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Math is Figure-Out-Able!
Math teacher educator Pam Harris and her cohost Kim Montague answer the question: If not algorithms, then what? Join them for ~15-30 minutes every Tuesday as they cast their vision for mathematics education and give actionable items to help teachers teach math that is Figure-Out-Able. See www.MathisFigureOutAble.com for more great resources!
Math is Figure-Out-Able!
#MathStratChat - December 10 , 2025
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on December 10, 2025.
Note: It’s more fun if you try to solve the problem, share it on social media, comment on others strategies, before you listen to Pam and Kim’s strategies.
Check out #MathStratChat on your favorite social media site and join in the conversation.
Twitter: @PWHarris
Instagram: Pam Harris_math
Facebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education
Pam 0:00
Hey, fellow mathers! Welcome to the podcast where Math is Figure-Out-Able.
Pam 0:06
I'm Pam Harris.
Kim 0:07
I'm Kim Montague.
Pam 0:08
This is a MathStratChat episode where we chat about our math strategies. Every Wednesday evening, I throw out a math problem on social media and people from around the world chat about the strategies they use and comment on each other's thinking.
Kim 0:19
Okay, y'all you know what to do. The problem is 7.42 minus 0.85. That's $7.42 minus $0.85. Solve the problem. Come on back.
Pam 0:32
Alright, you first.
Kim 0:34
Okay, I'm going to say that I know 85 cents is really close to $1.00.
Pam 0:39
Mmhm.
Kim 0:40
So, I'm going to shift both of the problems up $0.15, so I can just subtract that dollar. So, when I add $0.15 to $7.42, that's just $7.57.
Pam 0:46
Mmhm.
Kim 0:46
Subtract $1.00 is $6.57.
Pam 0:49
You got $6.57. Okay, cool. I was kind of thinking about my strategy, so I was sort of following what you did. Now, I'll check it.
Kim 0:56
Thanks for listening.
Pam 0:58
Yeah, you're welcome. So, $7.42, I'm going to subtract $1.00 because $0.85 cents is really close to $1.00.
Kim 1:06
Yeah.
Pam 1:06
So, $7.42 subtract $1.00 is $6.42. But I wasn't supposed to subtract $1.00. I was only supposed to subtract $0.85, so I've got to give back the extra $0.15.
Kim 1:22
Yeah.
Pam 1:22
So, $6.42 plus $0.15 is $6.57, which is what you got. So, yay!
Kim 1:29
Yeah.
Pam 1:29
Or 6.57. Nice.
Kim 1:30
I really love the connection between Constant Difference and Over and how like, I shifted, and then subtracted the nice number. And you subtract the nice number, and then make that adjustment.
Kim 1:42
Yeah, it's pretty cool.
Pam 1:43
Yeah, nice. That's a nice connection.
Kim 1:44
We can't wait to see what you do every week. Join us on MathStratChat and let us know how you think about the problems. But more importantly, comment on each other's strategies.
Pam 1:53
We love it when you do that. Y'all, we post the problems on Wednesdays around 7:00 p.m. Central. When you answer, tag me and use the hashtag MathStratChat. Then join us here to hear how we're thinking about the problem. We love having you as part of the Math is Figure-Out-Able movement. Math is Figure-Out-Able!