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 24, 2026
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In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on June 24, 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 0:01
Hey, fellow math-ers! Welcome to the podcast, where Math is Figure-Out-Able! I'm Pam.
Kim 0:07
And I'm Kim.
Pam 0:08
This episode 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 week our math problem was 6 times 4 times 15. How would you think about this problem? Pause, solve the problem, and come on back. The problem is 6 times 4 times 15.
Pam 0:38
I don't know. I can see like an obvious way. Can I do the obvious one and make you think?
Kim 0:44
Sure.
Pam 0:44
Okay. 4 times 15 is 60. I love that I own that now. I didn't used to. And so, then I'm left with 6 times 60. And 6 times 6 is 36. Times 10 is 360.
Kim 0:56
Cool. I'm going to go with 6 times 15. I don't know it as well as 4 times 15. But like, for whatever reason I do know that that's 90. Maybe 6 times 10. 6 times 10, 6 times 5. I don't know. So, that's 90 times the leftover 4 is 360.
Pam 1:17
Also 360. Six 15s.
Kim 1:18
I'm trying to wonder...
Pam 1:19
I could work on that. I could work on 6 times 15. That's figureoutable.
Kim 1:22
Yeah, I guess. 4 times 15 is just so nice, though.
Pam 1:27
Yeah. But I don't know. I mean, yeah, if 6 times 15 occurs to you, that's pretty sweet.
Kim 1:31
Yeah.
Pam 1:32
Cool.
Kim 1:33
Okay.
Pam 1:33
Y'all, we can't wait to see what you do each week. Join us on MathStratChat and let us know how you think about the problems. And we love it when you comment on each other's strategies.
Kim 1:42
Pam posts the problems on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. Central. When you answer, tag her and use the hashtag MathStratChat. Then join us here to hear what we're thinking about the problem. Y'all, we love having you as part of the Math is Figure-Out-Able movement. Math is Figure-Out-Able!