Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2006 23:04:42 -0700 From: Brett Glass <brett@lariat.org> To: ShillerMath <marketing@shillermath.com>, freebsd-chat@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Your ShillerMath Tidbit Message-ID: <7.0.1.0.2.20060331230224.098779f8@lariat.org> In-Reply-To: <20060401032818.27086.qmail@borg.phpwebhosting.com> References: <20060401032818.27086.qmail@borg.phpwebhosting.com>
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Why is this spam on the list?
Also, it's worth noting that the author gives the wrong answer to his
sample SAT question below. The only correct answer is 4 (D), not 5 (E).
I wouldn't pay $29.95 for a book from an author who couldn't give the
correct answer to his own sample problem!
--Brett
At 02:12 PM 3/31/2006, Larry Shiller wrote:
> ShillerMath Tidbits: Getting out of the starting gate
>
> [parentzone.gif]
> What to do when you have no idea what to do!
>
> A 1,000 mile journey begins with but a single step...
> Have you ever looked at an SAT question and felt like saying, "Help!
> I'm clueless!"? You're not alone. Even the brightest and best have
> felt the same way. Should this ever happen to you, this sure-fire tip
> will get you on your way to math success.
> An overwhelming problem typically has a lot of information to process,
> and it's not clear how all that information leads to the answer. So
> instead of worrying about how to get the answer, start with the answer
> and work backwards. Let's see how this might work using a sample
> multiple-choice SAT test question:
> If x and y are integers and 5x + 2y = 13, which of the following could
> be the value of y?
> A. 1
> B. 2
> C. 3
> D. 4
> E. 5
> This problem falls into an interesting branch of mathematics called
> Diophantine Equations.
> Since this is a multiple-choice problem, one strategy is to try each
> answer to see what happens. For example, if y=1 (choice A), 5x + 2(1)
> = 13; 5x = 11; x = 11/5. But x must be an integer ("If x and y are
> integers..."). So choice A is incorrect.
> If y=2 (choice B), 5x + 2(2) = 13; 5x = 9; x = 9/5. But again, x must
> be an integer so choice B is incorrect.
> After repeating this process for choices C, D, and E, we find that
> only choice E satisfies the condition that x is an integer.
> If the problem requires a student produced response, you know the
> answer will be a number because only numbers can be answers to student
> produced responses: You may try the strategy of picking a number (pick
> a number, any number!) and working backwards as you did above. As you
> work through the problem you'll likely find a way to get the correct
> answer.
> By working backwards you always have a place to start. And that makes
> it more likely you'll have a happy ending!
>
> In the next ShillerMath Tidbit we have another installment in our math
> biography series. In the meantime help yourself to [1]Free Downloads
> on our web site!
> [funnybone.gif]
>
> They Said It...
> "There is no royal road to geometry." Euclid
> "Mathematics is the queen of the sciences and number theory is the
> queen of mathematics." Carl Friedrich Gauss
> "...the greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our
> dispositions and not on our circumstances." Martha Washington
>
> I hope you enjoyed this short math break.
> Sincerely,
> [lssig.jpg]
> Larry Shiller
> Publisher
> Been thinking about ShillerMath but just wanted to start with just one
> year's worth of material? [2]YES! Get individual lesson plan books for
> as low as $29.95!
> Did you enjoy this Tidbit? Please tell your friends, family, and
> fellow parents, teachers, librarians, and local homeschool groups.
> Thank you for [3]spreading the word!
> _________________________________________________________________
>
> What is ShillerMath?
> ShillerMath publishes research-based homeschool math curriculum,
> music, and manipulatives for ages 4-12, with beautifully designed
> lessons, diagnostic tests with answer keys, catchy math songs, and
> Montessori-based manipulatives. No Montessori or math knowledge is
> required and there's zero lesson preparation - just read what's in
> quotes and you're good to go! Students using this approach
> consistently outperform their peers. Larry Shiller, ShillerMath
> founder and President, has a math degree from MIT. The ShillerMath
> curriculum includes authoritative materials and lessons used by
> thousands of Montessori schools worldwide and is the math curriculum
> of choice for thousands of homeschoolers nationwide. Visit the
> [4]ShillerMath site for all the details on this proven and amazingly
> effective product.
>
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>
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