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 - July 16, 2025
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on July 16, 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
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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 where 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 comment on each other's thinking.
Kim 0:19
Okay, so this Wednesday, our math problem was if 6 is three-fourths of a number, what is half of that number? How would you solve this problem? Pause the podcast. Solve it however you'd like. And then come on back to hear how we solve it.
Pam 0:34
Okay, so the problem's what? Say it again.
Kim 0:36
If 6 is three-fourths of a number, what is half of that number?
Pam 0:42
Okay. Who's going first?
Kim 0:44
You can go first.
Pam 0:46
Alright. If 6 is three-fourths of a number. I somehow have this relationship because of a problem that my kid did that I tell all the time. I know what the number is, but I don't know that I want to share that one first. So, can you go first?
Kim 1:00
Sure. I don't know what you're doing, so stop me if it's the same thing.
Pam 1:03
Okay.
Kim 1:04
So, I think if 6 is three-fourths of a number then there's like 6 is 3 parts of something. So...
Kim 1:13
Three 1/4s.
Kim 1:14
3... Yeah, Three 1/4s. And so, when I think of 6 in 3 parts, then I think of 2.
Pam 1:19
Mmhm.
Kim 1:22
So, then if I want half, that's like 2 of the fourths, 2 of the parts. So, then I think 4 is half of the number.
Pam 1:32
So,
Pam 1:33
it's like you're saying if 6 is three 1/4s, then 2 is one 1/4. But you need two-fourths, so that's 4 is two 1/4s.
Kim 1:41
Well,
Kim 1:42
I think that way you went to the unit fraction. I don't think I did.
Pam 1:45
Oh. Well, you said two.
Kim 1:47
It was like...
Pam 1:50
Oh, because it was? Yeah. I mean, so you didn't say it was one-fourth, but you were chunking 3. You were chunking 6 into 3 chunks.
Kim 1:56
Well, I was kind of thinking about 6
Kim 1:58
is 3, then 4 would be 2. Maybe I did.
Pam 2:01
Oh.
Pam 2:02
if 6 is 3, then 4 would be 2.
Kim 2:05
Mmhm.
Pam 2:05
That's very proportional reasoning of you.
Kim 2:07
Well,
Kim 2:07
thank you. Alright, tell me what you're thinking. You were going to tell us something that you (unclear).
Pam 2:11
Okay, so I know that 6 is three-fourths of 8. That's just a relationship that I've kind of ground into my head.
Kim 2:17
Sure.
Pam 2:18
So, if 6 is three-fourths of 8, and we need half of that number. Half of 8 is 4.
Kim 2:23
Cool. Yeah.
Pam 2:24
Nice. Alright.
Kim 2:26
Alright. We can't wait to see what you do every week. Join us on MathStratChat and let us know how you think about the problems and comment on each other's strategies.
Pam 2:35
I'll
Pam 2:36
post the problem on Wednesdays around 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. Ya'll, thanks for being part of the Math is Figure-Out-Able movement. Math is Figure-Out-Able!