division

Cookies under constraints

Cookies under constraints

A propos of nothing one day, I ask Griffin (9 years old at the time, finishing up fourth grade) a question. Me: Griff, imagine you are baking cookies and you need $latex \frac{3}{4}$ cup of sugar, but you only have a $latex \frac{1}{2}$ cup measure. How would...

Milk by the gallon

Milk by the gallon

Milk has been on sale at our local gas station/convenience store. Griffin and I walked up there the other day to buy some milk. Two percent milk for the kids and me; skim for Mommy. Me: Griff, the milk we just bought was $5.50 for two gallons. How much was each...

The meanings of division

The meanings of division

I was talking with Griffin one day when he was in third grade. Me: Do you know what $latex 12\div 2$ is?Griffin (8 years old): 6Me: How do you know that's right?G: 2 times 6 is 12. Me: What about $latex 26 \div 2$?G: 13Me: How do you know...

Five small pumpkins
The Pumpkin Patch

The Pumpkin Patch

On a family trip to a farm from which we have bought a tremendous amount of produce this year, Griffin and I were heading to the pumpkin patch. We had already taken the wagon ride to the other pumpkin patch; where the pie pumpkins were grown. We had helped with the...