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!

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Math is Figure-Out-Able!

#MathStratChat - July 8, 2026

July 08, 2026 • Scott Holmes

0:00 | 3:54

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on July 8, 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 Harris.

Kim 0:08
And I'm Kim Montague.

Pam 0:09
And this episode is a MathStratChat episode because 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 0:21
Okay, so this week our problem is 25 times 7 times 4. How would you solve this problem? Pause the podcast. Solve it however you'd like. The problem is 25 times 7 times 4. What you want to do?

Pam 0:38
I mean, we could... Can I do two? Why don't you do what you're going to do, and then I'll do. Because I'll do one. Is all right? I got two. I want to play with one, but go ahead.

Kim 0:50
Okay, I... I mean, I kind of don't want to do the easiest one, so I'm go...

Pam 0:58
I could do that. I'll do the easy one. 25 times 4 is 100. So, out of order. And now we have 100 times 7 is 700. Okay. Got that one out of the way.

Kim 1:08
I did think about 25 times 7, even though, you know, it sits in order, whatever, because of like quarters. And I know that 7 quarters is $1.75.

Pam 1:19
Yep.

Kim 1:19
And then I could just double double.

Pam 1:21
Oh, nice. I hadn't thought about double doubling.

Kim 1:23
Yeah, yeah.

Pam 1:24
That's cool.

Kim 1:25
So, I was that 350 and 7. So, 700.

Pam 1:29
Yep, yep. Brilliant.

Kim 1:32
What you got?

Pam 1:32
Okay, cool. Nothing as cool.

Kim 1:37
I thought you said you had two you want to do. Did I steal your second one?

Pam 1:38
I did, but I hadn't worked it out enough to know that it was dumb.

Kim 1:43
Oh.

Pam 1:43
I had an idea, and now I don't like it. You know like.

Kim 1:46
You can do that. It's totally legal. You can start an idea, and then be like, "Nah, never mind."

Pam 1:51
That's playing. Yeah. Alright, y'all. We can't wait to see what you do each week. Join us here on MathStratChat, and let us know how you think about the problems, and comment on each other's strategies.

Kim 2:01
We post the problems on... 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 on these episodes to hear what we're thinking about the problems.

Pam 2:16
Y'all, thanks for being part of the Math is Figure-Out-Able movement. Math is Figure-Out-Able!