Ds age 10 has 2 math problems that I need help with. The book is no help and it's just been too long since I've done inequalities.

1st problem
An inequality has g=1 as a solution but g=2 is not a solution. What is the inequality?

2nd problem
The grocery store is selling frozen turkeys that weight between 10 pounds and 20 pounds. Write two inequalities that together show the weights of the turkeys.

I think if I knew the answers I could explain the problem to him. This is only 5th grade math. He needs a smarter mom.

By Vicki on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 - 07:47 pm:

Wow, I have no idea... LOL Have you tried ask.com? That is the site we usually use for homework help and it is really good!

By Yjja123 on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 - 07:50 pm:

http://www.economics.utoronto.ca/osborne/MathTutorial/MENF.HTM

By Crystal915 on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 - 08:20 pm:

Well, I have no clue, but wanted to say he doesn't need a smarter mom!! I was always good in math, and I have NO idea what they mean by "inequality." Is it pre-Algebra? 5th grade is very young for that! In both problems, I feel there is not enough info to base an answer on... I would ask the teacher for more information on the process he should be using.

By Kaye on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 - 08:39 pm:

turkey > 10 and turkey is < 20

would be my answer for number 2...

number 1...hmmm no idea!
HEIDI will have the answer!

By Dana on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 - 09:29 pm:

Well, you will really get a kick out of this. I googles your #1 question EXACTLY. And guess what! It has been asked before at other boards. One was about a year ago and another was about 2 yrs ago, with a new entry made saying "i'm in 5th grade" posted 6 days ago.

No one gave a definite "this IS the answer" But you will find some more clues so you can understand what they are looking for.

By Mrsheidi on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 - 09:33 pm:

Geez, I hate ambiguous questions they give kids these days!
Here goes and I hope it helps!

1. Is that the only question they have? I would guess g<2 or g is less than or equal to 1 but really if g=1 then that is the solution and there really isn't an inequality without knowing more information about all solutions involved.

2. 10<t<20 or ... 10<t and t<20

By Crystal915 on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 - 10:15 pm:

So inequalities are just less than/greater than? Why not ask that?! I feel dumb now, I couldn't figure out why there were letters in 5th grade math! Ugh... I'm not looking forward to those days!
Using Heidi's explanation, and the way the question is worded for #1 I would say it would be 0>G<2... it's a dumb question.

By Tayjar on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 - 10:51 pm:

Heidi - Thank you so much. Once I sat down and thought about, I got #2. I thought number 1 was g<2 but I struggle with the wording, like something is missing. Oh well. We'll give it a try. I explained it to DS and he understands how to do these, I think the wording just got to him. Can't say I blame him.

Crystal - they can't make it that easy. The way they were teaching how to do long division was stupid. I finally just showed a bunch of the kids how I learned it and they caught on right away. The teachers were mad because that's not how they have to do it on the state test. I pretty much told them I didn't care about the state test but I did care that my son grasped the concept. And, guess what? After me teaching him the "old-fashioned" way all last year, he scored in the 90th percentile for math on the state test.

By Mrsheidi on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 - 12:03 am:

WTG, Tayjar. I agree, state tests are for the dogs. If I were president, I'd get rid of the No Child Left Behind Act and burn it. ;-)

And, Crystal, we have to say just "less than 2" or g<2 because there could be integers (negative numbers) that could also be the solution.

Dare I start into imaginary numbers with y'all??? So fun...

By Mrsheidi on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 - 12:15 am:

PS- He does NOT need a smarter mom...we need books that actually help "guide" and not "hide". I am dealing with a horrendous curriculum at a nearby high school that offers NO examples or solutions. Even the teachers are frustrated. This book has more words than an English novel and is so frustrating to work with. Then, they go on to integrate geometry with algebra and add a little trig in there for kicks...again, with no examples. The kids have to rely on good teachers which, there can never be a guarantee on having a good teacher! I've had quite a few kids come for tutoring and wonder why the curriculum has to make it so difficult. They often ask to be "taught" at my house and see if they can get credit at school. It was very sweet but how sad is that???

Math is hard enough people! I digress...

By Mia on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 - 08:23 pm:

Is this "Everyday Math"? aka Fuzzy Math? My 5th grader transferred 3 weeks ago to a new school using EM and he is now flunking math! Neither me nor my dh understand enough to be able to help him. We are all totally lost EM makes up it's own words, etc. It's supposed to be easier, to build a concrete foundation in really understanding math, but it sure isn't easy to jump into!

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 - 09:01 pm:

No it's not! LOL! I would have to do the multiplication and division problems my way first to know what the right answer was, before I could figure out how to do a problem their way.

By Tayjar on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 - 09:19 pm:

I don't think it's everyday math. It's from the Hartcourt Math book. It's confusing, that's for sure.

By Crystal915 on Thursday, November 13, 2008 - 02:28 pm:

Great... that means my kids will learn that method (Harcourt). Bummer!