Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for September 20, 2014

I hate to see how he handles multiplication problems.

You can if you’re adding negative numbers.

@Calvin’s_Dad

Put some REAL Money on the table, they’ll get his attention.

Maybe he has A.D.D.

I think he’s just flat-out determined not to learn anything.

I too was/am mathematically challenged by the four basic operations of so-called Simple Arithmetic. I can just about manage to balance a checkbook. To this day I don’t knowhow to solve the problem of cars starting at different timesand speeds, nor of tanks filling at the top and emptying atthe bottom. I didn’t care, and it was not taught in a way thatengaged any interest. Nor was Plane Geometry. Algebra lost me completely; looking at equations made my head spin,and being told that one of the basic rules was that a negativemultiplied or divided by a negative equalled positive struckme as complete insanity. As I understood it, algebra hadbeen invented by some crazy wog, who had been out in thesun too long, and who had nothing better to do than inventintellectual games for which I had no interest or aptitude…If math CAN be made interesting, it certainly WASN’T. Iknow just where Calvin is coming from.

This was many years ago. From what I hear of New Math,[via Tom Lehrer], I’m glad I missed it. Shudder to think howtraumatic that would have been. Old Math is confusingenough!

You can’t add things and come out with less than you started with?What if you start with a balloon and add too much air?What if you start with a computer and add a virus?What if you start with a firecracker and add a lighted match?What if you start with excess weight and add dieting and exercise?What if you start with the belief that the postings on this site are logical, and then you add this one?

Here is Linus in the early days, before he became an intelletual:Click here: Peanuts (August 27, 1957)

What if you start with a passing grade in Miss Wormwood’s class, and then you add a noodle incident?

I was no fan of math at Calvin’s age – and not real good at it either. Somewhere around my Junior year in high school something “clicked” and I started to “get it.” Imagine my surprise one day when the teacher put ME in the “mentor” group helping the struggling kids. I would go on to get a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering – which involves a LOT of advanced math both in theory and in practice.

Now when my kids struggle with math I can help them look at problems from a variety of different approaches. I’ve “been there” myself and I believe that if I just keep throwing things at them SOMETHING will eventually click with them too.

The best part is, they have come to trust me as their “real” math teacher. I’ve heard every one of them tell the next-younger one “Don’t get frustrated. Trust Dad and you WILL learn to do it.” There’s no better feeling.

Dad! It’s the new math! Adults aren’t supposed to understand it.

core educator originator

Government math?

Like said, do it this way.Calvin, do you have 2 – Tens for a Five?

The problem is that comics people have only 4 fingers. That is not very useful for the decimal system.

Calvin and his pet tiger Hobbes have returned home from school and it’s homework time. Calvin tells Uncle Max it’s a free country.

I sat with my sons and “walked” them through homework. One son was learning simple division. After we did it, I gave him a big number to divide. At first, he was intimidated but we just went through the steps, dividing each part of the number until we solved the problem. He said he didn’t know he didn’t think he could do it. I said, “you could do it, you just didn’t know you could.” He’s now an electrical engineer with an aerospace company.

Uh, Calvin? I’d really check first to see what kind of mood Dad’s in after a day at work before I give him THIS kind of grief…

it’s okay, Calvin. I know. I felt and spent the same amount of time on math homework.

I had no trouble with math until I got past Algebra. The flip side – my brother TAUGHT ALL the advanced mathematics until he retired a couple of years ago – over 40 years.

Hard for me to read this any more. Was kind of funny but this is getting insulting kid needs his mouth slapped not funny that much disrespect for his parents or teachers. He needs some old fashioned up bringing.

I’m always having to tell the 7-year-old I tutor that when you subtract numbers, you end up with a smaller number than you started with!(She tends to forget and add numbers when she’s supposed to be subtracting them.)As soon as I remind her that the answer has to be smaller and not bigger than the number you started with, she gets the right answer right away.

Uh, Mr. Calvin’s Dad, -7 + – 3 = -10.

and, integrals, derivatives, and all the applied math

He’s going to be punished. I can see it now.

I am pretty sure at age six, Calvin is not yet dealing with Algebra or Trigonometry, much less Calculus. Some older kids and adults will eventually get it; others not so much..When I interviewed a possible new hire, one question I would ask (18 yrs or older) was “What is 10% of a dollar?”.If they asked for a calculator or pencil and paper, they didn’t get hired…

Another day where I have not used algebra.

He needs a good knuckle rap on the head!

Haven’t we been doing it all this time, economy-wise?

Calvin is right ant there is not a thing his Parents can do about it without being charged with child abuse.

Your future could end up badly without learning.

Calvin’s more disrespectful than usual in this strip.

Lawyer logic… possibly with a future in politics.

When people learn that I am math teacher at a university, I often hear, “I suck at math” or “I hate math” or “Please, no math in the morning”.

They’re afraid of the behavior of numbers?

Do they prefer math in the afternoon?

anything can be learned by anybody if it’s taken apart and put back the way they can understand it.

I am saving this for my son -handy.

For those who want to know, 8+4=Ryan Blaney