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 - May 21, 2025
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on May 21, 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 0:00
Hey, fellow mathers! Welcome to the podcast where Math is Figure-Out-Able. I'm Pam.
Kim 0:06
And I'm Kim.
Pam 0:07
And this 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 the strategies they use. And we love that they comment on each other's thinking.
Kim 0:20
Okay, so this Wednesday, our math problem was 4 and 3/10 plus 2 and 9/10. How would you solve this problem? Pause the podcast. Solve however you'd like. The problem is 4.3 plus 2.9.
Pam 0:34
Alright, so, Kim, I have to tell you.
Kim 0:35
Yeah?
Pam 0:36
When you read the question, I wrote 4 and the fraction 3/10 plus...
Kim 0:40
Oh.
Pam 0:41
...2 and the fraction 9/10.
Kim 0:42
Alright.
Pam 0:43
Because that's the way you read it. And then you said 0.3. And I was like, "Oh, yeah. You could totally solve that either way, huh?"
Kim 0:48
Oh. Okay, go with your fraction.
Pam 0:50
Okay, so I'll go with the fraction. So, I am thinking about 4 and 3/10, and I'm gonna add 3. 4 and 3/10 and 3, because 3 is a little bit more than 2 and 9/10, is 7 and 3/10, but I've added one-tenth too much. So, if I back up a tenth, that's 7 and 2/10. Which is 7 and a 1/5.
Kim 1:11
I like.
Pam 1:12
Which I guess, since if the problem was in decimals, then I could say that's 7.2.
Kim 1:17
Mmhm.
Pam 1:18
And, man, I am better at tenths and... Sorry, fifths and 0.2, like 20%, better than I ever used to be. I like the (unclear).
Kim 1:26
Yay!
Pam 1:27
Yeah, cool. Okay, what are you
thinking about?
Kim 1:28
I also got 7.2 , but I thought about Give and Take. I moved 0.1 from the 4.3 and I gave it to the 3. I mean, the 2.9 to make 3. So, I ended up with 4.2 plus 3 is 7.2.
Pam 1:45
That's funny. I wrote that wrong. I got it, yeah.
Kim 1:49
Yeah.
Pam 1:50
Wait, say that again. Oh, no,
I followed you. Okay. (unclear)
Kim 1:57
Tired?
Pam 1:59
No, I'm great! That was nice.
Kim 2:01
Excellent.
Pam 2:01
Yeah, I was writing down the Give and Take part (unclear).
Kim 2:04
Ah.
Pam 2:04
I didn't get the further. Yeah.
Kim 2:06
Excellent. Alright, we can't wait to see what you do every week when you join us on MathStratChat. Let us know how you think about the problems and comment on each other's strategies.
Pam 2:15
We
post the problems on Wednesdays around 7:00 pm Central. When you answer, tag me and use the hashtag MathStratChat, then join us to hear how we're thinking about the problem. We love having you as part of the Math is Figure-Out-Able movement. Math is Figure-Out-Able!