Tom has a new post on his Teaching Mathematics blog: Introducing Negative Numbers. Amongst other things, Tom suggests that Europeans eventually accepted this mathematical magic because of the genius and/or stubbornness of accountants. Please support Tom’s blog and check it out.
Thanks Marty
This lesson resulted from my current career as a tutor. Teachers have mixed feelings regarding tutors. On one hand they give extra support to the teachers’ efforts, supplementing the limited time that the teacher gets. But I have seen posts where the teacher is annoyed; something wrong has been taught by the tutor, or the teacher’s surprise has been pre-empted.
It’s a very good choice of topic.
I think you’re suggesting a posting on tutoring on the teaching maths blog? Yes I was contemplating something along those lines, maybe next week.
I meant negatives was a good topic. But tutoring also.