Subject: Math 101 through the years.
Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2002 06:40:51 -0800
From: John C Funk <glonjon256@juno.com>
To: dpleache@pen.k12.va.us

Teaching Math in 1950:
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A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100.
His cost of production is 4/5 of the price.
What is his profit?

Teaching Math in 1960:
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A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100.
His cost of production is 4/5 of the price, or $80.
What is his profit?

Teaching Math in 1970:
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A logger  exchanges a set, "L", of lumber for a set, "M", of money.
The cardinality of set "M" is 100. Each element is worth one dollar.
Make 100 dots representing the elements of the set "M."
The set "C",  the cost of production contains 20 fewer points than set
"M"
Represent the set "C" as a subset of set "M" and answer the following
question:  What is the cardinality of the set "P" of profits?

Teaching  Math in 1980:
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A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100.
His cost of production is $80 and his profit is $20.
Your assignment is to - Write and underline the number "20".

Teaching Math in 1990:
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By cutting down beautiful trees and desecrating the precious
forest a logger makes $20.
What  do you think of this way of making a living?
Topic for class participation after answering the question:
How did the forest birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut
down the trees?  - There are no wrong answers.

Teaching Match in 2000:
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A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100.
His cost of production is $120.
How does an Enron Accountant determine that his profit margin is $275?