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Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader In Common Core Math?

Filed Under: BLOG, quiz, school Tagged With: , , , , ,

Sometimes I forget that I was a bit of a brainiac in math. Or even that I taught middle school common core math before having my kids.

But then I will come across something, that reminds me.

Take for instance a recent afternoon.

See I was on Facebook surfing only to come across this Facebook Photo Share:

Math Question Based on Patterns

It didn’t take me long to deduce the answer, because like I said I taught middle school common core math.

But I decided to take to my Facebook blog page to ask my followers if they knew the answer.

The incentive for my Facebook Fans was quite simple.

The first blogger to answer correctly would win free ad space from me.

I really wasn’t expecting to get much of a turn out or interaction from this one simple Facebook post.

But I got a ton of comments. Plus even after I declared a winner, the guesses kept coming in days later.

Many answered correctly with an answer of 90,. While a few didn’t pay close enough attention. See they missed that the first number skipped from 6 to 9 multiplying by 8 instead of 10 forgetting to compensate for the number jump.  Still many others apparently guessed randomly.

In case you still don’t understand how to arrive at the right answer of 90, stay tuned. See we must first look at the first two numbers of 2 and 6 to figure out the pattern.

In order to get from 2 to 6, we must multiply 2 times 3. This equals 6.

From there each number pair increases by one, as follows:

  • (3,12) = 3 x 4 = 12
  • (4,20) =  4 x 5 = 20
  • (5,30) = 5 x 6 = 30
  • (6,42) = 6 x 7 = 42

We are missing 7 and 8. But it would be 7 x 8 = 56 and 8 x 9 = 72.

Therefore for 9, we have 9 x 10 = 90!

Did you get this question right?

This is a question teaching about math patterns. It is also something that you could expect an early middle school or even late elementary school Common Core math student to be given for homework.

By the way, I often read comments in my Facebook feed from my Facebook friends complaining about the types of questions given nightly for their own young kids for math homework since the inception of Common Core. The main complaint is that as parents many can’t even answer the questions themselves. Or even help their kids to find the solution.

Like I said I am not in the norm as for the most part can answer these types of questions.

Like it or not, my kids won’t be able to stump me with common core math homework as they do get older.

Which may or may not be a blessing for them!

Yet, this got my wheels spinning a bit more. See I was wondering how many grown-ups could outscore a Common Core 5th grader on their math homework.

Want to see if you are smarter than a 5th grader in common core math?

Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader in Common Core Math?

Take this 3 question 5th grade Common Core math quiz now:

1. My smartie box has 27 red, green and pink smarties. I have twice as many red smarties as there are pink smarties but there are three times as many green smarties as there are red smarties. How many more green smarties are there than red smarties?

a) 12
b) 3
c) 18
d) 9

2. 1/6 of the fruit bowl has bananas in it, 1/3 of the fruit bowl has apples in it and 12 or 1/2 of the fruit bowl has pears in it. How many bananas and apples are in the fruit bowl?

a) 4 bananas and 6 apples
b) 6 bananas and 4 apples
c) 4 apples and 8 bananas
d) 4 bananas and 8 apples

3. What would be the next two numbers in the following sequence?
1600, 800, 400, ____ , ____

a) 500, 600
b) 200, 100
c) 200, 0
d) 0, -400

So, are you still with me?

How do you think you did?

Are you smarter than a 5th grader? #math #commoncore #parenting

Click To Tweet

Could help your own kid with their common core math homework? What if they brought these questions home tonight?

*Check out the answers below to these Common Core Math problems to find out now…

1. a = 12

2. d. = 4 bananas and 8 apples

3.  b.  =  200, 100

Signature 2015

*A version of this article appears in the education section of The Huffington Post with permission.

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About Janine

Janine is a published author of the books, The Mother of All Meltdowns and Only Trollops Shave Above the Knee. She has been featured on The Huffington Post, Mamapedia, Today Parenting Team and SheKnows. She also runs her own graphic design company at J9 Designs.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nellie @ Brooklyn Active Mama says

    I totally saw it and got it wrong on your facebook page. I didn’t even try the math problems presented here because honestly it’s way too early and girl I was the worst at math! I have already resigned myself to hiring a tutor when the state exams come if my kids need it. I am not a fan of this common core and hope it’s gone very soon.

    • Janine says

      Nellie, I saw your answer and you know if I lived closer, I would try to help with any math problems, but still I am so disgusted with common core and really just hope it is gone very soon, because seriously I think it is the absolute worst!

  2. April G says

    I did well in math growing up, all the way through calculaus, yet when my son brings home homework, I find that I’m mainly stumped trying to figure out what the problem is asking. I don’t quite know why the questions need to be creative or inventive. They need to learn to balance their check book and pay their bills. After talking to his teacher, I was disheartened to find that they are supposed to be more creative in solving the problem than in writing an essay where they are asked to regurgitate the prompt. Between common core aND the push for an electronic device into every student’s hands, before they learn basic math, I don’t know where these kids are going to really learn and understand problems, unless it’s already inate.

    • Janine says

      April, you said it best and like you I took higher level math through Calculus and even Master Degree math classes to teach math and I don’t get why Common Core Math is the latest and greatest push, when our kids should indeed learn how to balance a checkbook and more everyday math, too, because unless you are going to be a math teacher, most will never use half of what our kids are learning now sadly.

  3. Bev says

    So I’m a big nerd and took out a pen and paper to solve the math problems. That is some pretty high level stuff! I can see myself getting frustrated with them as a fifth grader. Last year when I started hearing grumblings about Common Core I thought “Oh, that really sucks,” but then I realized that I have a child who will be going to public school and will be also be affected by it, and it worries me. I’m not sure what’s going on here, but like you said there is no way we can expect every child to learn the same way. I do have faith in the public school system, but from what I hear (and what I’ve seen so far) about the Common Core, I will say I’m worried.

    • Janine says

      Bev, I love you and see I would do the same thing by taking out the pen and paper to solve, but still not everyone is like us. So far, Emma is excelling in math and haven’t helped her much to be honest, but I do worry as it is getting harder and I still have Lily, too. Trust me constant worry here, as well.

  4. Alison says

    I know the answer to your Facebook question.
    But the 3 questions there? I have to sit down with pen and paper to figure them out.
    Can’t speak for Common Core since it’s not what we do in this part of the world, but sadly, can relate to the fact that students in Asia are not taught concepts and problem solving, so much as they’re taught to memorize things.

  5. Meredith says

    We haven’t really delved into the world of Common Core, but with everything I hear from parents, you nailed the perspective shared by most! The top graphic alone scares me!

    • Janine says

      We have touched upon it already in kindergarten here and I just loathe it already at this early level. But scared, too for what is to come for my girls, Meredith!

    • Janine says

      I know this seems to be the overall consensus and you aren’t alone in this feeling at all from what I have heard and seen.

  10. Robin (Masshole Mommy) says

    No I am not. I hate common core SO much. I tried watching some YouTube videos to help figure out my kids homework, but I can’t get it to save my life.

  11. Seana Turner says

    I’ve been watching this common core unfold from a distance, as my children are older. I think these problems seem advanced for 5th grade. I solved them all, but my approach was to use algebra, which 5th graders generally don’t know. I think the idea of ensuring that all children achieve basic skills is a good one, but this program does not seem to have received the full support of the teaching community, and it seems to be causing a lot of grief.

  13. Alexa says

    Oh it makes my brain hurt! I can’t even help my 2nd grader most days with his math. I’m dreading 5th grade math!!!

  17. Jame oliver says

    Interesting. How could the answer for the third question be 200, 0?

    Isn’t the logic to divide by two, in which case it could never be zero.

    Isn’t it 400/2, then 200/2, which is 200 and 100, respectively?

