For all those despising Maths, it's getting easier!

[MajorMaccas]

Evolution of British Maths Teaching

1. Teaching Maths In 1970
A logger sells a truckload of timber for £100.
His cost of production is 4/5 of the price.
What is his profit?

2. Teaching Maths In 1980
A logger sells a truckload of timber for £100.
His cost of production is 4/5 of the price, or £80.
What is his profit?

3. Teaching Maths In 1990
A logger sells a truckload of timber for £100.
His cost of production is £80.
Did he make a profit?

4. Teaching Maths In 2000
A logger sells a truckload of timber for £100.
His cost of production is £80 and his profit is £20.
Your assignment: Underline the number 20.

5. Teaching Maths In 2008
A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals or the preservation of our woodlands.
He does this so he can make a profit of £20.
What do you think of this way of making a living?
Topic for class participation after answering the question: How did the birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down their homes? (There are no wrong answers. )

6. Teaching Maths 2018
أ المسجل تبيع حموله شاحنة من الخشب من اجل 100 دولار. صاحب تكلفة الانتاج من الثمن. ما هو الربح له؟

 

[MajorMaccas]

OK, since this thread has derailed from my initial post, I'll join the debate

I think all UK students should start using abacuseses (abaci?)

I saw a documentary about these Asian students ranging from primary school through to high-school and higher education, and it was simply amazing.

They could easily do very complicated problems using an abacus, that would take us a few minutes to do in our heads, in a few seconds. The older students had miniture abacuseses that they switched with their thumbnails at lightning speed. And the advanced students didn't use an abacus at all, they just used "air-abacus" with their thumbs switching in the air randomly.

It's the way forward, everyone using air-abacus to do stupidly complicated maths problems in their heads.