Hey, Edison, strategy guy here 🔀.
1. Todaya lesson,a debate between Ms. Wrongg, a math teacher, and her students - names of the students originate from the Summary Sheet.
2. And this will be the second time I’m giving a PDF away.
Wise and sometimes quirky math advice. Today …
Ms. Wrongg teaches Fractions ...
MS. WRONGG: Okay class today I teach you adding fractions.
WRODD: I’ve got a bad feeling about this 🤔.
SYBB: Ditto that Wrodd – I don’t think this is going to end well.MS. WRONGG: Shhh … Adding fractions is easy. If you have a question like Evaluate 1/2 + 1/3 … you add the tops first (1 and 1), then add the bottoms (2 and 3). Like so 1 + 1 and 2 + 3, which gives 2/5.
MS. WRONGG: So, class 1/2 + 1/3 = 2/5. Easy stuff! Questions, none, okay, good, start your homework.WRODD: But Ms. Wrongg that’s wrong!
MS. WRONGG: What are you talking about Wrodd … don’t you know how to Add?
PIXX: I have to side with Wrodd you made a mistake, Ms. Wrongg.
MEQQ: Yeah, you made a big one Ms. Wrongg, a doozy of an error this time! Ha.MS. WRONGG: Okay you gang of wannabe brainiacs. Prove I’m wrong, I dare you! Go ahead and fail miserably at trying to ruin my day.
SYBB: My mother’s a math professor at university and she said you were wrong.
MS. WRONGG: Well, I think your university math professor mother needs to … go back to university. Next⁉PIXX: My tutor said that you have to get the same denominator for both fractions first and then …
MS. WRONGG: Wronggggg Pixx … you might want to fire your tutor!
PIXX: … and once you get the same denominator you only add the tops then ..
MS. WRONGG: Pixx! You haven’t fired your tutor yet?WRODD: But Ms. Wrong you’re wrong.
MS. WRONGG: Look WRODD … you’re wrong! You hopeful mathies weren’t able to prove me wrong, so I must be right … now stop irritating me and start your homework.The gang (Wrodd, Sybb, Pixx and Meqq) gets together to discuss …
PIXX: … Ms. Wrongg we took a vote and it’s unanimous and we concluded that … you are wrong! Or if I say it in math language that might be easier for you to comprehend … the Probability of you being wrong is 100%! Or how about - if this was a math test, you’d get 0%.MS. WRONGG: Who’s the math teacher you hopeful bunch of wannabe brainboxes? I am! I am! Learn from me or if you dare, prove me wrong.
MS. WRONGG: Do you know what the motto for the state of Missouri is?
THE GANG (in unison): We don’t want to know.
MS. WRONGG: It’s called ‘The Show Me State’ class, The - Show - Me - State! And none of you have ‘shown me’ anything. So, I’m right, you’re wrong ... now get to your homework.
SYBB: Ehm Ms. Wrongg that popping noise you’re hearing … well that’s the sound of your balloon and bubble about to burst at the same time!! That’s not the motto of Missouri, that’s some sort of slogan. The Missouri motto is, “Let the good of the people be the supreme law” … and if I borrow from your quote, we, your class, are the Missourians trying to be the good people, and right a wrong!
MEQQ: Yeesh Ms. Wrongg, yeah … didn’t you know there’s a difference between a motto and slogan. You may want to do your homework Ms. Wrongg. Ha!
MS. WRONGG: Trying to change the discussion aren’t you Sybb … and you Meqq backing up Sybb as usual. I guess that means … you all have come up with no concrete proof, nothing, nada, zilch, zero that I am wrong. I am right, I win, ha! All your yammering and gobbledygook has amounted to nothing!The gang huddles up to discuss how to prove Ms. Wrongg is wrong …
Any ideas? Solutions?
[Student readers, if you’re up for the dare, come up with a way to prove Ms. Wrongg is wrong.]
MEQQ: Gang, I think I have one but am not sure. I’ll go first 😊.
WRODD: Be brave Meqq, we’ve got your back! Ms. Wrongg, Meqq is about to prove you wrong! Go for it Meqq.
MS WRONGG: You wannabe eggheads still grumbling about this?
MEQQ: Ms. Wrongg … okay here’s my response to your creative adding fractions, 1/2 + 1/3 = 2/5, which I think I can prove ...
MS. WRONGG: Not wrong!
MEQQ: ... okay my reasoning is a bit unusual but here goes. If I make an easier question to your 1/2 + 1/3 … I’d make 1/2 + 1/2 because I think that’s easier. Ms. Wrongg do you agree that’s easier than yours?
MS. WRONGG: …
WRODD: Ms. why are you looking out the window?
MS. WRONGG: …
MEQQ: Okay I’ll take the silence to mean you are 100% in agreement. Okay, where was I … oh yeah, a half and a half, 1/2 + 1/2. I think you would agree that a half and a half is a whole, one! A 1/2 + 1/2 is 1. So, by my hypothesis, 1/2 + 1/2 = 1. Agreed Ms.? Gang, do you agree?
MS. WRONGG: …
GANG in unison: We agree!MEQQ: I’ll keep going ‘teach’ … but if I use your ‘Wrongg way’, on 1/2 + 1/2, I will get 2/4 by adding the tops and bottoms. Which is ... well, wrong … as I’ve just shown that 1/2 + 1/2 = 1 and your way would say 1/2 + 1/2 = 2/4. I proved you’re wrong using an easier question. YES!!!!
Cheering in the background.MEQQ: Thank you. Thank you. High fives to me. Pat on the backs to all of us. We did it.
MS. WRONGG: …
WRODD: Ms. Wrongg, you okay … you look at little red-faced … and why are you shaking your head?
MS. WRONGG: I’m fine. I’m just fine. Not so fast. I still feel like a winner.
MS. WRONGG: You came up with one easier example and think that’s going to punch a hole in my method. Nice try wannabe wonks! Ha! Got to do better than that wannabe double-domes. Or is that the best you bunch of wannabe Einsteins got? Why don’t you just give up and start your homework.The gang huddles up again to discuss how to prove Ms. Wrongg is wrong …
Any ideas? Solutions?
WRODD: I’ve got one.
PIXX: I think I got one too.
SYBB: Me also, so that’s three. And added to Meqq’s will make 4❗ We got this gang! Let’s show Ms. Wrongg who’s wrong and who’s right!
The wannabes think they can come up with at least four ways to prove to Ms. Wrongg that she’s wrong. How many can you come up with?
To read solutions the wannabes came up with,
email mathbyedison@gmail.com. I’ll email you the PDF showing three other ways the students ‘showed’ Ms. Wrongg that her 1/2 + 1/3 = 2/5, was wrong .
[Write Ms. Wrongg or Adding Fractions in the Subject line of the email].
Hint: Names of the four students give a clue to the method they will choose -
Wrodd’s words of wisdom is to use ‘Word meaning’
Sybb’s slogan is use the ‘Symbol meaning’
Pixx’s purpose is do it by ‘Making a Picture’
Meqq’s motto is ‘Make an easier question’
Edison 👨🏽🏫
Edison’s Math School 🏫
… making math easier❗