Subject: Re: [MATHEDCC] Percent questions in Statistics
From: Martha Haehl (haehl@kcmetro.cc.mo.us)
Date: Sat Jan 29 2000 - 16:39:17 EST
I agree that the problem is widespread, not only to Statistics students but
to the entire algebra sequence of classes.
Martha
----- Original Message -----
From: Stefan Baratto <sbaratto@earthlink.net>
To: 'Colleen Ryan' <cryan77@yahoo.com>; <mathedcc@archives.math.utk.edu>
Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2000 2:52 PM
Subject: RE: [MATHEDCC] Percent questions in Statistics
> Not only is this not unique to your school, it is not unique to Statistics
> students.
>
> Word problems in general and percent problems in particular give students
> trouble.
>
> I have taught many levels of math in Oregon (Univ of Oreg), Missouri
> (Southeast Missouri State U), New York (JHS) and Maine (York County Tech
> College--2 yr).
>
> On Saturday, January 29, 2000 2:08 PM, Colleen Ryan
> [SMTP:cryan77@yahoo.com] wrote:
> >
> >
> > I have noticed that my statistics students have a very hard time with
> > percent questions. Even the students who have done well in the
> > prerequisite course, Intermediate Algebra, have trouble with them.
> >
> > I would love to find out if this is unique to my school (Oxnard College
> in
> > southern California) or whether it is widespread.
> >
> > Below is a question they have a lot of trouble with.
> >
> > Question:
> > Here is some data in the form of a two way table which classifies each
> > student as to gender and also whether they brought a calculator to the
> > first day of class.
> >
> > Men Women
> > Yes Calculator 4 24
> > No Calculator 13 20
> >
> > (To Teacher: After a brief explanation of how two-way tables work and
how
> > the marginal totals and grand total are obtained, please ask the
> following
> > question.)
> >
> > What percent of the people who brought a calculator are men?
> >
> > If anyone teaching Elementary Statistics with an Intermediate Algebra
> > prerequisite does this, please let me know what percentage of your class
> > answered correctly.
> >
> > If you teach Intermediate Algebra, I would also be interested in the
> > percent who get it correct.
> >
> > Also could you let me know what part of the country you are from and
> what
> > type of school. I thank you in advance. If I get a widespread
response,
> I
> > will let you know the results.
> >
> >
> > Colleen Ryan
> >
> >
> > =====
> >
> > __________________________________________________
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> > http://im.yahoo.com
> >
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