever reason, when I saw the three-fourths, I was like that's a half and a fourth.
Pam 01:39
Oh.
Kim 01:39
So, I thought about a half of 12, which is 6, and a fourth of 12, which is 3.
Pam 01:44
Nice.
Kim 01:45
And I put those together for 9.
Pam 01:46
Okay. Yeah, cool. I like it. Alright.
Kim 01:49
Alright. Well, we can't wait to see what you guys do every week. Join us please on MathStratChat and let us know how you think about the problems. And what other people really love is when you like and comment on their strategy.
Pam 02:01
Yeah, it's fantastic. Join us when we post the problems on Wednesday around 7:00 pm Central. And when you answer, tag me and use the hashtag MathStratChat. Then, join us here to hear how we're thinking about the problem. Ya'll, thanks for being part of the Math is Figure-Out-Able movement. Math is Figure-Out-Able!