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I just expressed it that way for ease of presentation (and to answer the original question). You don't need algebra to do the reasoning.

I have to assume that the kids were taught some method of doing these problems, whether using symbols or by some other method. If they weren't, then of course, it's dumb to give them such problems. However, assuming that (i.e., assuming the teacher is competent and sentient), the reasoning process is certainly within the capabilities of a reasonably intelligent fourth grader.

We vastly under-challenge children in this country. Perhaps this teacher isn't doing that.

Yeh it does seem alright, though I can't believe I personally was confused by men and women being adults, DUH! *knocks own head*

This was interesting for me, and it brought back my desire for maths, I finished high school a couple of years ago...

Anyone got a good idea for a book or course that is helpful in getting back into the early through to intermediate stages of algebra? All the way through to calculus in the end.


Theres just certain little things I never remembered because I couldn't focus in class, the teacher and students used to overwhelm me. Nowdays I've been learning at insane speeds, so I thought its time I give the maths side a go. Everything I've learnt about science intrigues me, and I simply wanna tackle the equational side of things.

Just watch, now that it'll be the second time you're taking a look at math, it'll "mysteriously" make a heck of a lot more sense!!

I don't know why, that's been my history with pretty much every advanced/college-level subject I've taken...

lizmcg wrote:
"If "x" is the number of children in the race, then 4x is the number of adults and

4x + x = 2500

5 x = 2500

x= 500 (the number of children in the race) and

4x = 2000 (the number of adults)

and 2000 - 1200 = 800 (the number of women). Right? Seems pretty straightforward
and OK for fourth grade."

This is the correct procedure, whether you formally use variables or not. They are, btw teaching 4th graders pre-algebra skills. Heck, they do what they call "Algebra" in Kindergarten! At least here in Florida - it's part of the so-called "Spiral curriculum", that revisits the same topics each year, adding more each time. While i don't totally agree with it, it is challenging the kids. My middleschool boys are learning what I have to "reteach" in my college Intermediate Algebra class, to people my age who never saw it before.

BTW, a good resourse for all levels of Algebra is www.purplemath.com

Yep, I got 800 as the answer too.

And yep, this is similar stuff to what my son, as a fourth grader, is working on in mathematics at school.

Jus