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 - June 17, 2026
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In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on June 17, 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 math-ers! Welcome to the podcast where Math is Figure-Out-Able. I'm Pam Harris.
Kim 0:07
And I'm Kim Montague.
Pam 0:08
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 0:20
Okay, so this Wednesday our math problem was 8 times 20 times 5. How would you think about this problem? Pause, solve however you want, and then come on back. The problem is 8 times 20 times 5. You want me to go?
Pam 0:34
Flip a coin?
Kim 0:35
You can go.
Pam 0:36
Alright, I am thinking about 20 times 5 because you, my good friend, have convinced me to think about fifths. Isn't that funny how now 20 and fifths are just like finally becoming part of my... Anyway. So, 20 times 5 is 100 and now I end up with 8 times 100. So, I didn't do them in order, I decided to think about 20 times 5. 8 times 100 is 800. Okay. What do you think?
Kim 1:03
I thought about the fact first. So, I thought about 8 times 5.
Pam 1:07
Oh, nice.
Kim 1:09
Which is 40. And then that times 20. So, 40 times 20 is 800.
Pam 1:14
How do you know that 40 times 20 is 800? Do you know?
Kim 1:17
I think about 40 times 2 is 80 times 10 is 800.
Pam 1:23
Cool, I like it.
Kim 1:24
Nice. Alright, we love to see what you do each week. Join us on MathStratChat and let us know how you think about the problems. And please comment on each other's strategies.
Pam 1:33
We love that. Y'all, we post the problems on Wednesdays around 7:00 p.m. Central. When you answer, tag me and use the hashtag MathStratChat. Then join us to hear how we're thinking about the problem. Thanks for being part of the Math is Figure-Out-Able movement. Math is Figure-Out-Able!