Comments on: [WCYDWT] Leslie Knope’s Love Life

By: Brandon

Brandon — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 19:14:19 +0000

Another video all about scale factor, ratios/proportions, etc. — http://vimeo.com/bradgoodspeed/scale

By: Dan Meyer

Dan Meyer — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 07:35:08 +0000

I did this in Doha, Qatar, yesterday with some teachers and they told me we’d have to adjust the formula to “one-fifth plus seven.” Ew.

By: Aaron F.

Aaron F. — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 07:03:13 +0000

The thing that always got me about the “half your age plus seven” rule is that if you take it seriously, it actually makes an interesting prediction! Specifically, it tells you that people younger than a certain age shouldn’t be able to date *anyone* without being creepy… and that age turns out to be fourteen, which seems pretty accurate!

By: dy/dan » Blog Archive » [WCYDWT] Speeding In Compton

dy/dan » Blog Archive » [WCYDWT] Speeding In Compton — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:12:21 +0000

[…] as a math teacher and curriculum developer, though, it has a lot of sentimental significance. In Leslie Knope's Love Life, I wrote about my goal to draw inspiration closer to action through practice, practice, practice, […]

By: James D

James D — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 22:35:46 +0000

It seems like it could be entertaining with mature enough kids. Certainly agree with you Andrei, those real world ratios are the best for getting kids going on something.

By: Andrei

Andrei — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:53:02 +0000

One thing I was surprised to find when I went into the ‘real world’ is that ratios like ‘cost per ounce’ are actually pretty tame. Real situations often call for the fuel per passenger mile (on a ‘plane), or the employee hours worked per guest per day (at a hotel).

By: Chris Sears

Chris Sears — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:35:30 +0000

So, I’m not the only one who remembers “half your age plus seven.” I thought it was funny that Tom could do it in his head to one decimal place.

On the theme of look for math where you see it, I just used one of Jared Loughner’s YouTube videos in my Contemporary College Math class. I was talking about how his video presents the Law of Detachment perfectly, even though his premises are incomprehensible.

I’ve also used multiple videos from Big Bang Theory. The math always works out on that show.

By: Karim

Karim — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:01:43 +0000

Great find! Actually seems like fair game to me, and certainly tamer than "half plus seven" (which makes for a great Algebra lesson). Why are you reluctant? I'll take it if you don't want it. Here's one that definitely shouldn't be taught, though. Or maybe it should. Cost per ounce? Rations and proportions all over it. Great math. Seems like a waste not to.