Why Learn Math?! (Pt. 1: Skills and Facts)

Two questions that come up frequently are "When am I ever going to use this?" and "Why do I have to learn math?" In this clip I do my best to answer these questions as completely as is possible in under 10 minutes!! If you're interested in looking into this further I HIGHLY recommend a one-page opinion piece by Arthur Michelson (click here to go to it) and a fantastic book by John Allen Paulos titled Innumeracy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhNTRlvtWoY

This clip is part one of three. Part two will have to do with the process of math and life lessons that come from that, and part three will take a look at very specific real-life situations in which math is used. As I'm putting this clip up finals have just ended, and the holidays are just beginning, so it may take me a while to get to the others, but check back - they'll be up eventually.

Funnny videos about what happens when you don't know math:

Would you have won the money?!?!
Who Wants to be a Millionaire?(Time)
Are You Smarter Than a Fifth-Grader? (Measurement)

Just for fun:
Ma and Pa Kettle Math
Abbot and Costello Math

Distributive Property

What is the distributive property? Why do we need it when we already have an order of operations for simplifying expressions? When can't we use it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohw6whHKuyY

Order of Operations

Why does order matter when simplifying expressions? Does "PEMDAS" mean you need to multiply before dividing (since M comes before D) and that you need to add before subracting (since A comes before S)? Does "parentheses" really mean parentheses (and only parentheses)? Is there a time when I see parentheses when I do not deal with them first? How do you spell "parentheses?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCykJ0lK51Y

Associative Property

What is the associative property? Why does it have that name? How can I recognize it when I see it and distinguish it from other situations that look like it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5CwR-15vd8

Commutative Property

What is the commutative property? How does it work? When does it work? How can you recognize it and accurately name it when you see it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef7Y2_h_wp8

Identity Property

What is the identity property? How can you recognize it when you see it? What is the difference between the identity property of addition and the identity property of multiplication? Why did mathematicians name this seemingly simple concept?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVx4bTKUMs8

Multiplication Models

Two models of multiplication are considered: repeated addition and rectangular area. The rectangular area model is the focus of this clip. It is a way of viewing and understanding multiplication that can provide a consistent template for multiplying a variety of objects: whole numbers, polynomials, fractions . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdJf7uyH8yU

Percent (and Decimals and Fractions)

This three-part presentation covers the definition of percent and the way in which to alternate between forms:fractions, decimals and percent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXAOvT1jiKc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=186rCTCwY1k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO2y-bp9Hds