SparklyUnicorn Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 I always wonder why math exercises or puzzles (I like to call them) are referred to as "problems". Makes math suffer from a real PR problem I think. Who wants a bunch of problems?! I have enough problems. Ok...carry on. :lol: 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bambam Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 Because you are working on finding the solution. And since Math isn't Chemistry, that means a solution requires a problem as its source. But I like solving problems and finding solutions. So maybe I'm just weird. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 In German, math has "tasks". 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted November 13, 2016 Author Share Posted November 13, 2016 Because you are working on finding the solution. And since Math isn't Chemistry, that means a solution requires a problem as its source. But I like solving problems and finding solutions. So maybe I'm just weird. But there are solutions to puzzles (puzzles are fun) and then there are solutions to problems (problems are not fun). I'd rather do a puzzle than deal with problems. (Really my post is not meant to be serious.) 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maize Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 I like the idea of calling them puzzles :) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiana Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 I call them exercises. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted November 13, 2016 Author Share Posted November 13, 2016 I call them exercises. If that's anything like the treadmill at the gym, I'm not sure it's an improvement. :laugh: 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Code Lyoko Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 In German, math has "tasks". This makes sense to me. :) Tasks sounds better somehow than problems. I like tasks. Although puzzles sounds even better... You are right, Sparkly, math has too many "problems". It should be puzzles and tasks. LOL Does anyone have another term that might be better? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 I think they are normally called questions or exercises in the UK; sometimes puzzles. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UmmYahya03 Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 How about "equation" instead... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loesje22000 Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 We have in Dutch: Sums Tasks Exercises Problems And probably more words then I can recall now. A 'sum' is not the same as a 'problem' :) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 math manipulations A less accurate term, but more alliterative and poetic. ;) 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Another Lynn Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 I always wonder why math exercises or puzzles (I like to call them) are referred to as "problems". Makes math suffer from a real PR problem I think. Who wants a bunch of problems?! I have enough problems. Ok...carry on. :lol: The geeky shirt I got my ds for Christmas said "Dear math, I'm not a therapist. Solve your own problems." 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted November 13, 2016 Author Share Posted November 13, 2016 How about "equation" instead... Not all of them are equations are they? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted November 13, 2016 Author Share Posted November 13, 2016 The geeky shirt I got my ds for Christmas said "Dear math, I'm not a therapist. Solve your own problems." Ok, now I MUST have this shirt. Off to google... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 Exercises and extensions would make more sense. In high school, we just called them A, B, or C problems as the textbook did. As didnot require thinking. Bs did require a little, and Cs had you in abstract land, proving things. Usually one C problem was assigned daily and It wasnt unusual to continue to work on that in study hall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted November 13, 2016 Author Share Posted November 13, 2016 The geeky shirt I got my ds for Christmas said "Dear math, I'm not a therapist. Solve your own problems." found and ordered :thumbup: 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maize Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 Not all of them are equations are they? No... Proofs come to mind as "not equations" but we just call those proofs. I would consider anything involving an equal sign to be an equation. But if you start out with a word problem of any kind it is not an equation until you set one up. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 How about "equation" instead... Math problems are not equations. Equations may, in some cases, be a tool used to solve a math problem. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UmmYahya03 Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 (edited) Not all of them are equations are they?Hmm... I find it's usually: 1) Solve the equations (usually practice) 2). Decide what equation is in the question then .... solve the equation in order to answer the question 3). Find the missing or unknown parts of an equation Edited November 13, 2016 by UmmYahya03 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ausmumof3 Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 I call them exercises. Definitely negative connotation there! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ausmumof3 Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 In the old days they were called sums, which was rather rude the the subtractions, multiplications and divisions. I think typically here they are called exercises or questions but none of them is really accurate. People keep saying maths is like art so maybe we should talk about dealing with our math creations. Actually I'd love to see Math become more creative and playful anyway so that could be good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted November 14, 2016 Author Share Posted November 14, 2016 Hmm... I find it's usually: 1) Solve the equations (usually practice) 2). Decide what equation is in the question then .... solve the equation in order to answer the question 3). Find the missing or unknown parts of an equation No I see a lot more than that. Here are some numbers and letters...now try to draw this torturous graph. LOL Oh you think you understand how to work with the letters and numbers? Let's confuse you more with some weird symbols (we found scratched on an Egyptian tomb). And log...we'll throw your letters and numbers on a log. Float it down the river of confusion. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 In the old days they were called sums, which was rather rude the the subtractions, multiplications and divisions. I think typically here they are called exercises or questions but none of them is really accurate. People keep saying maths is like art so maybe we should talk about dealing with our math creations. Actually I'd love to see Math become more creative and playful anyway so that could be good. DD is working on her math creations even as we speak. LOL 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted November 14, 2016 Author Share Posted November 14, 2016 Math creations...There ya go.... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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