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_Ju_
19-Aug-06, 20:05
Students have recieved their exam results and every year the same cyclical discussion on how exams are becoming easier ocurrs. To help us understand if this is true, let us study the evolution of the maths problem in the last 50 years......;)



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Evolution of the Maths Problem
A tribute to modern socialism in education
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In 1960:
"A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of this price. What is his profit?"

In 1970 (traditional maths):
"A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of this price; in other words, $80. What is his profit?"


In 1970 (new maths):
"A logger exchanges as set L of lumber for a set M of money. The cardinality of set M is 100, and each element is worth $1. Make one hundred dots representing the elements of the set M. The set C of the cost of production contains 20 fewer points than set M. Represent set C as a subset M, and answer the following question: What is the cardinality of the set P of profits?"

In 1980:
"A logger sells a truckload of wood for $100. His cost of production is $80, and his profit is $20. Your assignment: underline the number 20."

In 1990 (Outcome Based Education):
"By cutting down beautiful forest trees, a logger makes $20. What do you think of this way of making a living? (Topic for class participation: How did the forest birds and squirrels feel?)"

MadPianoPlayer
19-Aug-06, 21:55
That was on the news and they think that they are buying answears off the internet to get better grades.:)

DrSzin
20-Aug-06, 00:23
The great irony is that the real maths problem didn't start until about around 1990 at Higher & A level in the UK. Well, the claim is that things went downhill at an alarming rate for at least a decade after that. I can probably dig out quantitative analyses if pushed.

Grade inflation in A level Maths in England/Wales/Northern Ireland reached new heights (lows?) this year: 43.5% of candidates achieved grade A in A level Maths; the figure was 56.9% in Further Maths. In Scotland the fraction of Grade As was 24% for both Highers and Advanced Highers.

These figures are from the BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/default.stm).

Kenn
20-Aug-06, 01:35
I am some what bemused by the whole thing. Maybe I have missed the point some where but surely the idea of a question is to provoke a response and in an examination situation to test the students knowledge or is that too simplistic?
It is inevitable that certain questions will reappear over the years in an examination as there are a limited amount that can be asked within the perametres of the subject being tested.
What really worries me is what is the level set for a pass?
When I was sitting exams the pass level was 50% and that only gave you a pass, to achieve an A grade you had to score 90 plus and this in the days when appart from practical subjects course work did not come into the picture.
As an employer I am increasingly sceptical of the current exam regime when I get graduates applying for vacancies and they cannot write in twenty legible words why I should employ them.
I know that this post may incur some indignation from those who have studied hard and achieved to the best of their ability, for which I congratulate them and to all those currently in any form od education I would say, be the best that you can,but remember that you need to live life too. The School of Life will teach you many more things than any professor.

Antediluvian
20-Aug-06, 11:57
I am some what bemused by the whole thing. Maybe I have missed the point some where but surely the idea of a question is to provoke a response and in an examination situation to test the students knowledge or is that too simplistic?
It is inevitable that certain questions will reappear over the years in an examination as there are a limited amount that can be asked within the perametres of the subject being tested.
What really worries me is what is the level set for a pass?
When I was sitting exams the pass level was 50% and that only gave you a pass, to achieve an A grade you had to score 90 plus and this in the days when appart from practical subjects course work did not come into the picture.
As an employer I am increasingly sceptical of the current exam regime when I get graduates applying for vacancies and they cannot write in twenty legible words why I should employ them.
I know that this post may incur some indignation from those who have studied hard and achieved to the best of their ability, for which I congratulate them and to all those currently in any form od education I would say, be the best that you can,but remember that you need to live life too. The School of Life will teach you many more things than any professor.

Higher and A level exam marks are a far cry from university exams, its a totally different animal and you really can't compare them.

And am increasingly sceptical of your post when you demand 20 legible words, yet you have 3 glaring spelling mistakes, I certainly couldn't offer you a job.

Very funny post _ju_, not been updated for the naughtys yet?

