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Math
Topic Started: Mar 7 2006, 04:19 PM (740 Views)
Larry
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Mmmmmmm, pie!
I bought a burger at Burger King for $1.58. The counter girl took my $2 and I was digging for my change when I pulled 8 cents from my pocket and gave it to her. She stood there, holding the nickel and 3 pennies, while looking at the screen on her register. I sensed her discomfort and tried to tell her to just give me two quarters, but she hailed the manager for help. While he tried to explain the transaction to her, she stood there and cried.

Why do I tell you this? Because of the evolution in teaching math since the 1950s:

Teaching Math In 1950
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price. What is his profit?

Teaching Math In 1960
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price, or $80. What is his profit?

Teaching Math In 1970
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80. Did he make a profit?

Teaching Math In 1980
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80 and his profit is $20. Your assignment: Underline the number 20.

Teaching Math In 1990
A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals or the preservation of our woodlands. He does this so he can make a profit of $20. What do you think of this way of making a living? Topic for class participation after answering the question: How did the birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down their homes? (There are no wrong answers.)

Teaching Math In 2005
Un hachero vende una carretada de madera para $100. El costo de la producción es $80. Cuánto es la ganancia?

Of the Pokatwat Tribe

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The 89th Key
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Me gusto! :D
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dolmansaxlil
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HOLY CARP!!!
Our current Grade 6 math text book, Chapter 3:

A typical household in Australia uses 260 000 L of water each year. A quarter of the water is used for showers. Typically a shower uses 40 L of water. About how many showers do they have in a year?
"Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst." ~ Henri Cartier-Bresson

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Kincaid
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HOLY CARP!!!
That's great Dol, but Larry's talking about U.S. math texts. ;)
Kincaid - disgusted Republican Partisan since 2006.
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dolmansaxlil
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Kincaid
Mar 7 2006, 08:57 PM
That's great Dol, but Larry's talking about U.S. math texts. ;)

Good point, Kincaid. Ours would have to be in French. ;)
"Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst." ~ Henri Cartier-Bresson

My Flickr Photostream


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Luke's Dad
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Emperor Pengin
1625

Which works out to 4.5 showers a day. (Not that you'd ever be able to tell from smelling those Aussie bastards!) :P
The problem with having an open mind is that people keep trying to put things in it.
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The 89th Key
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Well this was MY textbook in 3rd grade:

A tree falls down on the Palisades Parkway. How many firemen are dispatched to clean it up?
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Aqua Letifer
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ZOOOOOM!
Because they both have pits.
I cite irreconcilable differences.
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ivorythumper
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I am so adjective that I verb nouns!
Mat' in 2006

We aks you dis: Lil' Jizzie gots a 9mm he wanna pawn to buy some meth. The pawn shop give him $125 for da cappa -- how much crank can he score?
The dogma lives loudly within me.
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kenny
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Hahahahha

That's Spanish for:

Hahahahaha
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phykell
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42
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated. - Ghandhi

Evil cannot be conquered in the world. It can only be resisted within oneself.

Remember, bones heal and chicks dig scars
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Qaanaaq-Liaaq
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Quantitatively challenged cashiers must have found smart cash registers a godsend because they can calculate the change. Trying to make things easier for them by doing what you did only confuses them more.
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kenny
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I don't like to carry around a lot of ones.
If the bill is $6.87 and I don't have a five I'll give him a ten and two ones.

Half the time they hand me back the ones and say, "It's only $6.87.
I hand the ones back and say, "I'd like to get a five back."
Sometimes they pause and think for a very long time. :rolleyes:

You'd think they would have understood that. :blink:
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justme
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HOLY CARP!!!
Kenny, the same thing happens to me. :rolleyes2:

In Florida we have other problems. While managing the bookstore I had to help the cashier because the customer, a man in his nineties at least, couldn't see what was in his wallet. She called me over and I kindly took out the correct amount of money for him. Even if he could've seen what was in his wallet his hands were shaking so bad I doubt if he could've gotten the money out if he wanted to.

Anyhow, I told her she did the right thing in calling me over. God forbid if someone saw her actually helping the guy out by going into his wallet.

It was then that we watched him walk over to his car and drive away.

