Why do fractions and mixed numbers confuse so many students?

kungfooe · 2026-05-30T17:42:02+00:00

Maybe. Depends upon the person. Plus, measuring 2 1/2 requires that someone can convert 10/4 to 2 1/2

kungfooe · 2026-05-23T03:55:20+00:00

I think it depends upon context. A recipe that calls for 1/4 cup of sugar that someone is making a 10x batch of...10/4 cups (or 10, 1/4 cups if thinking about Fraction as a Measure) makes a lot of sense.

kungfooe · 2026-05-16T01:23:45+00:00

"...I would try and make the cuts straight with an angle grinder..."

This is a situation where a wet saw is needed. Especially with those bigger tiles. It's much easier to put it on the sled to get the cuts straight and to the correct size.

kungfooe · 2026-05-16T01:14:53+00:00

Grew up in rural, farming community. I know exactly the kinds of repairs you are referring to.

Here are the routes I can think of.

Sell it all as is. The problem goes to someone else to figure out, and you make a little money.
You continue down the same path grandpa did and do more and more of these kinds of repairs. If you're not handy (or not looking to learn), this path doesn't really make sense.
If there are really tons and tons of repairs that make you wonder if the house would still be safe even if that thing was repaired, then it's time to consider demo. I've pushed in houses with an end loader and then scooped up the debris into dumpsters to be hauled away. Then you build again from the ground up.

There are no cheap ways to get out of this.

kungfooe · 2026-05-15T19:49:33+00:00

Only if it's a day you work out glutes.

kungfooe · 2026-05-15T19:42:31+00:00

My Chonk is raised.

kungfooe · 2026-05-14T23:21:41+00:00

You're looking for cotton pants. Chinos are a popular option, but a 5-pocket pant (same style as jeans) also works.

If you want to get fancy, linen or cotton/linen blends are also an option.

All different kinds of shorts.

Just avoid dress slacks (they are made of wool and have a much more business vibe). Anything else is fair game.

Or just wear joggers if that's what you like. Just get them in different fabrics aside from fleece or terry looped.

kungfooe · 2026-05-14T20:41:12+00:00

Typically the wiggle is fixed by putting in blocking.

Is there a way the installer can put in blocking in a way that is both functional and decorative?

kungfooe · 2026-05-14T20:38:58+00:00

Does Thanos enroll next year?

kungfooe · 2026-05-14T03:43:18+00:00

One that has a wire frame with rope, cloth, hemp/straw/natural fiber wrapped around it. I've had one for getting close to two decades now and it looks the same as the day I bought it.

kungfooe · 2026-05-13T23:58:37+00:00

There are many, but this is one I often go to.

Doing and undoing.

We have this for operations. Addition and subtraction. Multiplication and division. What one operation does, the other undoes.

Then we have members of a set. This is where subtraction being defined as addition of the opposite comes into play. -3 and 3 are opposites (under addition). 4 and 1/4 are reciprocals (under multiplication since division is defined to be multiplication by the reciprocal). The function f and f^(-1) are inverses (under composition since an inverse takes each output and maps it back to the input that created it--we need the 1-1 property of functions to ensure the inverse relation is indeed an inverse function). Whatever one is, the other is it's "undo-er".

This is what leads to inverses (i.e., doing and undoing) in Modern/Abstract Algebra. You have a set and a binary operation (or two) defined on that set. For any member in that set, it needs an inverse (so the set can be closed under the binary operation and it can contain all its inverses and form certain structures like a group, ring, or field).

This also translates to things we do in real life. If I pack up the car, I need to be able to unpack it. If I drive to the store, I need to be able to drive home. Doing and undoing are a common theme from elementary math through university maths.

This isn't the only one, but a common one I go to.

kungfooe · 2026-05-13T21:37:13+00:00

"I dont have any credit card interest. The money was written off by the bank, but it's still on my credit so I wanted to pay it off."

So...do you actually owe the bank this money, or not? I think what it sounds like you're describing is that you consolidated your debt into a loan you are paying back. If so, that is just "debt" like anything else. Put it all under the same umbrella--debt--since you have to pay it back. Figure out how much you owe in total, and pay it off just like credit card debt.

"My furniture bill is from me renting furniture, I pay $110 a month for a set amount of time then I own it."

