Tag Archives: sorting

In the Middle – Median

Posted on 2009/04/06 by Bert Speelpenning

In the previous post, I reported on 7th graders exploring the notion of the middle between two numbers.  The method used by almost all seventh graders is one I dubbed the “two-handed approach.”  The same approach also works very well … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Math in the Comics – part 8

Posted on 2009/03/05 by Bert Speelpenning

Today’s Rose is Rose comic strip reveals something that’s in the cultural background about math homework: Can you name the background assumptions this comic strip makes, things that do not need to be stated explicitly for a wide audience to … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Notes on Lookup – Histograms as Sieves

Posted on 2009/02/25 by Bert Speelpenning

I think I overlooked one interesting example of something like a sieve being used in the typical K-12 math curriculum, and this post is intended to remedy that.  It is possible and instructive to look at a histogram as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Selection versus Education

Posted on 2009/01/12 by Bert Speelpenning

In many walks of life, we are quite used to systems that select suitable candidates by putting a graded series of hurdles in their path. In the USA we do this with presidential candidates: we make them campaign on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment