Blog Post

Decimals: A Hot Potato

  • By Ann Hamblin
  • •
  • 02 Oct, 2016
  • •
Our last post looked at our grammar skills by using an 1895 eighth-grade graduation exam that was taken from an original document on file at the Smoky Valley Genealogical Society and Library in Salina, Kansas. This post is focusing on the arithmetic portion of that same test. Do you think our current eighth graders would fare better on this one?

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An 1895 Eighth Grade Final Exam: Salina, Kansas

Arithmetic Test: (Student has one hour to complete the following questions.)

1. Define the fundamental rules of arithmetic.

2. A wagon box is 2 ft. deep, 10 ft. long, and 3 ft., wide. How many bushels of wheat will it hold?

3. If a load of wheat weighs 3942 lbs., what is it worth at 50 cents per bushel, deducting 1050 lbs. for tare?

4. District No. 33 has a valuation of $35,000. What is the necessary levy to carry on a school seven months at $50 per month, and have $104 for incidentals?

5. Find cost of 6720 lbs. coal at $6.00 per ton.

6. Find the interest of $512.60 for 8 months and 18 days at 7 percent.

7. What is the cost of 40 boards 12 inches wide and 16 feet long at $0.20 per inch?

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My thirteen-year old grandson and I were recently eating at a “mom and pop” restaurant when we saw the following sign: 

I looked at my grandson and asked him if he liked baked potatoes. When he answered, “Yes,” I asked him how many did he want? He looked at me questioningly as if I’d lost my mind. I told him we should order about 100 “to go” and invite friends over to enjoy them with us, and whatever was left, we could feed the homeless.

Of course, he thought I was crazy, but once I had piqued his curiosity, I suggested he look at the “deal” we were being offered on potatoes. Once he determined the price of baked potatoes, he agreed---as a matter of fact, he suggested we buy enough for everyone in the restaurant.

So, back to my initial question, “Do you think our current eighth graders would see the problem with charging 0.99¢ for a potato?” How much would 100 potatoes cost us at that price?

Back to my original premise: Foundational skills must be understood before higher levels of learning (and thinking) can occur.

And . . . if you have a dime, you can buy 100 baked potatoes (unless you have to pay tax---and then we are into percentages. Ugh!).

Yes, Monday nights are wacky!

By Ann Hamblin • 23 Aug, 2017
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