I wonder if the Amish ever thought of this?  What if the trees were
plastic?
---------------------- Forwarded by Pam Blythe on 07/01/98 03:59 PM
---------------------------


      (See how a word problem has evolved through the years)

           1957 Question: A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100.
      His
           cost of production is 4/5 this price. What is his profit?

           1967 Question: A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100.
      His
           cost of production is 4/5 this price, or in other words, $80.
           What is his profit?

           1977 Question: (New Math) A logger exchanges a set L of lumber
           for a set M of money. The cardinality of set M is 100 and each
           element is worth $ 1. Make a square array of 100 dots to
           represent the elements of set M. The set C is the cost of
           production and contains 20 fewer elements that set M. Represent
           set C as a subset of set M and answer the following question:
           What is the cardinality of set P of profits?

           1987 Question: A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $ 100.
           His cost of production is $80 and his profit is $20. Circle the
           number $20.

           1997 Question: By cutting down beautiful forest trees, an
           environmentally ignorant logger makes a profit of $20. What do
           you think of this way of making a living? In your group, use
      role
           playing to determine how the forest birds and squirrels feel.