From owner-freebsd-chat@FreeBSD.ORG Sat Apr 1 06:08:45 2006 Return-Path: X-Original-To: freebsd-chat@freebsd.org Delivered-To: freebsd-chat@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 11D7716A422 for ; Sat, 1 Apr 2006 06:08:45 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from brett@lariat.org) Received: from lariat.net (lariat.net [65.122.236.2]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 07D9543D77 for ; Sat, 1 Apr 2006 06:08:38 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from brett@lariat.org) Received: from Anne (IDENT:ppp1000.lariat.net@lariat.net [65.122.236.2]) by lariat.net (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id XAA10923; Fri, 31 Mar 2006 23:08:23 -0700 (MST) X-message-flag: Warning! Use of Microsoft Outlook renders your system susceptible to Internet worms. Message-Id: <7.0.1.0.2.20060331230224.098779f8@lariat.org> X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Version 7.0.1.0 Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2006 23:04:42 -0700 To: ShillerMath , freebsd-chat@freebsd.org From: Brett Glass In-Reply-To: <20060401032818.27086.qmail@borg.phpwebhosting.com> References: <20060401032818.27086.qmail@borg.phpwebhosting.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Cc: Subject: Re: Your ShillerMath Tidbit X-BeenThere: freebsd-chat@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: Non technical items related to the community List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Sat, 01 Apr 2006 06:08:45 -0000 Why is this spam on the list? Also, it's worth noting that the author gives the wrong answer to his sample SAT question below. The only correct answer is 4 (D), not 5 (E). I wouldn't pay $29.95 for a book from an author who couldn't give the correct answer to his own sample problem! --Brett At 02:12 PM 3/31/2006, Larry Shiller wrote: > ShillerMath Tidbits: Getting out of the starting gate > > [parentzone.gif] > What to do when you have no idea what to do! > > A 1,000 mile journey begins with but a single step... > Have you ever looked at an SAT question and felt like saying, "Help! > I'm clueless!"? You're not alone. Even the brightest and best have > felt the same way. Should this ever happen to you, this sure-fire tip > will get you on your way to math success. > An overwhelming problem typically has a lot of information to process, > and it's not clear how all that information leads to the answer. So > instead of worrying about how to get the answer, start with the answer > and work backwards. Let's see how this might work using a sample > multiple-choice SAT test question: > If x and y are integers and 5x + 2y = 13, which of the following could > be the value of y? > A. 1 > B. 2 > C. 3 > D. 4 > E. 5 > This problem falls into an interesting branch of mathematics called > Diophantine Equations. > Since this is a multiple-choice problem, one strategy is to try each > answer to see what happens. For example, if y=1 (choice A), 5x + 2(1) > = 13; 5x = 11; x = 11/5. But x must be an integer ("If x and y are > integers..."). So choice A is incorrect. > If y=2 (choice B), 5x + 2(2) = 13; 5x = 9; x = 9/5. But again, x must > be an integer so choice B is incorrect. > After repeating this process for choices C, D, and E, we find that > only choice E satisfies the condition that x is an integer. > If the problem requires a student produced response, you know the > answer will be a number because only numbers can be answers to student > produced responses: You may try the strategy of picking a number (pick > a number, any number!) and working backwards as you did above. As you > work through the problem you'll likely find a way to get the correct > answer. > By working backwards you always have a place to start. And that makes > it more likely you'll have a happy ending! > > In the next ShillerMath Tidbit we have another installment in our math > biography series. In the meantime help yourself to [1]Free Downloads > on our web site! > [funnybone.gif] > > They Said It... > "There is no royal road to geometry." Euclid > "Mathematics is the queen of the sciences and number theory is the > queen of mathematics." Carl Friedrich Gauss > "...the greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our > dispositions and not on our circumstances." Martha Washington > > I hope you enjoyed this short math break. > Sincerely, > [lssig.jpg] > Larry Shiller > Publisher > Been thinking about ShillerMath but just wanted to start with just one > year's worth of material? [2]YES! Get individual lesson plan books for > as low as $29.95! > Did you enjoy this Tidbit? Please tell your friends, family, and > fellow parents, teachers, librarians, and local homeschool groups. > Thank you for [3]spreading the word! > _________________________________________________________________ > > What is ShillerMath? > ShillerMath publishes research-based homeschool math curriculum, > music, and manipulatives for ages 4-12, with beautifully designed > lessons, diagnostic tests with answer keys, catchy math songs, and > Montessori-based manipulatives. No Montessori or math knowledge is > required and there's zero lesson preparation - just read what's in > quotes and you're good to go! Students using this approach > consistently outperform their peers. Larry Shiller, ShillerMath > founder and President, has a math degree from MIT. The ShillerMath > curriculum includes authoritative materials and lessons used by > thousands of Montessori schools worldwide and is the math curriculum > of choice for thousands of homeschoolers nationwide. Visit the > [4]ShillerMath site for all the details on this proven and amazingly > effective product. > > If you no longer wish to receive ShillerMath emails please [5]click > here to unsubscribe. > > ShillerMath never sells or rents emails: > [6]http://www.shillermath.com/privacy_popup.php > >References > > 1. http://www.shillermath.com/page1.php?em=freebsd-chat@freebsd.org&src=tidbit20060401 > 2. http://www.shillermath.com/page1.php?src=tidbit20060401&email=freebsd-chat@freebsd.org&url=cart.php > 3. http://www.shillermath.com/page1.php?src=tidbit20060401&em=freebsd-chat@freebsd.org&url=recommendnews.php > 4. http://www.shillermath.com/page1.php?src=tidbit20060401&em=freebsd-chat@freebsd.org > 5. http://www.shillermath.com/unsubscribe.php?Unsubscribe=freebsd-chat@freebsd.org > 6. http://www.shillermath.com/page1.php?src=tidbit20060401&em=freebsd-chat@freebsd.org&url=privacy_popup.php >_______________________________________________ >freebsd-chat@freebsd.org mailing list >http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-chat >To unsubscribe, send any mail to "freebsd-chat-unsubscribe@freebsd.org"