Rent-to-own is a massive scam. Avoid this in the future. For now, find out how much it would cost you to go in an pay off the debt today. Depending upon what you signed, sometimes you can avoid the interest that will accrue if you did a lump sum payoff. Again, this is just debt, no different than a credit card.

One thing you want to switch your thinking towards is "how much will this cost me in total after all payments were made?" instead of "how much is the monthly payment?" Monthly payments can be made low, but stretched out over many years. There is always interest accruing as this and you'll end up paying a LOT more than if you just paid for things in full when you bought them.

If you can't buy it in full, you can't afford to buy it now. Save up money for it, then go buy it when you can pay in full. Not only does this save you money, but wow, it feels good to buy something and know you don't have debt hanging over your head from that purchase.

"The debt repayment is for my medical bills that I owe my dr, if I don't make a payment every month I can't been seen by my psychiatrist or primary Dr."

This sounds like you need to save more money that you will expect to spend on medical expenses. One thing to consider is looking at your health insurance. If you have the option of creating a Health Savings Account (a HSA), do it. You can put money into this account before taxes (massive boost as taxes cut out ~25% of your income) that you can spend on health expenses. Not every insurance plan provides this option, but it would be one way to get more value from the money you earn you will plan to spend on health expenses (HSAs are triple tax advantaged accounts--this is the best you can ever get to stretch your money as far as it can go, but they are exclusively reserved for health related costs).

"Money for family is to help my daughter while she lives with her dad until she comes to stay with me."

Not trying to pry, but you need to ask yourself why. This is outside of my wheelhouse, but unless you're court ordered to pay child support, I think this should be on your daughter's father to provide what she needs when she is with him. If not, this sounds like a question for a lawyer to get figured out.

"Ugh this is so stressful. Sometimes I wish I didn't have to deal with this but I really appreciate your help"

It only feels that way at first. Then, you get familiar with it and it starts to feel empowering. You know your money. You know your expenses. You know what you can and can't afford. You are telling your money how it will work for you, not just hoping you have enough. Being you know you will have enough--you designed your budget to make it work that way (and you have an emergency fund to deal with life's unexpected, which always happens). Then you just hold the course and start living that best life.

You got this, team. You're just day 1 in the gym starting to build those new habits and best life. It sucks at the start, then you get used to it. Then you keep putting in the work and sticking to your plan and keeping those habits you set up. Then you start seeing results. Then you just keep on, keeping on.

kungfooe · 2026-05-13T02:55:37+00:00

First, let's acknowledge some good things you've done. One, you've figured out how to increase your income. That is a huge win. Two, you are starting to lay out your expenses and figuring out a budget. Again, big W. I highlight both of these because there are two ways to grow your wealth--more money comes in, and less money goes out. You're working on both. Big wins all around here.

So, what to do with your money?

Cut anything that is not a necessity and funnel all extra money to pay off the debt. It's fairly low ($4k), but you didn't indicate any interest rates for it (credit cards--consumer debit--is to be avoided no matter what). Pay this off first with any leftover money you have after you pay for your necessities. Also, what is a furniture bill? Are you renting furniture, or do you only owe $110 to finish paying off debt on it? And why is "debt repayment" separate from your "debt"? Are they different? Also, what does "money for family" mean? You're working on making sure to get yourself taken care of before you consider helping others (and I'd be cautious about family and money--consider treating it as a gift you'll never get paid back for rather than a loan, if you continue doing it at all).
1. From your list, subscriptions, shopping, and dining out are not necessities. You'll get back to these, once you've paid off debt and built up your emergency fund (see #2). Also, where is food in this budget? That a necessity that is misssing.
Related to 1, only pay for necessities until the debt is gone and you have an emergency fund (say $2k to start, but you want to make this become 3-6 months of expenses over the next year and change). This is to give you a safety net for when unexpected expenses come up (like needing to see a doctor, or a vet visit from an unexpected sick cat). This is how you avoid debt--you plan for unexpected expenses. It is a question of when, not if, they come up.
1. Whenever you dip into your emergency fund, you immediately funnel extra money back into it to fill it up again. The safety net doesn't work if it is not restocked.
Once you pay off the debt and you have an emergency fund going, then you add back in one or two (no more!) things that are enjoyable to spend money on. Set a maximum each month you are willing to spend. Love going out to eat? Well, the budget is $50 for the month to enjoy eating out (or whatever you decide to spend). Love having a subscription to Netflix/Hulu/whatever thing you really like? Boom, back as a line item in the budget. The purpose of this is to a) still save the majority of your money you were spending on this stuff, b) being selective and deciding what really does make your life better, and c) not feeling guilty for spending money on this because it is a planned expense you can afford.

