The New Math

David C. Banks of Kanata sent in (to the Ottawa Citizen) this example of the change in Canadian education theory over the past few decades. It would be funny if it were not true.

The Old Math of the 1960s

A logger sold a truckload of flumber for $100. His cost of production was four fifths of his price. What was his profit?

The New Math of the 1970s

A logger exchanged a set L of lumber for a set M of money. The cardinality of set M is 100 and each element is worth a dollar. Make a square array of 100 dots to represent the elements of set M. The set C of the costs of production contains 20 fewer points than set M. Represent the set C as a subset of M and answer the following question: What is the cardinality of the set P for profits?

The Calculator Math of the 1980s

A logger sold a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production was $80 and his profit was $20. Underline the number 20.

The Outcomes-Based, Destreamed, Integrated Math of the 1990s

By cutting down beautiful forest trees, an environmentally ignorant logger makes a profit of only $20. What do you think of this way of making a living? In your group, use role-playing to determine how the birds and the squirrels in the forest feel.