age to learn from school for unknown number a & 2 digit/3 digit multiplication

[Anonymous]

Math is my strength, and I aced all calculus & Statistics class. and I don't understand why my kid can't write out an equation out from word problem and to solve unknown a or b. For example, john has 5 apples more than Sam, and their sum is 13. I tell him to write out the equation below like that, and to deduct 5 on both side, add up a=a =2a, divide 2 on both side, to get the answer 4. So, John has 9 apple, and Sam has 4 apples. It is confusing to him if John has "FEWER" apple.

a +(a+5) =13

Division has been a challenge. He has memorized multiple tables long time ago, but he can't do 2 digit or 3 digit division.

Please let me know what age does school teach all these?

[Anonymous]

The way you describe that is confusing to me -- I would have just subtracted 5 from 13 and then divided by two, and not used an equation to solve even though, yes, your equation represents the solution. It's just not useful to me for solving for A.

My kid started multiplication in 2nd and learned 2-digit multiplication in 3rd, but wasn't really tested on it or expected to know it until end of 4th.

[Anonymous]

Depends on the school. My kids were taught multi-digit multiplication in 3rd but one of them took until 4th to really understand it. Multi-digit by multi-digit division was 4th. Solving simple linear equations (y=mx+b where m and b, and y are known) was 5th. This is the advanced math track in our district.

If you are good at math and have studied advanced math, it's probably pretty hard to remember when the algorithms for these problems weren't obvious, but I promise you as someone with older kids they aren't intuitive the first few to several times through. It takes practice.

[Anonymous]

Should start the algebraic concepts in preschool. No later than 2nd grade for multiple digit multiplication. But good luck seeing that in a US school.

[Anonymous]

Before learning a + a + 5 = 13, it may be better to use "bar models" as they do in Singapore Math. It's more concrete.

[Anonymous]

Common Core website is down at the moment, but here is a copy

https://learning.ccsso.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ADA-Compliant-Math-Standards.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Math is my strength, and I aced all calculus & Statistics class. and I don't understand why my kid can't write out an equation out from word problem and to solve unknown a or b. For example, john has 5 apples more than Sam, and their sum is 13. I tell him to write out the equation below like that, and to deduct 5 on both side, add up a=a =2a, divide 2 on both side, to get the answer 4. So, John has 9 apple, and Sam has 4 apples. It is confusing to him if John has "FEWER" apple.

a +(a+5) =13

Division has been a challenge. He has memorized multiple tables long time ago, but he can't do 2 digit or 3 digit division.

Please let me know what age does school teach all these?

You didn't give enough information to solve for x = age of your kid.

[Anonymous]

Schools will have kids solve problems like this visually, years before they expect the algebraic equations

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Before learning a + a + 5 = 13, it may be better to use "bar models" as they do in Singapore Math. It's more concrete.

Yes, this. Bar models are a great way to approaching it. Involves a different way of thinking; more cumbersome than algebra -- for an adult who knows algebra -- but easier for children to grasp.

[Anonymous]

How old is the kid? Variable manipulation like your example probably starts at 5th grade for the smart kids. Before that, they tend to do bar graphs or draw it out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How old is the kid? Variable manipulation like your example probably starts at 5th grade for the smart kids. Before that, they tend to do bar graphs or draw it out.

Should be doing it with manipulatives, could be gummy bears, in preschool. Because we wait til 5th grade for these simple constructs is why American kids are so far behind in math.

[Anonymous]

There are two parts to this problem: translating the question into an equation and solving the equations. These are separate skills in my opinion. Can your child do either, OP?

My memory if elementary school is c that we started doing these kinds of problems in 4th or 5th grade.

If you want your kid to learn it, engage them with stuff like this in fun ways like logic puzzle games or cooking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Math is my strength, and I aced all calculus & Statistics class. and I don't understand why my kid can't write out an equation out from word problem and to solve unknown a or b. For example, john has 5 apples more than Sam, and their sum is 13. I tell him to write out the equation below like that, and to deduct 5 on both side, add up a=a =2a, divide 2 on both side, to get the answer 4. So, John has 9 apple, and Sam has 4 apples. It is confusing to him if John has "FEWER" apple.

a +(a+5) =13

Division has been a challenge. He has memorized multiple tables long time ago, but he can't do 2 digit or 3 digit division.

Please let me know what age does school teach all these?

In Virginia, the so-called "Standards of Learnings" (SOL) do not introduce variables until 5th grade. (No joke.)

[Anonymous]

English is my strength, and I aced all of my English classes. We teach our kids to use plural nouns in kindergarten here. Before you criticize, you should learn to pluralize as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Math is my strength, and I aced all calculus & Statistics class. and I don't understand why my kid can't write out an equation out from word problem and to solve unknown a or b. For example, john has 5 apples more than Sam, and their sum is 13. I tell him to write out the equation below like that, and to deduct 5 on both side, add up a=a =2a, divide 2 on both side, to get the answer 4. So, John has 9 apple, and Sam has 4 apples. It is confusing to him if John has "FEWER" apple.

a +(a+5) =13

Division has been a challenge. He has memorized multiple tables long time ago, but he can't do 2 digit or 3 digit division.

Please let me know what age does school teach all these?

In Virginia, the so-called "Standards of Learnings" (SOL) do not introduce variables until 5th grade. (No joke.)

Which is 4th grade for kids in advanced math in FCPS. Not sure how surrounding districts do it.

The Virginia standards for math need to get more rigorous in the elementary years for sure, though.