Math education today (vanity)

Yahoo Answers ^ | 06/10/11 | self

[Bob]

I just answered a question on Yahoo Answers which really makes me wonder about the current state of math education.

Here's the question:

ALGEBRA 2 HELP !!!!!!?

1. Select the best possible first step to solving the system by first eliminating the y variable.
5x - y = 5
7x - 3y = -1

A) Multiply the first equation by -3.
B) Multiply the second equation by -3.
C) Multiply the first equation by 3.
D) Multiply the second equation by 3.
(more at link)

[blueunicorn6]

3 is a number. Y is a letter. Red is a color, but orange is a fruit. Is it any wonder the kids are screwed up?

[Bob]

The test did not say it was the best method, just to show how it would be done if it was done this way. It’s a test of being able to add (or subtract) equations I guess.

From the question:

1. Select the best possible first step to solving the system by first eliminating the y variable.

[Bob]

The solution to the set of equations is x = 2, y = 5.

Multiplying equation #1 by either -3 or 3 will give you two equations that (by adding or subtracting) will result in either:

8x = 16

or

-8x = -16

In either case, x equals 2.

[Tanniker Smith]

1. Select the best possible first step

Everyone can argue all they like at how to answer this.
However, those six words were placed there by someone who doesn't know how to ask a question, unless they were looking for a "gotcha" response, or for students to parrot back exactly what they were taught without the students actually thinking for themselves.

As a NYC public high school Algebra teacher, I can definitively state that the "best possible" first step, is the one that makes the most sense to you, which will also yield the correct answer.

[Bob]

The Yahoo solution makes this problem much harder than it really is.

I disagree - IMHO, the multiple correct answers to the questions make the problems harder to grasp than they need to be.

The second question is even more confusing since the first three answers listed will all work.

[Turbopilot]

What’s the point of this kind of question? Multiple choice in Algebra? What about just “Solve for X and Y”? And this is supposed to be Algebra 2?

This kind of stuff was first semester Algebra 1 when I was in middle school. And no one would have asked a multiple choice question about selecting the best first step - we just had to solve for the variables.

[Stat-boy]

Agreed 100 percent. That is a dumb question. I went to grad school in applied math, and I do not know which step is the “best” because in my mind steps A and C seem about the same. I guess for me, in order to get the answer as quickly as possible, I would go with C, so that I am staring at -3y in both equations.

[wintertime]

There are 2 ways to solve this problem: substitution or elimination. Evidently, the test makers do not want the student to consider the substitution method.

As for the question asked, I would use option A. Negative 3 ( -3) requires merely one step. Option C, a positive 3, ( +3), would require the extra step of having to multiply by negative 1 ( -1).

[wintertime]

What’s the point of this kind of question? Multiple choice in Algebra? What about just “Solve for X and Y”?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Exactly! What is this? A reading test or a math exam? Solve the problem and hand it in to be graded.

[savagesusie]

The Postmodernism that is now the paradigm in the public schools since the Fabian socialists redesigned curricula in the 30’s is intentionally designed to destroy logic and reason to their irrational thinking—Marxism.

In other words, the Baconian/Newtonian world (Modern Philosophy) that was the basis of reason and logic for our country in the first 200 years is being systematically destroyed.

Destroy knowledge and rational thinking with cognitive dissonance and rubbish and emotional issues to destroy intellectual excellence and all ability to come to rational answers.

Marxism needs to have irrational thinkers who are unable to spot the Big Lie.
They believe things like up is down, homosexual activity is a “good”.

All kids should be taken out of public schools and all textbooks designed for public education need to be burned. Really.

[Stat-boy]

I am not sure what these methods are, but in real life I would get the to equations to look like:

-3y = f1(x)

and

-3y = f2(x)

At that point, I am done with the y variable, and I solve:

f1(x) = f2(x).

So what method did I just do (just curious)?

[occamrzr06]

Select the best possible first step to solving the system by first eliminating the y variable

Create a Blue Ribbon Panel to study how this makes Americans feel.

[Bob]

There are 2 ways to solve this problem: substitution or elimination. Evidently, the test makers do not want the student to consider the substitution method.

I don't know whether the elimination or substitution method is currently being introduced first. While either method can be made to work, some problems do lend themselves to choosing one method over the other.

My biggest gripe with the questions was the multiple answers which could be used to solve the problem. Getting the coefficients of one variable to match between the two equations is the important part. Whether you add two terms with opposite signs or subtract two terms with the same sign, the result is the same in that the variable is eliminated.

[bboop]

Math education stinks these days. They have eliminated most of the common sense and straight-forward ways of doing things, have 4th graders doing variables, etc. They have also made a real push to make it apply to real life, to answer the whine, ‘Why do I have to do MATH?” Instead of just saying, “Because ....”

I am tutoring a kid this summer who is so confused by 4th grade math that he is getting a D. Smart kid. Guess what? They are teaching ‘a different way,’ designed by some bachelor PhD guy at some university. I suggested that I teach ‘real math’ this summer to the child, so he would have a solid foundation on which to build ‘designer math’ next fall. The teachers don’t usually understand the Designer Math approaches, either, because they don’t make sense, so they cannot teach them adequately.

Mom would not hear of it — ‘He must learn how to do it their way, so he can get an A.” Forget whether or not it made sense to the kid.

// rolling eyes//

[Leaning Right]

Am I wrong in thinking that this student's teacher may only know one way to solve this type of problem?

First of all, you are right in that choices A and C are both correct.

But do not be too quick to blame the teacher. In the school district were I live, teachers MUST teach the one method approved by central administration and teach that method only.

And, no, I'm not exaggerating. Every course has a handbook which must be followed to the letter. A first deviation will result in a warning. If the teacher continues ANY deviation from the handbook, the district will begin dismissal proceedings.

[SageofRugby]

A is the best answer since it involves fewer following steps than C.

I can’t believe the number of errors I saw in responses. These may have been corrected in later posts.

[Clint N. Suhks]

A not C

[knarf]

"My point is - whoever wrote it - does not have a conceptual feel for math."

Juhevah stop t'think some of us that READ this TOO don't have a conceptual feel for math?

I sort'a favor gazintah's ....

3 gazintah 9 .. 3

[wintertime]

Hm?... I definitely like this method that you have posted.

[death2tyrants]