Gebel’s Gab

PERIODS 6 AND 7
What do you think? Should we go metric or should we stick with the customary measurement system?? Be sure to support your answer with factual information based on your own reading, outside research and the things we have discussed in class.

When you’re ready to write, click on “comments”, enter your first name (see above), period and write your comment. Remember what Mrs. Fuller taught you about writing a persuasive paragraph!! Now start writing and be sure you finish it by Tuesday, April 15. Feel free to log in and see what your classmates have to say.
Happy Writing!!

Welcome Team Voyager 2008! Hey there Lovett’s Team Voyager! Welcome to Mrs. Gebel’s 6th grade team white math blog. We’ll use this format to respond to some math questions through the rest of this year. Each of you is expected to enter your first name and period and respond to the posted question. Include your nickname or the first initial of your last name if there’s another student on our team with your same first name. Since this is new to me too, we’ll enter this voyage together…
According to your textbook, “Although fractions are a very basic way of writing a portion of a whole, decimals are quickly replacing fractions in many areas.” Some people believe this to be true. The stock market is now quoted in decimals, while for years they used fractions! As early as 1979, mathematician Zalman Usiskin questioned whether fractions will become obsolete. He quoted a statement “Since both the metric system and the hand-held calculator use decimals, in twenty-five years common fractions will be as obsolete as Roman numerals are today.” Usiskin believed this to be a false statement. We’re beyond the 25 year mark and fractions are still around. What do you think? Interview adults about their jobs. Which do they use more – fractions or decimals? Why? Which do you think are more useful? Why? Your response should be at least one paragraph!!