Math Is Fun Forum

foxluv

Member

Registered: 2007-04-22

Posts: 3

Newbie_teaching angry "I HATE MATH" teenager

My 15 year old granddaughter hates math and cannot even do the basics like add -17+17=0.  Her answer was -34.  I am pushing her since she always fails her math classes and she gets very angry!  She is taking Algebra again and I would like a problem in "order of operation", can someone help?
The problem should include all phases and be very long but simple.  Thanks

MathsIsFun

Administrator

Registered: 2005-01-21

Posts: 7,713

Re: Newbie_teaching angry "I HATE MATH" teenager

Anger is probably due to frustration (she may have "missed" some basic concepts, and now it is all just confusing to her). Just my guess.

There are a few examples on this page: Order of Operations - PEMDAS

Otherwise ... would someone like to start a topic under "Exercises" and supply a few?

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"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..."  - Leon M. Lederman

John E. Franklin

Member

Registered: 2005-08-29

Posts: 3,588

Re: Newbie_teaching angry "I HATE MATH" teenager

I'll make up another one for you.
Let's see...
- ( 1 + 2) + (3 + 4) - ( 5 + 6 ) + ( 7 + 8) - (2 x 5) + (3 x 3)

First do the parenthesis and then the minus sign turns those things minus.
restated...
- ( 1 + 2) + (3 + 4) - ( 5 + 6 ) + ( 7 + 8) - (2 x 5) + (3 x 3)
-      3       +      7    -      11      +      15    -    10     +     9
Now plus and minus can be done in any order, but safe to go left to right.
        -3 + 7 is 4, and 4 - 11 is -7, and -7 + 15 is 8, and 8 - 10 is -2, and -2 + 9 is 7.
So answer is 7.
Sorry I didn't use exponents or distribution. 

Now here is another one.
distribution.
  6 ( 5 + 2)
  There are 2 ways to do this one.
The 1st way you learn is to follow
parenthesis.
  6 ( 5 + 2)
  6 ( 7)
  6 times 7 is 42.
Now later on, you could learn to
distribute the 6 over the added terms.
  (6 times 5) + (6 times 2)
Same answer 30 + 12 = 42.
But this comes a little later.
Also the times sign "x", gets left out once you
get going in algebra since x can represent a number.

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igloo myrtilles fourmis

Identity

Member

Registered: 2007-04-18

Posts: 934

Re: Newbie_teaching angry "I HATE MATH" teenager

Here's a never-ending well of exercises

http://www.waybuilder.net/sweethaven/Ma … c01_EE.asp

Maths may be fustrating at times, but, oh geeze, it becomes so much fun when you understand it. It really does, and it's so important too - the fundamental language of nature and the universe.

treehugger96

Member

Registered: 2007-12-24

Posts: 10

Re: Newbie_teaching angry "I HATE MATH" teenager

I know it's frusting but try teaching her from the start. Dont push her. remember BODMAS
brackets
of
addition
multiplication
addition
subbtration
if all else fails
go to the local bookstore and see if you can find any books on BODAMAS
sorry if this doesn't help
regards
treehugger96

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........"To my mind having care and concern for others is the highest of human qualities"
.........Fred Hollows

Daniel123

Member

Registered: 2007-05-23

Posts: 663

Re: Newbie_teaching angry "I HATE MATH" teenager

Doesn't the 'o' in Bodmas stand for 'other', not of?

mathsyperson

Moderator

Registered: 2005-06-22

Posts: 4,900

Re: Newbie_teaching angry "I HATE MATH" teenager

I think the O is for Order, which is a fancy way of saying powers.

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Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.

treehugger96

Member

Registered: 2007-12-24

Posts: 10

Re: Newbie_teaching angry "I HATE MATH" teenager

mathsyperson is correct
the "o" in BODMAS can also stand for order

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........"To my mind having care and concern for others is the highest of human qualities"
.........Fred Hollows

Devantè

Real Member

Registered: 2006-07-14

Posts: 6,400

Re: Newbie_teaching angry "I HATE MATH" teenager

BODAMAS? What on Earth is that supposed to mean?

Khushboo

Member

Registered: 2007-10-16

Posts: 47

Re: Newbie_teaching angry "I HATE MATH" teenager

Understanding math can be frustrating at times, especially if the person has not understood the topic conceptually. But it is never to late and one should never give up.

First thing first, you should try and understand whether she understands the concept of addition and subtraction correctly. What i can gather from the problem stated above, the kid has totally overlooked the symbol subtraction and has simply added the numbers. If she is not well versed with the symbols, she obviously will find the order of operations difficult to follow. So if she can be given some word problems to begin with wherein she will have to represent the question in form of numbers and corresponding symbols, she will be able to get hang of the symbols and their inherent meaning. This will facilitate her in learning the order of operations.
Just an idea ...

Regards

Khushboo

fruitloop

Member

Registered: 2007-09-29

Posts: 15

Re: Newbie_teaching angry "I HATE MATH" teenager

just need basic help.... prolley goes over her head and makes her mad when ppl explain things that are over her level

orpwhite

Guest

Re: Newbie_teaching angry "I HATE MATH" teenager

Please remember that PEMDAS is technically misleading to the troubled algebra student without the 'left to right' suggestion.

Please keep in mind that this is not a trolling comment but rather a cautionary warning of inappropriate teaching.

Consider:

37 - 7 + 3

We understand that a calculator should give us 33.

However, using 'simple' PEMDAS, we could arrive at this conclusion:

Addition

37 - 7 + 3
37 - 10

Subtraction

27

The problem occurs in the addition section. We are not adding 7 and 3 but rather -7 and 3 which would be -4. Such a result would lead us to:

37 - 4

which is 33.

When suggesting PEMDAS to a student who does not understand adding positive and negative integers, we open the door for this type of mistake. Thus, to rectify the problem, we say "Use PEMDAS from left to right" like a typewriter.

The directional suggestion is not necessary for a student who understands integer addition. Does it seem like less students today understand integer addition?

coconut

Member

Registered: 2008-03-02

Posts: 9

Re: Newbie_teaching angry "I HATE MATH" teenager

i feel soooo bad for your grand daughter she should study one thing at a time with lots of help

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Monox D. I-Fly

Member

From: Indonesia

Registered: 2015-12-02

Posts: 2,000

Re: Newbie_teaching angry "I HATE MATH" teenager

My 15 year old granddaughter hates math and cannot even do the basics like add -17+17=0.  Her answer was -34.  I am pushing her since she always fails her math classes and she gets very angry!  She is taking Algebra again and I would like a problem in "order of operation", can someone help?
The problem should include all phases and be very long but simple.  Thanks

Suppose she has a $17 loan and now she gets $17. How much money or loan she has? Indonesian teachers usually teach about negative numbers like this.

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Actually I never watch Star Wars and not interested in it anyway, but I choose a Yoda card as my avatar in honor of our great friend bobbym who has passed away.
May his adventurous soul rest in peace at heaven.