This word problem was on Mallory's math homework last week:
We puzzled til our puzzlers were sore, but we still couldn't figure out the answer. I wrote a note beside the problem: "Mrs. G., this problem didn't make sense to either Mallory or her parents."
The next day the paper came back with a note from Mrs. G. She circled the last line of the problem and wrote:
Okay! Whew! I was relieved to know that I wasn't, in fact, dumber than a second grader.
Except then I realized that I still didn't understand how the answer could be 3, 5, 6, or 8.*
I can't wait til she gets to algebra.
*Unless what they're calling "regrouping" is what we used to call "carrying the ones." In which case the answer would be 8. I think. Maybe.
Lesia has 32 stickers. Diana has a few stickers. Lesia adds their stickers. She has to regroup when she adds. How many stickers does Lesia have? Circle the number.
3
5
6
8
We puzzled til our puzzlers were sore, but we still couldn't figure out the answer. I wrote a note beside the problem: "Mrs. G., this problem didn't make sense to either Mallory or her parents."
The next day the paper came back with a note from Mrs. G. She circled the last line of the problem and wrote:
"Misprint! This should have said Diana."
Okay! Whew! I was relieved to know that I wasn't, in fact, dumber than a second grader.
Except then I realized that I still didn't understand how the answer could be 3, 5, 6, or 8.*
I can't wait til she gets to algebra.
*Unless what they're calling "regrouping" is what we used to call "carrying the ones." In which case the answer would be 8. I think. Maybe.
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Mom