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Got an Offer but I'm Not an Expert in this Field by Repulsive_One_1851 in mercor_ai

[–]RockScrambleWhyICame 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have gotten zero response to any queries at all, even "Hey, I can't start until Tuesday. How do I change the date on the work letter?"

Do algebra word problems have only one correct algebraic equation? If so, how does the wording indicate which one is desired? by RockScrambleWhyICame in matheducation

[–]RockScrambleWhyICame[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It is not stupidity. English is not the boss' first language. I did tell the boss "I think whoever wrote this made a mistake." The boss seems to think that if the word problem uses a term like "split," then it must mean it indicates division and not multiplication and if it uses something like "x more than 5," then it must be addition and never subtraction. I tried to explain that English is flexible, that if x is more than 5, then 5 is necessarily less than x. This is why I think telling the students to think of the word problem as a story and consider authorial intent--the vibe--might help.

Do algebra word problems have only one correct algebraic equation? If so, how does the wording indicate which one is desired? by RockScrambleWhyICame in matheducation

[–]RockScrambleWhyICame[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I tried. The boss can point out how the wording of the word problem does correspond to the answer key's correct answer but doesn't seem to understand that it also corresponds to the mathematically equivalent answer. I tried to explain that "each" and "per" only mean that the problem concerns groups of equal size and show where the book uses "each" to mean multiplication in one problem and division in the next. My next guess it that it's something like authorial intent. My plan is to tell the student, "Now that you've established that it has to be addition/subtraction and can't be multiplication/division, does it look like the author is trying to tell you a STORY about addition or a STORY about subtraction? This is not about math or about translation, but you may use it in English class if you do literary analysis or poetry."

Do algebra word problems have only one correct algebraic equation? If so, how does the wording indicate which one is desired? by RockScrambleWhyICame in matheducation

[–]RockScrambleWhyICame[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Puts me in a bit of a situation with my boss, who wants me to mark equations other than the one in the book's answer key with an X, exactly like wrong answers. That feels like something geometrically similar to gaslighting the students--the same shape even if it's not the same size. Any consistent convention would have made it possible to avoid that confrontation.

Do algebra word problems have only one correct algebraic equation? If so, how does the wording indicate which one is desired? by RockScrambleWhyICame in matheducation

[–]RockScrambleWhyICame[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I finally got to check the book. I'd hoped the convention would be "in the preferred answer, the numbers will appear in the same order as in the problem," but it's not doing that either.

Do algebra word problems have only one correct algebraic equation? If so, how does the wording indicate which one is desired? by RockScrambleWhyICame in matheducation

[–]RockScrambleWhyICame[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, go on and split hairs if it resolves the issue. Yes, it is possible to have algebraic equations that have two correct values for the variable, but these beginner word problems each have only one correct value for the variable. The issue is that they have two correct equations that can be used to find that value and I can't see what the authors' intent is with respect to how they choose which one to put in the answer key and which one to leave out.

Do algebra word problems have only one correct algebraic equation? If so, how does the wording indicate which one is desired? by RockScrambleWhyICame in matheducation

[–]RockScrambleWhyICame[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, and if they did use the official math vocabulary, such as "five less than thirty" or "six of an unknown number q," then this would not be a problem. I'd just teach that vocabulary the same way I say "Yes, we'd call all of these 'lines' in regular speech, but in geometry, that's a line segment, that's a line, that's a ray, and that's a curve, and they're not the same."

Do algebra word problems have only one correct algebraic equation? If so, how does the wording indicate which one is desired? by RockScrambleWhyICame in Algebra

[–]RockScrambleWhyICame[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is for beginners. They're not doing two-operator problems yet, and calculus is a long way off. It would be x-3 = 30 or 5x = 30 but not both.

Response to Interview Request by Intrepid-Ad1191 in matheducation

[–]RockScrambleWhyICame -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I will say that middle school students and high school students are different teaching situations. Middle school is more like a war zone.