Pretty darn scary.
"Men sway more towards hussies." G-D3
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kenny
HOLY CARP!!!
justme
Mar 8 2006, 07:51 AM
Kenny, the same thing happens to me. :rolleyes2:

In Florida we have other problems. While managing the bookstore I had to help the cashier because the customer, a man in his nineties at least, couldn't see what was in his wallet. She called me over and I kindly took out the correct amount of money for him. Even if he could've seen what was in his wallet his hands were shaking so bad I doubt if he could've gotten the money out if he wanted to.

Anyhow, I told her she did the right thing in calling me over. God forbid if someone saw her actually helping the guy out by going into his wallet.

It was then that we watched him walk over to his car and drive away.

Pretty darn scary.

Next time call me.

I'll help to get the money away form the old fart. :devil: :devilgrin: :lol:

(BTW, what did you buy with his credit cards?)
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justme
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HOLY CARP!!!
kenny
Mar 8 2006, 11:53 AM

Next time call me.

I'll help to get the money away form the old fart. :devil: :devilgrin: :lol:


I'm sure you would! LOL!

I was more concerned about letting him loose in the parking lot. God only knows if he couldn't see in his own wallet how he could see to drive!

:hair:
"Men sway more towards hussies." G-D3
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Aqua Letifer
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ZOOOOOM!
That's happened to me too, Larry.

Getting food at a Subway (on a copule occasions this has happened), I know by now that on average, I pay 8-something for the carp I norm'ly get there. Now, if I just recently hit up my ATM, that prob'ly means I have 20's and 1's in my wallet. So, trying to make the change easier, I'll sometimes give the cashier 24 dollars, making the change in bills an even 15.

Blank stares. Always blank stares. Sometimes I get into arguments with the cashier.

"Sir, it's only 8 dollars."

"Yes, I know, but if I give you this amount, the change will be 15 dollars, in case you want to spare your 1's."

"I... I don't........ it's only 8 dollars."

:rolleyes:

Yeah, sure, only geeks use math. Nobody needs to learn that stuff in school, only math dorks who want to be math teachers. :rolleyes:

If you learn math, guarenteed it'll find its way into everyday life; that's what's so great about it! Folks who say math isn't practical scare me.
I cite irreconcilable differences.
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kenny
HOLY CARP!!!
Just this morning I was crossing a street at a crosswalk.
An old lady almost hit me.
She rolled down her window and said, "I'm sorry. I didn't see you."

Every time some politician tries to improve the testing for driver's licenses for the older drivers they get voted out of office.

Them old fogies vote.

:veryangry:
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Larry
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Mmmmmmm, pie!
Several years ago I went into an auto parts store to buy some car wax. When I got to the checkout counter, the girl running the register was sullen and borderline hostile. The conversation went like this:

Clerk: 6.42
Me: (handed her a ten)
Clerk: (gave me back a 20, two fives, 3 ones, and some change)
Me: Ma'am, I believe you need to recount the change you've given me.
Clerk: (seethingly) I gave you back the right amount.
Me: No ma'am, you didn't. Count it.
Clerk: I didn't cheat you. I gave you back your change.
Me: Please count it. You've given me the wrong amount back.
Clerk: Are you calling me a crook? I gave you your change. Now get out of the line.
Me: Ma'am, could I speak to your manager please?
Clerk: (picks up desk phone and calls for manager)
Manager: (hostile) What's the problem?
Me: I just made a 6.42 purchase and gave her a ten. This is what she gave me back in change (holds out the change for him to see)
Manager: (To clerk) Did you give him back his change?
Clerk: Yes, and he's arguing about it.
Manager: (To me) Mr, you've got your change.
Me: But I believe that if you count it you'll see that I was given the wrong amount back.
Manager: Mr, you've got what you're supposed to get back. Now get out of the line and leave.

Me: (stuffing the change into my pocket) Well, if you're satisfied, then who am I to argue? Thank you very much.

Did I steal? I don't think so. (dollar amounts reconstructed from memory to protect the innocent.......)

Of the Pokatwat Tribe

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Aqua Letifer
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ZOOOOOM!
Quote:
 
Did I steal? I don't think so. (dollar amounts reconstructed from memory to protect the innocent.......)


Not at all. Perhaps this is stealing, but if they give me more change back than what I should receive (unless it's something outrageous like 30-40 dollars), I'll keep it and sleep like a baby at night.

