2000-10-22
I wouldn't respond either. You would get my attention if you could show me
how going metric would make me money. If I don't deal with fractions anyway
and just muddle through FFU, so why would I care which method takes less
time or is easier. I want to know what is easier on my wallet. Can you
give me an example of that?
John
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On
Behalf Of Norman Werling
Sent: Sunday, 2000-10-22 14:01
To: U.S. Metric Association
Subject: [USMA:8702] Re: Impact of mathmatics education on total
education
To all,
I am not surprised that I did not receive a response from either my present
Georgia State House of Representatives member not his challenger.
Although I thought it was a cute little idea, it probably appeared to be
some kind of a trick to get them out on a limb.
I believe that the typical adult has little or no remembrance of how to
determine a lowest common denominator, using either mathematics or reason.
My intent was to show how long it would take to add up the length of a line
that is virtually exactly the same length, one using fractions as used in
the inch and the other adding millimeters.
I have used this with friends and acquaintances and nobody has ever taken
the time to get the 63/64ths. They always give up and then go to the easy
number and add the 25 whereupon I finally tell them that they just added up
25 millimeters. When using it in face to face situations, they always have
been able to see both columns side by side.
I had hoped to be able to use it to demonstrate the futility of continuing
the overuse of fractions in daily American life.
Norm
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ma Be" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: 2000October22 13:00
Subject: [USMA:8700] Re: Impact of mathmatics education on total education
> One other "problem" I saw with this exercise was the considerable
"skewness" between them. In order for it to be "fairer" you would have to
use a similar # of digits for both of them, e.g. if you say 1/16,
you should
counter with, say, 243 (or 14, whatever), or something to that effect.
>
> Marcus
>
> On Fri, 20 Oct 2000 11:55:48 James R. Frysinger wrote:
> >I don't know who was addressed in your original message, Norm, but I
> >presume it was some official in DeKalb County's school administration.
> >
> >You inadvertently (perhaps) provided a very simple exercise in the first
> >step. The sum is 63/64 because the series is
> >1/64+2/64+4/64+8/64+16/64+32/64 which is (2^7-1)/64. Another way of
> >looking at it is that by adding an additional 1/64 to the stack and then
> >accumulating upwards, one has 64/64 from which the temporary 1/64 must
> >now be subtracted, leaving 63/64.
> >
> >Jim
> >
> >Norman Werling wrote:
> >>
> >> Gentlemen:
> >>
> >> I am an age 64 registered voter living in Georgia House
District 64. I
am
> >> vitally interested in the education of DeKalb's children as well as
that of
> >> my grandchildren who all live elsewhere but mostly in Georgia.
> >>
> >> I would ask both of you to humor me and complete the following
exercise.
> >> Then do me the honor of replying with total honesty and without any
> >> preconceived notions. Agreed?
> >>
> >> Step one is to add the following:
> >> 1/64
> >> 1/32
> >> 1/16
> >> 1/8
> >> 1/4
> >> 1/2
> >> -------
> >>
> >> -------
> >>
> >> How long did it take you to add them.? ___minutes and___seconds.
> >>
> >> Do not scroll down further until you have done the problem
and answered
the
> >> question with your best recollection of the time needed to answer. Be
fair
> >> now!
> >>
> >> Now add the following:
> >> 1
> >> 2
> >> 4
> >> 5
> >> 6
> >> 7
> >> -----
> >>
> >> -----
> >>
> >> How long did it take you to add them? _____minutes and _____seconds.
> >> Do not scroll down until you have done the problem and answered the
question
> >> with your best recollection about the time needed to answer. Be fair
now!
> >>
> >> After you have done both and filled in the blanks, just hit
"reply" and
send
> >> it back to me. Then we can talk about it via email or telephone,
whichever
> >> you prefer.
> >>
> >> Thank you for participating,
> >>
> >> Norman V. Werling
> >> 1240 Hunters Drive
> >> Stone Mountain, GA 30083-2545
> >> 404-292-9328
> >
> >--
> >Metric Methods(SM) "Don't be late to metricate!"
> >James R. Frysinger, CAMS http://www.metricmethods.com/
> >10 Captiva Row e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >Charleston, SC 29407 phone/FAX: 843.225.6789
> >
> >
>
>
> Angelfire for your free web-based e-mail. http://www.angelfire.com
>