    • Janine says

      James, you totally busted me and sadly I was typing this late last night and I actually put the wrong answer below even though I know the right answer. Thank you for pointing this out to me. Late night typing and eyes got the better of me. Thank you my friend! 😉

  18. Kathy Radigan says

    I have to admit I saw the word math and my mind went blank, I started getting hives and felt nauseous! Thanks for a great post though! Lol! xoxoxo

  19. Kristen says

    I’m not even taking this quiz because I’m baffled by Kindergarten math. I always show worksheets on my Facebook page that make me scratch my head. I get the new thinking, but the instructions are poorly written. Grrrrr….

  20. Diane Roark says

    Janine,

    Do not get me started on public schools. My oldest kids have been in private schools and now are very successful. My youngest daughter struggles with dyslexia, processing problems, and much more. She is in public school. She cannot write in cursive, she cannot spell anything. In fact, she is in the 7th grade and I am pretty sure NEVER had a spelling test. She did not have to learn multiplication facts or division facts. Lately, I have noticed if her grades get low enough the next test is easier to bring her grades up. She made two failing grades two weeks ago so last week she had all easy multiple choice tests and brought her grade up. The goal in public school is to pass each student and they do.

    Sorry for the rant so early.
    Blessings,
    Diane

    • Janine says

      Don’t apologize for the rant and I agree with your end line there, because that is the goal totally and it was aptly named, “No Child Left Behind!” Rant away and I am so right there with you, Diane!

  21. Jack says

    I was able to ‘successfully’ answer all of the questions and am pleased about it because math was never really my thing. However I did get an A in Algebra so I wasn’t a complete screw up in it.

    Over time I have noticed that some things that didn’t make as much sense during school do now. Experience in a variety of fields has probably helped with that as well as there being no pressure to get the right answer.

    But I have noticed that I can’t answer most of the math homework my son gets, not because I don’t understand it but because I can’t do it the way it is taught. It just doesn’t make sense to me.

    I often wonder if our kids are being properly prepared for math in general.

    • Janine says

      Jack, I have heard that, as well with friend’s kids and also my older nieces/nephews and do agree it is the way the concepts are told to be taught nowadays by Common Core that has had a tremendous effect on many not being able to also help their kids. Something needs to be done, because it really is a huge issue.

  25. Bill says

    I saw your original question on FAcebook and answered it in ten seconds. Not bragging…I just have a min for math problems. I can’t cut a board straight but I can figure out math riddles. Go figure.

    Thanks for the challenge, Janine, and Happy Monday to you.

  28. Emily says

    I’m embarrassed to admit I got it WRONG and I have an MBA! Yikes…however, I understood the pattern, but I didn’t notice that the 7 and 8 were missing, so I’m going to chalk up my mistake to being careless. Now I’m too scared to try to solve the other questions!! I will say that I have had several instances of not being able to help my 5th grader in math. The way they teach some of these common core concepts seems ridiculous – they add steps and make math more complicated in my opinion…

    • Janine says

      Emily, completely agree and what used to be solved in two steps now takes double if not triple the steps. Insane in my eyes and just seriously don’t see the point.

  31. karen says

    common core is HORRIBLE!!!! It’s teaching kids to all think the same…the opposite of learning styles,learning intelligences, and using their brains. I got the first one you listed…but then I saw word problems and my brain shut down!

    • Janine says

      Karen, I know no matter what they have tried to say about what common core was intended to be, it truly isn’t and most definitely is making our kids not think for themselves at all.

