RealityMinus3 & Zeke RatMar 10, 2024

Every time a teacher emphasizes formula triangles, a student loses a chance to understand math.

And I am persistently undermined when I try to teach the algebra. 🤬

I cannot get algebra buy-in from my student who's struggling ... struggling bc he can't read the language of maths ... BECAUSE he is being taught to value janky work-arounds with blind memorization instead of ANY ACTUAL UNDERSTANDING AAARRRRGGHGHHHHHHHH HULK SMASH

Show threadAntonio PatriarcaMar 11, 2024
@RealityMinus3 What's a formula triangle? I don't think I ever heard of this term (and probably never been taught it--I studied in Italy).
Show threadRealityMinus3 & Zeke RatMar 11, 2024
@antopatriarca It's where you have something like "distance = rate x time" or "density = mass / volume" .. but rewrite that latter one as density x volume = mass ..... you multiply the bottom two items to get the top item; and divide the top item by either bottom item to get the other bottom item .... see my pic and please ask again if I'm not being clear.
Show threadAntonio Patriarca
@RealityMinus3 ok, this is the first time I see this. Each country has its own mnemonics I guess. I don't see many reasons for this one however. Learning to move quantities between the two sides of an equation is not that difficult and more useful.
Mar 11, 2024 at 1:57pmWeb
Show threadRealityMinus3 & Zeke RatMar 11, 2024
@antopatriarca You mean "do the same thing to both sides of an equation to isolate the thing you're interested in" (-: But yes, we are in agreement. Algebra is not difficult! Its whole point is to make life easier! Aaaarrrgghghghhghg.