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 - March 4, 2026
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In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on March 4, 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
And this is a MathStratChat episode where we chat about our math strategies. Kim, do you know somebody the other day thought it was a math start chat.
Kim 0:15
Oh.
Pam 0:15
Start.
Kim 0:16
Okay.
Pam 0:16
Yeah, wasn't too bad, right?
Kim 0:18
That's not bad. Mmhm.
Pam 0:19
Okay, 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 0:26
Okay, so this Wednesday, the math problem was 5 to the what power is 625? Go ahead and pause the podcast. Solve it however you'd like and come on back. It is 5 to the what power is 625?
Pam 0:41
Alright, Kim. I don't know who wants to go. I'll go first. So, I'm thinking about 5 to some power. I know that 5^2 is... Well, I know 5^3 is 125.
Kim 0:53
Mmhm.
Pam 0:53
So, 125 times 5 is 625.
Kim 0:56
Mmhm.
Pam 0:57
So, that would be 5^3 times 5^1, which is 5 multiplied by itself 5. No, not five times. It's 5... It's four 5s multiplied by itself, so 5^4. (unclear).
Kim 1:06
Yeah.
Pam 1:08
Okay.
Kim 1:08
Okay. I don't know a lot of squares, to be honest with you.
Pam 1:12
Okay.
Kim 1:12
This is one that I know 25 times 25.
Pam 1:15
Ah.
Kim 1:15
So, 5^2 times 5^2 is 5^4.
Pam 1:20
Nice.
Kim 1:22
Yeah.
Pam 1:23
Cool.
Kim 1:23
Alright, we love hearing about what you're thinking. Join us on MathStratChat each week and tell us what you think about the problems and comment on each other's strategies.
Pam 1:32
Yeah, we'll post the problems on Wednesdays around 7:00 p.m. Central when you answer, tag me and use the hashtag MathStratChat not start chat. 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. Math is Figure-Out-Able!