Your ShillerMath Tidbit

Sat Apr 1 06:08:45 UTC 2006

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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