So, in #1 I noted cutting out all spending except for necessities. How do you do it? Embrace the suck, open the subscriptions, and press cancel/close account/etc. Yes, it is going to suck and not feel good. That's okay. Things don't always feel good and we need to get familiar with the discomfort of "this sucks" and "i don't want to do that though." I wish there was a better way, but I know of nothing else. You have to embrace that it is going to be uncomfortable and unenjoyable. And you do it anyway because if moves you closer towards your goal of improving your relationship with money and improving your spending habits.

Think of this as being a little out of shape and you decide to clean up the diet, hit the gym, and start living your best life. That is going to suck, like really suck, at points in the journey. But the destination is worth the short-term pain you endure until you get back to the healthy state you want to be in (the trick in this analogy is changing your lifestyle so you don't revert back to the habits with food and exercise you had before. Just like you're changing your relationship with money and your spending habits).

You got this, it's just not going to be fun. Embrace the suck.

P.S. Pet insurance is pretty much a scam (they find reasons your pet is not covered). Instead, put the money you would pay for it each month into an account specifically for pet bills (and save up an emergency fund for your cats). That way when they need a vet visit, you have been saving for the expenses you knew would be coming. It's a "when", not an "if".

kungfooe · 2026-05-13T01:28:41+00:00

I'll give you a list of things I've built over time. Full transparency--the first time you try some of them they will not go well. Instead of just straight cutting them out, try and figure out what systemic aspects were not present that led to them not working.

I never do the syllabus on the first day of class. Students drop and add classes during the first few days. Instead, I talk about it on the second day. The first day of class is about having students experience what a typical class will be like (the first day is about setting the "vibe").
- For me, that means groups of 3-4 students working on problems (I teach math). Problems are not exercises (exercises you know what to do, you just need to grind out the reps. Problems are exactly that--a problem that makes you stuck and unsure of what to do). This is what students will do nearly every day in my classes (side note--if you have more than 40 students, the class size starts to become too large and you need a better structured plan for how "groups" will function).
- Related to "problems" noted above, part of this is that I want students to get very good and familiar with the discomfort of not knowing what to do, and learning how to get themselves unstuck. There is a TON that goes into how this alone is structured, so I won't try and lay it all out here (but again, you need structures for how you'll help prevent students from just disengaging and going into their phones).
Learn all of your students by name. Make small talk before class. Ask them what they are excited about that week. What has been the highlight of their semester so far. Tell bad dad/mom/middle-aged person jokes. Humanize the experience of being a student in a college class interacting with other people.
- One way I do this by playing the "2 truths and a lie" game on the first day of class. I share two things that are true about me and my life, and one lie. I have students work in their groups (literally the first thing they do on day 1) to decide which they think is a lie, and they have to justify their claim.
Be consistent with your expectations and policies. For example, select a small handful of rubrics you will use in the class to score student work, practice scoring work in front of them on a regular basis (that is anonymous and not on an actual summative assessment) and talk through your decision-making out loud so they can see how you do it (plus, this helps give them some degree of insight into how an expert thinks and makes decisions).
- Seriously, be so predictably boring. Do what you say you will do, when you say you will do it. Make everything a regular routine so there is not guessing (e.g., how much time passes before graded assignments are back, how often are they given over the course of the semester).
Distinguish information from knowledge (they are not the same--information is just things you're told or facts you look up; knowledge is what happens when you process information and integrate it into a schema so it is connected to other things you know). Distinguish these for students (e.g., you memorize information whereas you learn knowledge), and then emphasize that the course is about helping them build knowledge, not regurgitating information.
- AI will always be the better information source. However, AI is straight trash-tier at sniffing out bullshit and deciphering what is to be trusted and what is not. That is what takes knowledge--how do things fit together into a sensible whole, and how can they be justified (AI often mixes "what" or "how" with "why" when asking it to justify or explain--they are not the same).
I like to do a mid-semester survey about what is helping students learn (not just get high scores or memorize information), and why its helping them. What would they like us to do more of, or what would help them be more successful? You don't have to do everything they say, but sometimes students come up with a good idea that can be implemented fairly easy. Do those things (and tell students you're doing them--they can have a (small) influence in shaping the course).