  32. TheNotsoSuperMom says

    All the talk of Common Core makes me sad. The concept is excellent but somewhere along the line the execution missed the mark.
    I am self-proclaimed Math nerd and I enjoyed these questions–but I know I am not in the majority. And even I needed a pen and paper–I don’t think that the idea is to be able to do them in your head. Just like any old math problem. Would a test have you doing long division without a pen and paper? Not hardly.
    I think I might disagree with your statement that kids are less inclined to think outside the box. WE–as adults who have seen and done and lived so much–are the ones who have a hard time thinking outside the box. WE have experience and pre-conceived notions about so many things that color our perspective and blind us to alternative answers. These are not JUST math problems in the limited sense regarding addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. You surely understand that these introduce broader concepts of patterns (as in the first meme) and multi-step problem solving.
    I understand that a lot of kids struggle with some of these “new-fangled” problems. I have seen the homework. I am fortunate enough to have two school-aged children who are in the gifted program but even they have questions about some of the work. And although I believe that a lot more could have been done to make the transition to a new program much smoother, I think WE are our biggest enemies here. True-to-form, instead of trying to understand something different, we shout out against it and rally for it’s demise. Change is bad in ‘Merica. Let’s do what we’ve always done, don’t rock the boat, it can’t be good because it’s different and I don’t understand it. I’m almost gagging here.
    Common core wasn’t just some legislators “crazy” idea to make things harder for our kids and us. Could it have been introduced more slowly and implemented better? Probably. But the reason it has been brought to the forefront of education is that our kids were not learning what they needed to learn to be competitive in this WORLD today. We live in a GLOBAL economy. WE are not our only competition. I want my kids to be AT LEAST as good as any kid form any other country at their same level in the world. I know kids who were gifted in one town/state who moved to another state and were not. How can we compete against other countries when we can’t even be consistent between states? It is just a shame that this is now a war between legislators and educators and parents. If you fight against CC, then you fight to move backwards in a system that was already behind. Unfortunately, I don’t have many answers, but I believe that waging war on Common Core is not one of them.

    • Janine says

      Thank you for sharing all this with me today. I just know from being a teacher and all that Common Core has brought whether is was meant to do more good than harm seems to have done the reverse from all I have seen as a teacher and now as a parent, too. Like you both my kids thankfully are doing fine at the level they are at and excelling, but I still have my concerns and worries. So that is what made me voice them here. But I do very much appreciate your take and your comment, too.

  33. Chris Carter says

    I’m so bummed I missed this on your FB page!! Stupid FB!!! I absolutely love this, Janine!! What the heck are they doing with this mess? Poor teachers… poor poor teachers!! Oh, and of course poor students!! Sigh…

    • Janine says

      Chris, I know I was actually shocked at how many did see the original post and still you didn’t see it. Goes to show FB can totally be a jerk more often than not. And as for the Common Core mess, seriously can’t even begin to explain what they are doing. It is absolutely crazy!

  34. Kim says

    I’m happy to say that I got all of the questions (including your FB challenge) correct!!!
    Now, let’s talk about Math 3 (what used to be Algebra 2) in the high school. I tutor several high school kids in math (including Jordan) and it is really testing me this year!!! The way it is presented is so different than the way I learned a 100 years ago.

  36. Leslie says

    Like others, I totally pulled out pen and paper to answer these questions. What can I say, I like a challenge? As an elementary school student, I was terrible at match because it was focused on strict memorization (ie. the 1 minute, 100 multiplication question type tests). But when I got to Algebra, it finally made sense. It was logical. And I had a calculator. Teaching kids how to think is important…I’d say very important. But I’m yet to be convinced that common core actually teaches that. For now our private school system has not “officially” adopted common core, though I do see common core worksheets come home. (BTW, didn’t see the pattern in the top image AT ALL, but got the other three questions right. Give me a word problem over straight math any day.)

    • Janine says

      I loved algebra, too Leslie and was so just me, but still do to this day. However, like you I am so not convinced about Common Core and like I said just hope it gets canned very soon!

  38. Jen says

    Have to sadly admit that I am not smarter than a 5th grade common core math student! I think I failed out of helping on math homework once my kids hit 4th grade Our school is advanced, so math is about 2 grades ahead of the norm, not sure though that mom flunking out at helping on 6th grade math sounds any better!. My husband is the math expert in the house and helps with the children’s math homework. When he is not here, Google becomes my best friend.

    • Janine says

      Jen, I think I said it earlier here, but my husband totally thanks god that I am a math person as he is so not having been an art major! 😉

  39. Jen says

    I think my last comment just disappeared, but no sadly I am not smarter than a 5th grade common core math student! I kind of flunked out at helping my kids in that specific area at about 6th grade math, which happens in 4th grade for my kids (if that makes sense). Luckily, I have the hubs and Google to fill in the gaps!