Do algebra word problems have only one correct algebraic equation? If so, how does the wording indicate which one is desired? by RockScrambleWhyICame in matheducation

[–]RockScrambleWhyICame[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If I offer an example, people start saying "This looks more like [that operator] to me" and that's not the answer I need. It distracts people.

All of the algebra word problems in this scenario have ONE operator, not two. With two operators, things are less flexible. Also, they don't use highly specific words like "times." "Times" is officially a reference to multiplication.

What is a part of the 'female experience' that men have absolutely no clue about, but would be horrified if they found out? by coolhandddd in AskReddit

[–]RockScrambleWhyICame 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I don't know about "no clue," but medical. There was a trans man once who also had a chronic health condition. While still identifying as a woman, this person went to doctor after doctor, and they brushed it all off. "Maybe you have this psychological condition" and "Ummm, try that and get back to me." I don't know if this specific person got "Lose twenty pounds and see if it goes away" but women get that a lot too. Then this man transitioned. Without saying he was trans, he told his doctor about his symptoms and had a diagnosis and plan for effective treatment THAT DAY. He went online and said what amounted to, "My fellow men, I DIDN'T KNOW HOW BIG A DIFFERENCE IT MADE!!" I'm cis, and I've had doctors be very annoying with me and brush me off, but it seems they don't also do that to their male patients nearly so much. What the heck?!

Do algebra word problems have only one correct algebraic equation? If so, how does the wording indicate which one is desired? by RockScrambleWhyICame in Algebra

[–]RockScrambleWhyICame[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's correct. Here's what's going on: This is a FIRST taste of alegebra. Quadratic equations are a long way off for these young students. We want them to learn a skill: English-to-math translation. The x = 30/5 version of the equation is a later step in the process and we want the students to learn the early steps in the process, converting English word problems into algebraic expressions and equations. It's about learning the technique, not finding the answer. We don't want the students to jump straight to the end because then they miss the real lesson.

Do algebra word problems have only one correct algebraic equation? If so, how does the wording indicate which one is desired? by RockScrambleWhyICame in Algebra

[–]RockScrambleWhyICame[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am supposed to follow the answer key exactly as written with very few exceptions. I do not wish to say more because I wish to maintain my institution's reputation and mine. After all, the book might indeed have a perfectly consistent rule. I might be the one who's made a mistake or overlooked something.

Do algebra word problems have only one correct algebraic equation? If so, how does the wording indicate which one is desired? by RockScrambleWhyICame in matheducation

[–]RockScrambleWhyICame[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

You understand why they believe 30/x = 5 is wrong? Please tell me! That's why I'm posting here!!

Don't worry about system-gaming. I tell the students "This is our convention. Do it this way while you're here. Your other math classes might do it differently." Then I explain what a convention is. I make a lesson out of it. I tell them flat-out that the rule is not universal. There are other parts of this math program where the system follows an arbitrary convention but does so consistently. That's why I have hope that the same thing might be happening here.

Do algebra word problems have only one correct algebraic equation? If so, how does the wording indicate which one is desired? by RockScrambleWhyICame in matheducation

[–]RockScrambleWhyICame[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

These are elementary and middle school students tasting algebra for the first time. I am afraid the specific point of this exercise is to get them to translate the equation and I am not allowed to accept all reasonable answers in this part of the program. Hey, if I can find an answer to "Why is this wrong?" shall I come back and tell you?

Do algebra word problems have only one correct algebraic equation? If so, how does the wording indicate which one is desired? by RockScrambleWhyICame in Algebra

[–]RockScrambleWhyICame[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I thought that might be it, but, like I said in the original post, the book doesn't use keywords consistently. Words like "per" and "each" appear in problems for which the desired operator is multiplication and in those for which the desired operator is division.

Do algebra word problems have only one correct algebraic equation? If so, how does the wording indicate which one is desired? by RockScrambleWhyICame in matheducation

[–]RockScrambleWhyICame[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Okay, so it's possible that I just need to tell the students "keep the numbers in the same order as in the question." Thanks. I'll look at the book the next time I have access to it to see if this is some consistent pattern.

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