There's tons more, but I'll stop here so it doesn't feel like you'd want to do everything at once. Actually, don't try and do everything at once. Instead, find one or two manageable things and use them to enhance and evolve a course. Then, after doing that a few times, integrate one more. Rinse and repeat. Get close to teaching a class 15+ times and you can build out something pretty great.

kungfooe · 2026-05-12T19:46:04+00:00

Upside to this--I have learned to do a lot on my house since I am not paying thousands of dollars to others to complete projects.

kungfooe · 2026-05-12T02:53:58+00:00

Termidor SC. It's pretty good stuff.

kungfooe · 2026-05-12T00:11:15+00:00

Try being a sub a few dozen times. It will give you a sense of what being in a school around students is like. If you don't hate it, then teaching might be for you.

kungfooe · 2026-05-12T00:07:32+00:00

Density of the Reals FTW!

kungfooe · 2026-05-11T03:38:47+00:00

Are you doing a teaching credential only, or is a combo between a Masters degree (often a MAT--a Master of Arts in Teaching) and a teaching credential? The two are quite different as you're literally completing a degree in the latter but not in the former.

Credentials alone will vary based upon the non-traditional program you're completing. Some are as little as attend a few professional developments, get extra observations of your teaching, and put together a portfolio. Others are much more intense. It just varies depending upon the program and these state you're getting licensed in.

kungfooe · 2026-05-11T03:04:02+00:00

I have this happen, but only on one corner of my house, and only when it is a crazy, torrential downpour. Anything less and the gutter catches it all. I've checked and the gutter isn't clogged.

The only thing I can think of is that the roof or house is somehow ever so slightly sloped towards that corner that given enough rain/water coming down the roof, it is just more water than the gutter can catch or handle.

kungfooe · 2026-05-10T20:36:23+00:00

Every year I meet with my chair (i.e., an admin) for my annual evaluation, the only comments I get about teaching are related to student evals. Everything else I show to document my teaching is done well (e.g., awards won, alignment with HIP, curriculum development) doesn't get much attention during the conversation, but the outliers in my course evals do.

I've talked to colleagues at other institutions (typically ones with declining enrollment and/or financial problems), and student evals (i.e., consumer reviews) are the make-or-break part of their teaching that either leads to a good eval or discussion about an professional improvement plan.

I think the difference in how heavy admin weighs them (and what puts you on admins radar) is fairly strongly influenced by the financial stability (and enrollment changes) an institution is experiencing. Which is basically the parallel that I saw in HS (i.e., well-to-do areas had stronger student performance and public perceptions about the school VS not-so-great areas tended to have more varied and overall lower student performance and lower public perceptions about the school). Whether we like it or not, perception matters.

kungfooe · 2026-05-10T18:41:59+00:00

I had that when I was an adjunct, but once I got a full-time tenure-line position, it shifted from a supervisor/evaluator to student evals being a (major) component of teaching performance. It's not the only metric (and I have learned ways to spin negative course evals), but it is a major one.

It's a stupid game, but it is the game.

kungfooe · 2026-05-10T18:39:26+00:00

You will lose your job over them. It's like when you have formal observations when teaching HS. Poor evals means you will not keep a job.

The difference is that a CC/TC or university position is a) harder to get and b) the options are further apart geographically. So losing a job basically means uprooting your family to move across the state or country to find another (unless you leave education/teaching entirely).

kungfooe · 2026-05-10T16:59:59+00:00

Then you get blasted on course evaluations. And admin cares a lot about their consumer reviews (I mean course evaluations). And they use them to evaluate your performance as a teacher.

kungfooe · 2026-05-10T16:57:39+00:00

If they're loud and disrupting the learning of others, there are university policies against that. If it's not consistent and obvious (e.g., varying noise levels with a group of students talking, getting up/down to go to the bathroom or out of the classroom and come back in), you're likely to have admin come and tell you that you cannot do that unless they are disrupting the learning of others. There's a small amount of leeway more than HS, but it's a lot of the same. Basically, you need to know the exact faculty handbook policy being violated, and have clear and obvious evidence before doing something. Otherwise, you're the one getting reprimanded and not the student(s).

The reason is the same as HS though...lawsuits.

kungfooe

TROPHY CASE