This Kid Did A Math Problem Correctly But Got Marked Down For A Ridiculous Reason

by N/A, 9 years ago | 3 min read

New testing practices in the mathematics for third graders means that even when they get a multiplication problem correct, they can be marked off for not showing how the addition of it works. Well, not showing it exactly how the creators of the Common Core standards want it at least.

Let us say once again, this is a third grader, and the student got the question correct, but the government is apparently trying to hold this bright student down.

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So, even if you feel this way about math...

You're going to be appalled at the way children are being graded for their math these days. In fact it will make you happy you got through math when you did, because the criteria being outlined is simply absurd.

So, when asked to explain why "5x3" equals fifteen the student put this (5+5+5)...

He was counted off because of the new curriculum under Common Core standards for third graders that says "5x3" should be read as 5 groups of 3. As you can see, the teacher marked the student off a point and then wrote out what the student should've put down (3+3+3+3+3). Now, just how ridiculous is that?!

It is completely ridiculous, and the people of Reddit absolutely exploded on this topic. For instance, this commenter puts into perspective why this teacher is messing with this child's mind:

And this one makes a very sarcastic ploy as to why this type of math makes no sense, because it often takes much longer and is pointless:

Essentially, this Redditor sums up what we're all thinking:

This one tries to put into perspective how this teacher could be so naive as to count this wrong, by simply going "by the book" without question:

But, also seems to ultimately understand that going "by the book" without any sense of, well, the fact that the student was correct in the first place, is completely and utterly absurd.

So, can you tell us the difference between (5+5+5) and (3+3+3+3+3) now?

No? Exactly, because there (still) isn't one.

That is, unless arithmetic bureaucrats get together and say so...

And don't think they won't. The student (read: third grader) in question for this story was also later marked off for using 6 rows of 4 instead of 4 rows of 6–on the same test! These math meanies just won't give it up.

Morale of the story?

Forget everything you thought you knew about math, because it's now apparently wrong.