Ever know that something is wrong, but just have a hard time explaining why? This challenge is for you! I was watching movie clips about math and ran across several old clips of Abbott and Costello (google them if you've never heard of them!) explaining how to divide 28 by 7. I knew the math was wrong, but I didn't stop and think, "how would I explain why this is wrong" before I showed it to my summer school students. MAJOR MISTAKE! :-) Having students who struggled with division watch it just confused them further...and then my explanation only continued the madness! Disaster of a lesson!
But...that lesson did bring home the point that being able to clearly explain WHY something is incorrect is important. (Not to mention the fact that I was reminded to think through everything before I teach it! LOL!)
So, your assignment today, math geniuses, is to watch the Abbott and Costello movie clip, and explain the incorrect thinking in it. 1,000,000 points to the best explanation. (And no, I have no idea what you can use the points for, but it sure is a lot of points, isn't it? :-) ) Post your explanation in a comment by August 23, 2010 for a chance at the million points. Good luck!
Abbott and Costello 28 divided by 7 is 13
Abbott and Costello 7 x 13 = 28
Susan Curtis
He's dividing/multiplying the numbers in the tens place as if they were in the ones place.
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Love the name.
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