misty.warden Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 Has anyone else had issues with the transition from x being used as the multiplications symbol and then changed to the dot in higher level texts as "x" becomes the most used algebra variable? This tripped up a lot of people in my ps years and I don't understand why math texts and teachers do it this way when it seems simpler to me to have been consistent from the start with what symbol is what. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldberry Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 Yep, DD had a bit of trouble. Then later comes just parentheses! :) Good question though, they should just pick something and stick with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiana Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 You won't find any argument here. I would much prefer to just use parentheses or dots for multiplication. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 I was taught way back in the 80s to write a cursive X when using it as a variable. Older did not have a problem when he switch from x to the dot for multiplication in the AOPS pre-algebra textbook. If you look at a scientific calculator, the x is for the multiplication key while the x is also use for the exponent, squared, cubed and other keys. The dot would be the decimal point. Are you thinking of replacing x with the dot for elementary math? Maybe they are worried about confusing the kids with multiplication and decimals in the elementary math level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misty.warden Posted January 30, 2013 Author Share Posted January 30, 2013 I was taught way back in the 80s to write a cursive X when using it as a variable. Older did not have a problem when he switch from x to the dot for multiplication in the AOPS pre-algebra textbook. If you look at a scientific calculator, the x is for the multiplication key while the x is also use for the exponent, squared, cubed and other keys. The dot would be the decimal point. Are you thinking of replacing x with the dot for elementary math? Maybe they are worried about confusing the kids with multiplication and decimals in the elementary math level. That's something I didn't think of, thanks for mentioning it. The absence of a leading zero is also something that happens a bit randomly for my taste and I can see where it could confuse kids who don't notice the relative positioning and just see the shape. Myself, I don't notice much difference between a cursive and manuscript x unless the person writing has really flowery handwriting or a textbook is using italics for emphasis. The shape of the x for calculator buttons looks (to me) to be stretched horizontally to distinguish it from the more cursive looking x on the x2 button. I've never seen a calculator from overseas so I'm not sure if they all use the same symbols. The comment that led me to start this was about somewhere they used a single dot for multiplication and a colon for division (similar to how I remember learning ratios). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 You won't find any argument here. I would much prefer to just use parentheses or dots for multiplication. I've had my son not use the x because of variables later. He's used to seeing the dot, although you really don't use it much - you use parentheses. We still use the x for scientific notation (and there I think it makes more sense than the dot), but my poor son has heard my regular diatribes about problems with notation. I also see students get really confused with placement of parentheses. And the arguments over why -3^2 isn't the same as (-3)^2.... :angry: I really want math teachers to know their freakin' math. Heard another "my teacher said" today with wrong stuff. Sigh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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