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 - February 11, 2026
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on February 11, 2026.
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
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
This episode is a MathStratChat episode where we chat about our math strategies. Every Wednesday evening, I throw the 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 0:20
Okay, so this Wednesday, our problem was -35 subtract -37.
How would you solve this problem? Pause the podcast. Solve it however you want and come on back. The problem is -35 subtract -37
Pam 0:35
Alright, Kim, I think you should start.
Kim 0:38
Okay.
Pam 0:39
I will if you want me to.
Kim 0:40
No, it's good. Okay, so listen. When there's a whole bunch of like negative signs.
Pam 0:48
Yeah.
Kim 0:48
I tend to get thrown back into the like distance meaning of subtraction.
Pam 0:54
Okay.
Kim 0:55
I would say it like almost always.
Pam 0:57
Okay.
Kim 0:57
Which might not be a great thing, but whatever. So, I'm thinking about the distance between -35 and -37. Like I wrote. I'm writing on my paper where those two are, and I know that there's a gap of 2. They're 2 away from each other.
Pam 1:09
Nice.
Kim 1:10
So, then I have to decide is it positive 2 or -2? And so, then I look about like the order of what I'm subtracting, and I say to myself I'm starting with -35. Which is small. But it's bigger than -37.
Pam 1:29
Mmhm.
Kim 1:30
So, I'm subtracting. I have a big number minus a small number, and it's going to leave me with a positive amount. I think it's positive 2.
Pam 1:38
I like it. I like it a lot. I think that would probably be my go to as well. But I can also think about -35. Whoa, I'm trying to write, and it's not working. -35. I can think about subtraction, that I've done enough problems that we've worked through and we thought about that I could think about subtracting a number as adding the opposite of the number I'm subtracting.
Kim 2:00
Yeah.
Pam 2:00
So, -35. I can add the opposite of -37 which is positive 37. So, I'm thinking about -35 plus positive 37 is also 2.
Kim 2:09
Say that one more time.
Pam 2:11
-35 plus positive 37 is 2. Like, if I'm in debt 35, but I earn 37 bucks, I still have $2.00 left over.
Kim 2:23
Oh, yeah, yeah. Sorry. I think I misheard you.
Pam 2:25
Okay. Okay, cool.
Kim 2:27
Alright, we can't wait to hear what you do each week. Join us on MathStratChat and let us know how you think about the problem and comment on each other's strategies.
Pam 2:35
We post the problems on Wednesdays around 7:00 pm Central. When you answer, tag me and use the hashtag MathStratChat. Then, join us here to hear how we're thinking about the problem. Y'all, thanks for being part of the Math is FigureOutAble... Thanks for being part of the Math is FigureOutAble movement. Math is Figure-Out-Able.