    • Janine says

      I did get it and so strange, but seriously again so in reverse here and I am so thankful when my husband can help the kids with art projects as I am so not crafty! 😉

  40. Kelly L McKenzie says

    Golly, this Common Core sounds like quite a hot button issue. My daughter struggled with math and we turned to a wonderful teacher for help. She got everything sorted for her. Thankfully. I am sorry you are all going through this. Yikes, it sounds rather a mess.
    I would like to thank you for making me pull out my pen. I didn’t do well in school in math and my initial reaction was to throw my hands in the air when I saw your three questions. But then, I thought – don’t let your negativity oeverwhelm you Kelly. I got the smartie question wrong but was thrilled to see I got the other two right.

    • Janine says

      Awesome, Kelly and I love that you got motivated with your paper and pen and that honestly made me smile, as well as my night 😉

  41. Caryn says

    I’m really curious to see how it all turns out with Common Core. I also know that teaching, even math, has become more workshop style. I get that kids can learn from other kids, but I think math is really complicated to explain. So, I’m interested to see if this strategy works for math like it does for LA.

    • Janine says

      Caryn, I am not sure how it will fair for where you live, but can just tell you that here it has been anything but a success.

  42. LINDSAY KLEIN says

    Oh god I am not a math wiz!!!! BUT awesome that you are;) I can visualize numbers and memorize them as in birthdays, phone numbers, and that’s about it! AWFUL! HAHAH

  43. Carrie Groneman says

    First at seeing these comments I started hyperventilating when I read those who could solve the problem and I felt like the dunce in the class. Then I was happy my kids are older. Next I panicked for my grandkids and the ‘new math’ and I worry for the future of the ‘no child left behind’. Parents are going to have to be so creative and intelligent to help their children be the same and develop their talents and abilities in our world today. But we can do it!!! Carrie, A Mother’s Shadow

  44. Rosey says

    It’s always interesting to hear the perspective of a teacher. My husband is a math brainiac and I hope the kids inherit it from him…cuz they’re not getting it from mama. 😉

  45. Amanda @ Growing Up Madison says

    I got the answer correctly having been a whiz at math myself and I have to agree with what you said. It’s such a shame that the kids don’t get to think for themselves. Growing up we did things a lot differently, now you’re right, everything is memorized and it’s such a shame. Now I can totally see why a lot of parents decide to homeschool and with me having the time now I’m seriously considering it myself.

  46. Dana says

    I’m a math geek, and I got all the questions, but I needed a pen and paper for the first one. Selfishly, I’m glad my kids were out of elementary before the Common Core. Math is math; why make things so complicated?

  47. Allie @ The Latchkey Mom says

    Janine!!!! Holy crap. I can’t figure it out and was a math wiz, too. Seriously. 700 on my Math SAT and good grades in school (although obviously not a math teacher). The first question you asked, I got right away. Our poor kids:(. I’ve printed this out, because I want my fourth grader (who’s been flagged for advanced math) and my husband, very brilliant, to try. UGH! Our poor kids.

  48. Rabia @TheLiebers says

    I got them all right!! I have always loved math, especially logic and algebra. We don’t live in a Common Core state, so I’ve mostly stayed out of the discussion, but I do agree that we can’t just force feed concepts to kids and expect them to learn it younger and younger.

    • Janine says

      Yay to getting them all right and I may need to come live with you though as seriously jealous that you don’t have common core by you.

  49. Jessica @ Absurd, She Wrote says

    Oh CC – I’m on the board of a California-based nonprofit (the Calculus Roundtable) and part of the reason we exist is to supplement the gaps we perceive in CC. Like other commenters, school needs to have real world applications to make students feel like the time and energy they invest is relevant. My position with the Calc Roundtable is College Readiness, because we want kids to be approaching school with an intentionality that incorporates future professional/academic aspirations. I could go on and on but I’ll end by saying the best 5th grade math lessons I learned were balancing a checkbook and budgeting! Thanks Mrs. Null, wherever you are 🙂

  50. Tamara says

    I have to be honest – I didn’t even try. I could feel my math block settling in. It goes away when I need it to, but I haven’t needed it to go away in over a decade! I’m just sticking to that! When my kids need help with their math homework, I’m going to have to be honest and tell them that I’d get all the answers wrong.

