When is this true? 100+100 =/= 200 Explain your choice. #mtbos #mathchat
— John Stevens (@Jstevens009) December 18, 2015
@Jstevens009 when you get two perfect scores on two tests.
— Megan Schmidt (@Veganmathbeagle) December 18, 2015
100+100=100
@Jstevens009 When the units of the two groups are different. #unitchat
— Bree Pickford-Murray (@btwnthenumbers) December 18, 2015
@Jstevens009 100 tenths plus 100 ones does not equal 200. Too obvious?
— Alexandra Otto (@AlexandraOtto) December 18, 2015
@Jstevens009 when you're buying 25-cent items from Amazon; two 100-item orders don't qualify for free shipping
— Tim (@timteachesmath) December 18, 2015
So what?
UNITS MATTER.
As I've continued to compile Would You Rather...? math posts, it has become clear that many of the decisions we make have a lot to do with the units in which they are presented. If we can get kids to play games with units more often, my conjecture is that we would have contributing members of society who are less susceptible to manipulation of the media and marketing. We would have contributing members of society who are more adept to the information presented to them. We would have contributing members of society who, ideally, look to a value's units before rushing to a judgement. Ideally.
I like the 100+100 because it seems "easy" for kids, but use whatever you think would be the most interesting for your group. Once a week, put up a different solution. The trick, the game, the goal, is to find out what units are being used to reach the solution.
Here are a few others:
When does 100+100=50?
— John Stevens (@Jstevens009) December 18, 2015
When does 100+100= 3 1/3?
— John Stevens (@Jstevens009) December 18, 2015
When does 100+100=60.96?
— John Stevens (@Jstevens009) December 18, 2015
When is 100+100=1.5625?
— John Stevens (@Jstevens009) December 18, 2015
Oh, and good luck with "I'magonna Google that".
Happy Unit Fishing