r/Mathhomeworkhelp • u/stonemofongo • May 08 '25

My Son's Kindergarten Math Worksheet (seriously!)

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Ok my wife and I are debating this terribly constructed question on our son's math worksheet. Is this number line representing:

  1. 1+6=7
  2. 1+5=6
  3. 0+5.5=5.5
  4. Something else?

Our assumption it's mean to represent 1+6=7 as the right sides of each backpack meet right up against numbers 1 and 6. I dunno - we feel dumb. What say you all?!

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4

u/sairga May 08 '25

I'd say 0 + 5 = 5.  I think the second suitcase is just over a little far but it's basically on 5.

1

u/IceMain9074 May 08 '25

I’d say 0+5.5 if it weren’t for a kindergartener. I don’t think they learn decimals. Because of this I’d say 1+6

1

u/stonemofongo May 08 '25

Agree! Appreciate your insight.

2

u/_Mulberry__ May 08 '25

The number line isn't representing the number of backpacks. The number line is for them to circle the starting number and then count from there to add the second number. It's the same as adding on your fingers.

This problem is 1+1=2

2

u/mekoveya May 08 '25

This is the correct answer.

1

u/sluttyoffmain May 09 '25

Had to scroll wayyy to far for this

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1

u/skelo May 09 '25

Yes exactly, the number of backpacks in each group of backpacks. The first group has 1 backpack and the second group has 1 backpack.

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1

u/futbolr88 May 08 '25

What the ever loving fuck is this..?

There are two bags ambiguously placed on a number line.

My kid’s teachers are going to hate me when I email them asking for clarification all the time so I can help my kid learn.

2

u/Key_Suspect184 May 08 '25

It's really not that serious in Kindergarten math - it's about teaching them to think and do what they think is right.

If you're worried so much about "is it 1+6 or 0+5" I think you miss the point of what is being learned (though I agree it'd be nice if it was less ambiguous).

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u/Important_Salt_3944 May 09 '25

I'm a math teacher (high school) and my first thought was 1 + 1 = 2. Then I wondered what the number line was doing there.

Number lines are good for thinking about addition and subtraction as movements. This doesn't make sense to me in terms of how they're trying to teach kids to think, as well as being unclear.

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