Story problems

these are those items most seem to have hated in high school and college...those problems that all seem to start out with train A leaving station X at 0900 while train B leaves station Y at.....

You've probably all tuned out by now anyway! A lot of people hated story problems, but I loved them. They gave me insight on how we can use math in real life. How we can take algebra, trig or geometry in real life and actually use it.

Today I had a story problem to solve. I have a tractor front-end-loader that weighs around 1200 pounds and I need to raise it 28" to hook back on to the tractor. I can buld a large derrick, but what angle do I put the tubing at and what length so I can lift a 36" wide bit 28" from a base height of 60"? Well, I had fun with it, was able to use geometry, trig and algebra and figured it out...right here



I like story problems because I think lifeis a story problem. I believe this is why Jesus spoke in parables. Jesus didn't just saywhat we should do, but rather he chose appropriate stories that communicated the message. Jesus spoke in story problems.