S: "This is easy, you just use the Dirt Triangle."
Me: "The what?"
S: "The Dirt Triangle."
Me: "Hmm. I don't know what that is."
S: "Look, Mr. Cox it's like this...
"...You cover up the one you're looking for and if the other two are next to each other, you multiply. If one is above the other, you divide."
Me: "Really? That's strange. I never learned the Dirt Triangle. I learned...
The Turd Triangle
S1: "No, that won't work. That's not what he[1] told us."
S2: "He said it didn't matter how we wrote it."
Me: "So which is it; does one work or are they the same? Make your case and be ready to defend it."
Helping students develop a turd detector one day at a time.
[1] Students picked up the triangle in another class. They said that the formulas were given early on and explained. However, many were still missing problems so the triangle was introduced.
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7 comments:
First, welcome back and I hope you feel better. Second, if you are looking for the ten pounds you lost, I may have picked them up on accident...they didn't have a name and I always seem to collect what others loose.
In regards to the post, this is another great example where students learn the algorithm, but probably have very little understanding of the conceptual idea. I love the questioning you asked to go deeper with. I am curious what the kids will come up with.
I am wondering if you have already thought of this as an averaging process. I am thinking of a lab a middle school science teacher teaches regarding the turd triangle. Students measure a distance, and then time cars as they pass by the residential side of his school. One of the things they calculate with this is their average speed, and they act like they are cops and if the person deserves a ticket for speeding. It also helps the discussion grow into what the difference between a scalar and a vector, but that's another story.
Love the scenario. Do you mind if I put this (edited slightly) on http://matharguments180.blogspot.com/ on the 26th?
https://twitter.com/MathCurmudgeon
@MathCurmudgeon
Jeremiah:
Thanks. Finally feeling better.
At first glance, some students said,"they're the same." But then we talked about how they could take numbers that they could deal with intuitively and tested them against both triangles. Only then did they realize that one actually worked.
I like the speeding idea; may have to borrow that one.
Curmudgeon
Sure, use it as you see fit.
Great post.
http://www.nfomedia.com/profile?uid=rJgSbgJ
Great post.
https://forums.soompi.com/profile/1480574-ronald-burbank/?tab=field_core_pfield_11
The TDS Telecom Speed Test is likely a tool provided by TDS Telecom to allow their customers to measure the speed of their internet connection. Speed tests measure both download and upload speeds, providing users with insights into their internet performance.
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