Bwah! We used to play "Go to the head of the class" in math class. In order to prevent some of us from running the line, my math teacher had a parallel set of cards. Those of us who were, shall we say 'adept' had to raise the answer to an exponent; usually 2 or 3 unless it was an easy number. It was the only way the teacher could prevent a few of us from running the room every time. Last week of the school year, last challenge, sudden death .. 7^7 ... Teacher asked us if we wanted to call it a draw. Neither of us heard him ask. A few moments later my opponent answered 117649. And before he finished speaking I said 823543. Then teacher looked at me and said:"I don't know how you did that!" By that time most of the class was pretty bored, but he was old school and always commanded respect. Suddenly the whole class was taking a snap quiz for extra credit, to see whose answer is correct. I want to point out that the teacher didn't have a flash card or even a calculator, he simply said seven to the seventh as this was a 7th grade math class. Recall that some kids were still having trouble with multiplication tables at that age.

yeah, funniest thing - mine still works, too!
I had my students memorize the tables up to 12, since we were doing construction and I heard a story or 2 about how fast they could multiply with pencil and paper. !

There is that. Memorization of multiplication tables--commonplace in my day (I guess my age is showing)--will bring up a fast answer any time.

rote memorization is brain training - teaching your brain how to retain and use what's contained in it.
Yet another reason for it to be a neglected skill.
grrrr.

Didn't know that. Thanks.

It seems so simple on paper ...
http://www.youtube.com/embed/uc3Pv5Q_AdA...

Alex Trebek, the host, has some control over the show, and although he's generally careful to keep his politics to himself, things he's said and supported imply he trends conservative / libertarian. He's a naturalized U.S. citizen, by the way, one who did it the hard way and actually seems to be here because he loves the country.

Perfect candidate to work as a cashier at a McDonalds near you.

My kids could have answered all three of those questions. First one is straight addition. Second one only a little trickier in that you have to pay attention to signs. Third one isn't bad if you know order of operations, but CC doesn't teach it intuitively, which is why neither of these three could get the answer.

I think what shocks me is that this category would even make it onto the show in the first place without getting shot down by the editors/producers! I applaud the question selectors that snuck this in!

True, but I have to think Bill Gates is NOT enjoying what the current fiasco is doing to his stocks' value, and has made his displeasure known.

While I would agree with you, Gates hasn't been driving Windows for more than a decade. Ballmer is the one you can thank for Windows 8 and he "resigned" earlier this year (thank goodness).

I make this point to my students on a daily basis. Never feel as if it is sinking in but I keep trying.

I wonder if that kid knows he's an Internet celebrity. oops.

Common Core?
Not only are the crazies running the asylum, they are educating the children, also.

Just more evidence that Common Core reduces everyone to the lowest common denominator...

Too bad we couldn't see the next question... maybe 1 divided by 2 x 3 divided by 4 x 5? We could do stuff like this by 5th grade in our heads...

what happened to his mechanical devices that all kids have today.

Man, This is another one that just makes me sick to my stomach. Today is a bad news day on the gulch. To bad it has to be so.

Part of the grand plan to improve acceptance of Windows 8 :P

and we have Bill Gates to thank for it

The joys of replacing education with rote memorization.

Exactly. They seemed lost in a fog of...common core. Young minds starved into submission.

Uhh, 3, no 4 --5. Darn what are those X's and --'s

I feel so hopeful about this country's future...no engineers for as far as the eyes can see...everyone on welfare in the meantime. Based on the excuses from the elite for various programs, is this supposed to make me feel safer, be more secure, improve the economy, and benefit the little guy?

Pathetic is perfect in this case.

Yes. In a word "pathetic."

The other two didn't even make an attempt.