  51. lisacng @ expandng.com says

    Grrr, I thought I left a comment on my phone but maybe not. I think teaching practices will always be changing over time so we parents just have to go with the flow. (I got the answer wrong, boo!)

    • Janine says

      Aw, I did get a comment and could have sworn I answered when I did, but most definitely agree about going with the flow.

  52. Amber says

    I’m awful at math to begin with. Add common core, and I’m completely lost. My kids bring home math homework that makes me go, “What the heck?”

  54. Lisa @ The Golden Spoons says

    I got #2 & #3 right. #1 makes my head hurt! 🙂 I think the standards are ridiculous. My 7th grader is doing math that I didn’t do until I was a junior in high school. I have never been good at math and I haven’t been able to help her much for almost 3 years now. It is very frustrating and also makes me wonder about the pressures we are putting on our kids in school.

    • Janine says

      Lisa, I know I am so worried about all the pressures we are putting on our kids. Seriously, just can’t even shake it!

  55. Jennifer | The Deliberate Mom says

    Whoop! I read your Facebook post just here in your blog and got it right! Yeah! I’m smart! LOL

    Then you had three questions at the end and I’m like, ummm, it’s 9:00 pm on a Thursday night. I just want to go watch some TV and have a glass of wine.

    Common core is frustrating for some people. I know here in Alberta lots of parents are lobbying to return to times tables and “basics”. I kind of like it though and I wonder what it will do for our children’s problem solving skills.

    Thanks for sharing!
    xoxo

    • Jennifer | The Deliberate Mom says

      I do want to add though… I don’t necessarily think this adequate for a 5th grader and I completely understand how overwhelming it is for parents and kids. But I think this type of math and these types of problems do have a place (like when abstract thinking is more developmentally “appropriate”).

      • Janine says

        Jennifer, I do very much agree, but it is totally about being appropriate in time and place, which I just feel it isn’t.

    • Janine says

      Happy to share and sorry about having to read this on a Thursday night. Hope you got that glass of wine though 😉

  56. Jenny @ Unremarkable Files says

    I have a Common Core 5th grader and she can do these types of problems because in the previous 5 years, she’s been taught how to understand numbers. I’m jealous of the way she’s learned math because she actually knows why she’s doing things, not just blindly performing operations with whatever numbers she can find on the page like I did when I was her age (and older!)

    • Janine says

      I am very glad to hear this about your daughter as from what I hear though more kids than not sadly just can’t.

  57. Liz says

    This hasn’t affected my 4yo yet but I am, of course, very interested. I don’t know enough yet if I should be for or against Common Core. I got the Facebook one wrong but I got the ones above right. I used to be smart (ha!) and good at math. I am ignorant about education as a whole, as in, what children learn at a 5th grade level. Anyway, what a fascinating post.

  58. Natalie says

    I’m a 15-year-old Alegbra II student. Though I got the answers to problems 2 and 3 in a heartbeat, I actually had to take out a pencil for 1! These are kind of hard for a 5th grader.

    • Janine says

      Natalie, I couldn’t agree more as a former middle and high school teacher and seriously appreciate your honest opinion here. Thank you!!

  59. Becca says

    I got all 3 of those math problems correct, but I have no idea if I got to the answer in a way that would make teachers happy. The part of common core that I don’t get is the simple adding or whatever…it’s weird!

  60. Lisa @ The Meaning of Me says

    I missed this one way back when but I couldn’t agree more – common core needs to go. The way things are being taught has me truly frightened for my daughter’s future. But that’s why we just keep right on doing things the “old fashioned” way with her at home. The methods really have this former educator scratching her head and wondering how any of it makes sense. But as many wise educators before me have said, I believe “this too shall pass.”

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