The evolution of math

[Specter 0]

Last week I got a burger at Burger King for $1.58.

The counter girl took my $2 and and I pulled 8 cents from my pocket.

I gave it to her. She stood there, holding the nickel and 3 pennies, while

looking at the screen on her register. I sensed her discomfort and tried

to tell her to just give me back two quarters, but she hailed the manager

for help and while he tried to explain the transaction to her, she stood there and cried.

Why do I tell you this? Read on..

Teaching Math in 1950:

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100.

His cost of production is 4/5 of the price.

What is his profit?

Teaching Math in 1960:

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100.

His cost of production is 4/5 of the price, or $80.

What is his profit?

Teaching Math in 1970:

A logger exchanges a set "L" of lumber for a set "M"

of money. The cardinality of set "M" is 100.

Each element is worth one dollar.

Make 100 dots representing the elements of the set "M."

The set "C", the cost of production, contains 20 fewer points than set "M."

Represent the set "C" as a subset of set "M".

Answer this question:

What is the cardinality of the set "P" of profits?

Teaching Math in 1980:

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100.

His cost of production is $80 and his profit is $20.

Your assignment:

Underline the number 20.

Teaching Math in 1990:

By cutting down beautiful forest trees, the logger makes $20.

What do you think of this way of making a living?

Topic for class participation after answering the question:

How did the forest birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down the trees?

There are no wrong answers.

Teaching Math in 2000:

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100.

His cost of production is $120.

How does Arthur Andersen determine that his profit margin is $60 ?

[Kingkat 0]

OMG!!!!!!!!! I do that ALL the time to young cashiers, and they too just stare at me.

I worked a REAL cash register. You know where you push buttons, add the tax, count the change back....etc.

It is amazing that these people do not know how to count change, make change or safe guard the money.

Are their math skills that poor? Are they not trained by the companies to safeguard the money?

Thanks for the story. Takes me back...............

[Zantar45 0]

At some of the fast food resturants here, the registers give out the correct amount of change.

So if I gave them $5 for a $2.60 meal the register would spit out the correct amount of change (40 cents) while the worker would have to take out the $2.

Can't believe how many times you get the wrong amount back still.

[Schenkanator 0]

I've had the same problem. EG item is $16.40 for argument's sake. Aussie $2 coins are good to carry (very small) so I hand over a $20 and 40c.

Now the thinking begins. (or lack thereof)

Next my 40c is tried to be handed back.

Next I explain to just give me two $2 back.

And this idiot could have just punched in what I gave her to the register, and it would have told her how much to give back.

[deathmonger338 0]

Erm...

I hardly ever go out to eat, so thankfully I’ve never really had to deal with some stupid high school drop out that don’t know math.

[dagger 0]

Good one

[Dick Splash 23]

What's Math?............Ohhhhhhh........Maths!........short for mathematics!?!

DS

[Dan 0]

hey, lay off the cashiers

I have worked 2 jobs previously, and am working one now, with the worst till system ever, used but fast food joints globally.

They are idiot proof and complicted at the same time.

For example, a dude buys food costing $7.50, and hands me a $10.

I hit the $10 button, just as he says "oh wait, i got the 50c"

The amount of buggerising around that it takes to cancel the transaction, debit the till, to remove the money that it thinks was put in there. You can either, attempt it yourself, which leads to chaos, call the manager, which makes u look stupid and makes u feel worse, or just do it in your head.

If u take the last opetion, all hell breaks loose LATER, when the manager is doing the money, and the amount of money adds up, but doesnt match the transactions. This leads to u being watched over everytime u use the till, and it cant be blamed on another worker, cos whenver u want ot use the till, u have to log onto it.

So, next time u go to stuff yourself with fast food, think of the young guys and girls who make it, sell it to you, then clean up your filth afterwards.

They may sound annoying, saying crap like "Do you want to try the new super mega meat cheese salad burger from mars?" or "do u wanna upgrade that to a large?" They say it cos if they dont, they lose there job.

And dont leave a big ######ing mess all over the place, put your ubbish in the bin, push in the chair, and try not to spill ice or srink or mayo all over the floor or window.

And dont pleasure yourself in the toilet and leave a... mess (i speak from experieence(and no, it wasnt me, i was meant to clean it, until i told the manager a few swear words i heard somewhere))

And dont be a ######, smile, be pacient, and enjoy your meal

[The_Slink 0]

This is a bit lower down the page....