I tended to badly overthink math problems like this in school. I remember the teacher took me aside once and told me I had the most spectacularly complex, convoluted method for getting the wrong answer she had ever seen.
I knew a kid in 5th grade who would get almost all the answers right, but whenever he was asked to show his work his methods were always wrong. He would do the wrong method the wrong way and constantly get right answers!
I remember when the teacher first brought up division. The other kids seemed to understand this arcane art, I did not! It took my father a long time to get me to understand the mystery of division.
As a sometime math tutor to family and friends I have seen a lot of methods, starting with New Math in 8th grade. There have been a lot of methods over the years and I have taught to even the dumbest ones (class requirements) until Common Core math came along. I could handle addition and subtraction (although it is like hopping on one foot while holding the other) but multiplication and division are insufferable. I taught my 4th grade grandson how it is classically done and what work the teacher wanted to see and he got an A on his report card. The universal complaint of the frustrated math student is “just show me how to do the problem!”
This could be taken as a sign that Hobbes is not a separate entity from Calvin’s imagination. He doesn’t seem to know anything that Calvin doesn’t; he merely fakes it.
BE THIS GUY almost 7 years ago
Don’t worry, Calvin. Your teacher will give you partial credit if you show the work.
bluram almost 7 years ago
You have to be kidding, never heard of such a thing. Maybe in Calvinville.
bluram almost 7 years ago
Wake up Calvin, use your fingers and toes.
WoodEye almost 7 years ago
The advanced problem is sitting to your left!
Adiraiju almost 7 years ago
I tended to badly overthink math problems like this in school. I remember the teacher took me aside once and told me I had the most spectacularly complex, convoluted method for getting the wrong answer she had ever seen.
LupisLight almost 7 years ago
This sounds like the ‘Calvinball’ version of math. Or alternatively, Wayside School math…
Alexander the Good Enough almost 7 years ago
Q: How many mathematicians does it take to change a light bulb?
A: That’s left as an exercise for the reader…
jpayne4040 almost 7 years ago
I knew a kid in 5th grade who would get almost all the answers right, but whenever he was asked to show his work his methods were always wrong. He would do the wrong method the wrong way and constantly get right answers!
Phred Premium Member almost 7 years ago
Fingers and toes.
luvcmx almost 7 years ago
Now we know that when Calvin grew up he became a congressman!
NeedaChuckle Premium Member almost 7 years ago
I remember when the teacher first brought up division. The other kids seemed to understand this arcane art, I did not! It took my father a long time to get me to understand the mystery of division.
dl11898 almost 7 years ago
If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, … then baffle them with bull_ _ _ _.
cubswin2016 almost 7 years ago
I think it’s 11.
flagmichael almost 7 years ago
As a sometime math tutor to family and friends I have seen a lot of methods, starting with New Math in 8th grade. There have been a lot of methods over the years and I have taught to even the dumbest ones (class requirements) until Common Core math came along. I could handle addition and subtraction (although it is like hopping on one foot while holding the other) but multiplication and division are insufferable. I taught my 4th grade grandson how it is classically done and what work the teacher wanted to see and he got an A on his report card. The universal complaint of the frustrated math student is “just show me how to do the problem!”
A Hip loving Canadian... almost 7 years ago
Clearly Tiger math works on a different system of logic.
sandpiper almost 7 years ago
Why not elect Hobbes? He couldn’t do worse than anyone in office today.
SweetSinger almost 7 years ago
Tiger Math: as confusing as New Math.
dutchs almost 7 years ago
Algebra was much easier in ancient Rome. X was always 10.
Nick Danger almost 7 years ago
This actually makes more sense than how to do math in Common Core-based examples.
Earnestly Frank almost 7 years ago
He must be using (Abbott & ) Costelloian math…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HvGven4qJ0
bigcatbusiness almost 7 years ago
Algebra. So sickeningly hard in College. If I had taken it as early as first grade, I don’t think I would’ve ever wanted to return to school.
Rachel_E almost 7 years ago
It’s 11 of course. Hobbes would be a terrible math tutor. ;)
gantech almost 7 years ago
There are 10 different kinds of people in the world: those who understand binary and those who don’t.
gantech almost 7 years ago
There are 10 different kinds of people in the world: those who understand binary and those who don’t.
JP Steve Premium Member almost 7 years ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIKGV2cTgqA
tedunn5453 almost 7 years ago
And here I sit, 45 years later never once having to solve for X or Y….
rshive almost 7 years ago
I find it intriguing that Hobbes knows Latin.
sandpiper almost 7 years ago
@markmossi: Unfortunately the same thing can’t be said of present occupants.
Stephen Gilberg almost 7 years ago
This could be taken as a sign that Hobbes is not a separate entity from Calvin’s imagination. He doesn’t seem to know anything that Calvin doesn’t; he merely fakes it.
IreneCarlyle almost 7 years ago
Thank you Hobbes! You always brighten my day in these Trumpian times.
PaulInMiami almost 7 years ago
Hobbes, that was impressive! That is just like listening to John Hagee interpret biblical `prophecy`—best watched by standing on one`s head.
mawperson almost 7 years ago
Remember, Hobbes is just in Calvin’s imagination, so Calvin knows just as much as Hobbes does. XD Sounds like Calvin should teach Hobbes a few things.
mawperson almost 7 years ago
I like how Hobbes looks in the second panel and how Calvin looks in the third lol
Urdad.com 9 months ago
Ill bet you don’t show your work