The Dinette Set by Julie Larson for April 12, 2018

beginner algebra

It’s obvious Grandpa’s a big zero.

Even though the answer was obvious, I was trying to remember how you would show your work. It took a minute but I remembered. I was always taught that you had to get everything away from the x. I was trying to start by dividing by two first. But that doesn’t work. First you add five to the one side, and then to the other. Making it 2x=8. Then divide both sides by two. x=4. I’m sure nobody needed to see that.

Poor Timmy. He’s future looks bleak!

I was amazed that my kids learned algebra in 3rd or 4th grade! I failed 9th grade math in 9th AND 10th grade! I could always get the right answer, but didn’t know how to show my work.

Now with common core, they try to teach the mental process by which you solve problems. My son would bring home work, and the question would be like “Estimate what 39 plus 38 is.” I would say “It’s 77.” and he’d say “No, you can’t put the right answer.”

Grandpa misunderstood. Timmy is asking him “what is sex”.

Wait FOUR the answer