Well, scratch that; if it's some mom and pop store, I'll prob'ly tell them since the people I'm directly ripping off are right in front of me. Daryl at Wal-Mart will get paid the same if he gives me back incorrect change.

Or, if payment if voluntary, I'll often give more. I pay more for coffee at this place by my office because it's sort of in the back of the store, and they have an Honor System going with a jar of money.

(Reading back on this, my habits make no sense at all! Shouldn't I be ripping off the honor systems instead??)
I cite irreconcilable differences.
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kenny
HOLY CARP!!!
Larry, I just checked the Bible.
Yes you did steal - in your heart.

You knew they would assume you would only complain if you were shortchanged.
That's why you chose your words so carefully.
By carefully avoiding telling them that you were given back *too much* you didn't legally sin but you sinned in your heart.

Go go hell.
Do not collect $200.

Next.
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The 89th Key
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Aqua...I like how you used "Daryl", some random name! :lol:

Larry, you didn't steal, you gave them every opportunity to see it.

Stealing is taking something that's not yours. It's more of an ethical dilemma when you get back more than you should. I always give it back or tell them they didn't charge me for the pack of gum or whatever other mistake they make. However if I'm already out of line and walking in the parking lot (happened the other day), I'll just let it go...too much hassle to cut back in line just to let the clerk know they made a mistake.

Oh and I used to work at the movies, and I got the "12 dollars for something that's 6.50" all the time, and at first it throws you off if you've never had a customer do that, but you learn the first time, and it's all fine.

Actually working at the movies in the concession stand makes you learn how to do under-20-dollar math really quick. It's surprising how quick your math becomes when you constant have to deal with "20 dollars minus 7.83" and other calculations...
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katie
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Your first post Larry ....
So true ...
Just yesterday (at the fast food place) I was trying to explain to my son that knowing how to make change fast was an expected part of having a job when I was young. He looked toward the guy, then the cash register, then at me making like I was expounding alien concepts. Today the kid will start learning how to do this b/c he'll have to make change when I give him his allowance. Kids just don't understand nowadays ...

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phykell
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Larry
Mar 8 2006, 04:14 PM
Several years ago I went into an auto parts store to buy some car wax. When I got to the checkout counter, the girl running the register was sullen and borderline hostile. The conversation went like this:

Clerk: 6.42
Me: (handed her a ten)
Clerk: (gave me back a 20, two fives, 3 ones, and some change)
Me: Ma'am, I believe you need to recount the change you've given me.
Clerk: (seethingly) I gave you back the right amount.
Me: No ma'am, you didn't. Count it.
Clerk: I didn't cheat you. I gave you back your change.
Me: Please count it. You've given me the wrong amount back.
Clerk: Are you calling me a crook? I gave you your change. Now get out of the line.
Me: Ma'am, could I speak to your manager please?
Clerk: (picks up desk phone and calls for manager)
Manager: (hostile) What's the problem?
Me: I just made a 6.42 purchase and gave her a ten. This is what she gave me back in change (holds out the change for him to see)
Manager: (To clerk) Did you give him back his change?
Clerk: Yes, and he's arguing about it.
Manager: (To me) Mr, you've got your change.
Me: But I believe that if you count it you'll see that I was given the wrong amount back.
Manager: Mr, you've got what you're supposed to get back. Now get out of the line and leave.

Me: (stuffing the change into my pocket) Well, if you're satisfied, then who am I to argue? Thank you very much.

Did I steal? I don't think so. (dollar amounts reconstructed from memory to protect the innocent.......)

Call me cynical Larry, but the passive wallflower you depict in your tale doesn't really sound like you now does it? :D
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated. - Ghandhi

Evil cannot be conquered in the world. It can only be resisted within oneself.

Remember, bones heal and chicks dig scars
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JBryan
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I am the grey one
I'm sure he was raising hell as in, "By God, you gave me the wrong change!!!" "Where the f*** did you learn to count!!!" "Go get the manager so we can get this s*** straightened out right away!!!"
"Any man who would make an X rated movie should be forced to take his daughter to see it". - John Wayne


There is a line we cross when we go from "I will believe it when I see it" to "I will see it when I believe it".


Henry II: I marvel at you after all these years. Still like a democratic drawbridge: going down for everybody.

Eleanor: At my age there's not much traffic anymore.

From The Lion in Winter.
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