Agnes by Tony Cochran for January 11, 2019

A religious compound! That does not usually end well.

Isn’t that a pretty tricky equation for somebody Agnes’s age? Sure, I could figure it out in my head (brag brag) and got it to 2,57, but I’m a grown adult and it took me a while.

Didn’t take me long at all. Of course my answer was wrong, but still pretty fast on the draw. (I came close with 2.5) I agree this is kind of advanced for her age.

Agnes is about ten…. fourth or fifth grade.

Not sure about 2019, but I remember working with fourth grade students on division by a single digit number back in the 1970’s.

Before they learn decimals, if the result isn’t even, they say the answer is “2 with a remainder of 4.”

Then they progress to saying 2 and 4/7ths (2 and four sevenths… hard to read here) without having to divide out the fraction.

Eventually they get to 2.57, R=1, then probably in what is now called upper middle school, 2.5714, or however far they’re supposed to take it.

They’ve also learned to divide by two digit numbers somewhere along the way.

With “Common Core” math and its emphasis on methodology over accuracy, they’re probably allowed to say “a little over 2 and a half”, now, if they can explain why.

As a mathematician, I say the answer is 18/7, even though the teacher would think her a smart ass for saying that. Any decimal is just an approximation, and mixed numbers suck.

What’s the next step? Send her to the manager of the trailer park?

She should whip out her Walmart calculator and blurt out “2.5714286!” But, that’s not the point, is it.

Let’s get to the real nub of the question here; why is the “principal” quizzing Alice in math? Oh wait! I do believe she was sent there, never mind.

It’s tough getting to New Mexico, Agnes. Would you consider a compound in the trailer park?

2.571428571428571

Come here Anges ! We will take you in ! What’s one more ?!!