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Speed

August 25, 2018 am31 4:27 am
tags: ,

Sometimes I write my own math problems:

 

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But I think this is the first time I over a decade that I’ve written a multiple choice question.

from → arithmetic, Math, Math Education, The Wide World
2 Comments leave one →
  1. David-S permalink
    August 26, 2018 am31 4:47 am 4:47 am

    Does a “Manhattan block” include the street crossing after a sidewalk ends?
    Are you differentiating east-west from north-south?
    If you are assuming a crossing, are you assuming your speed is unaffected by the crossing?
    Are you assuming your students are familiar with Manhattan streets and avenues?

    Reply
  2. jd2718 permalink*
    August 26, 2018 am31 6:02 am 6:02 am

    As the question says, “there are approximately 20 Manhattan blocks in a mile.”
    Also I direct the students to round their responses “reasonably” – which should take care of curbs, differences in block length, etc.

    Twenty blocks per mile is a good approximation for uptown/downtown blocks on the regularly gridded part of Manhattan. There are longer blocks, especially where there are wider cross streets. My school is in the Bronx, most of my students are familiar with Manhattan, and I use a related problem with them freshman year, though I doubt many recall it.

    Reply

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