A parent has been left infuriated after attempting to help with their child's maths homework, claiming the question makes no sense and feels too advanced for adults, let alone children. The parent took to social media to express their frustration over a problem that even grown-ups struggle to solve.
The Confusing Question
Reviewing the homework sheet, the parent checked over simple equations before turning their attention to question 25, which read: "Write the double you used to solve Exercise 23." Confused, they looked back at question 23, which simply showed: 7 + 5 = 12. Baffled, the parent posted online: "What in the ever loving F does this mean? Kid's homework. Seriously, did they change maths?"
Online Reactions and Explanations
While some users tried to decipher the wording and provide an answer, others shared their thoughts on the task itself. One user commented: "What I would assume this means is, say, finding 8+7 by doing 8+8 and subtracting 1. Mental maths skills." Another added: "The teacher probably explained what a double is in class."
A third user noted: "I know they teach maths this way, but for a lot of kids it is confusing. Also, there can be multiple correct answers. I solved it with 5+5 = 10 + 2 = 12." One more person said: "The new maths isn't designed so that every solution is simple for every student, but rather so every student sees a variety of ways to solve a problem, and one or two will resonate and feel intuitive. It feels kind of silly with small numbers, but the idea is to approximate using an easy step, then fine-tune it to the final correct answer."
A Teacher's Perspective
Wanting to clear things up, a teacher stepped in to explain the question's intent. They said: "Math interventionist for elementary here. A double is a 'fact' kids can memorise and a strategy. You see 7+5, and because 5 and 7 are close together, you can move 1 from the 7 to the 5. Now you have 6+6, which is 12. Maths nowadays focuses a lot on the cognitive process - how you get there."
Another teacher added: "Second grade maths teacher here. The kids aren't confused by it. The parents who won't let the kids just do their work are confused by the terminology for a skill they likely already use without thinking about it - and love to take to the internet to complain."
The incident highlights the growing gap between traditional and modern teaching methods, leaving many parents struggling to keep up with their children's education.