DrSzin
20-Aug-06, 13:47
I found an update (http://www.pen.k12.va.us/Div/Winchester/jhhs/math/humor/teachmth.html) (see bottom of page):

Teaching Math in 2000:
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A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100.
His cost of production is $120.
How does an Enron Accountant determine that his profit margin is $275?

Teaching Math in 2010 (in California):
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"El hachero vende un camion cargapor 100,000 pesos.
La cuestade production es... "

pedromcgrory
20-Aug-06, 14:25
internet plys a good part in grades is days

Max
20-Aug-06, 16:55
Well I have had a look at my daughters fourth year maths - can't comment on exams but it looks blooming difficult to me - and I have old 'o' levels and highers.

_Ju_
20-Aug-06, 22:31
Max, we get trained to answer in a certain way, not really learning, but memorizing. Memory used in this way has it's limitations. Hands up who never swotted for an exam and the day after the exam couldn't for the life of them remember the subject matter. We all did it from a very young age.... that is the stuff we don't remember (unlike the lyrics of the rubbish songs that were top of the pops at the time- even if we hated the song!)

LOL, Dr Szin.... I like the ammended version!

Antediluvion, I am never ever naughty (says the lass with a halo hovering 10 cm above her head- 4 inches for the decimally challanged)

Antediluvian
21-Aug-06, 17:51
Max, we get trained to answer in a certain way, not really learning, but memorizing. Memory used in this way has it's limitations. Hands up who never swotted for an exam and the day after the exam couldn't for the life of them remember the subject matter. We all did it from a very young age.... that is the stuff we don't remember (unlike the lyrics of the rubbish songs that were top of the pops at the time- even if we hated the song!)

LOL, Dr Szin.... I like the ammended version!

Antediluvion, I am never ever naughty (says the lass with a halo hovering 10 cm above her head- 4 inches for the decimally challanged)

Hehe, so are you not in the naughties yet? Was going to spell it with an "o" but wasn't as much fun.

Mentioning your imperial/metric conversion reminded me of when I was in Canada last year. I was at the butchers counter in Sobeys(Canadian Supermarket) and asked the girl (Probably 19/20) for 500g of Bacon (The price was quoted in per gramme so I thought that would be the easiest) How wrong was I. She proceeded to tell me that she was unfamiliar with grammes and could only work in Kilogrammes??!?!?!? Unfortunately I was trying my hardest not to laugh at the time and then asked for half a kilo of bacon. She measured out 300g anyway before starting to wrap it up, I had to stop her and remind her I was looking for half a kilo, but she said she didn't know what that was. I changed my order to a pound of bacon and she just looked at me blankly. What units she must work in was beyond me, so I had to basically tell her to keep adding rashers till we got past that magical 500g mark.

Not sure what they are taught in Canada, am sure Canuck could help, but its not Imperial or Metric, and she definately struggled with SI aswell. If the saying children are the future is true, I think Canada might be in a bit or trouble.

_Ju_
21-Aug-06, 18:35
Antediluvian ( I think I might call you pre-moses to confuse people???) your pound story reminds me of one I was told by a friend in the first person, though I have a very hard time believing it. Apparently he went to a baker and asked for a dozen rolls. The youngster behind the counter gave he a blank look and asked him what a dozen was because it was her first day at work......... ????? Is this possible???????? [lol] or maybe I should :cry:

Antediluvian
21-Aug-06, 18:47
Antediluvian ( I think I might call you pre-moses to confuse people???) your pound story reminds me of one I was told by a friend in the first person, though I have a very hard time believing it. Apparently he went to a baker and asked for a dozen rolls. The youngster behind the counter gave he a blank look and asked him what a dozen was because it was her first day at work......... ????? Is this possible???????? [lol] or maybe I should :cry:

Would be more pre-Noah, a particularly wicked time in human history, according to the bible. But there is much more interesting stories if you search for Antediluvian with Atlantis or Yoga or Hindu or Atomic.

And would seem it takes all sorts to work in this world, including many who struggle with Dozens and Grammes