Friday, December 14, 2007

Morning math musings

Picture this - family gathered around the table for breakfast - conversation ensues:

Miss E - 1 pound is the same as 16 oz., right Mama?

Me - Yes

Miss E - What is 43 x 16?

Me - Hmm, why do you ask?

Miss E - Just because

Me - Ok, but why? Did you see something that is making you ask?

Miss E - Just because...

Me - (pulls cereal bag over to look at the measurements of weight for the bag to see if this is why, then it dawns on me) Is it because you want to know how much you weigh in ounces? :)

Miss E - (shyly) Yes

Me - ok (cell phone happens to be on the table so I use the calculator) 688

Miss E - Ok, wow, that's a lot! What if we add 5 to it?

Me - Why 5?

Miss E - When we were at Grandma and Grandpa's the scale said 43.5

Me - Ok, but that was in pounds, to get the .5 you need to add 8 since half of 16 is 8, right?

Miss E (thinking)

Me - You would either need to add 8 or 1/2 of 16, which is 8, right?

Miss E - yes

Me - So, that would be 696

(about this time CKB arrives at the table to eat breakfast)

Me - Tell Daddy...

Miss E - (smiling) Daddy, I weigh 696 ounces!

CKB grins

Me - Welcome to morning math!

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