Given - If - Then Problem Solving. Thank you, Mr. R.

Math. {shudder.}

I have vague memories of sitting in a muggy high school classroom as Mr. R. tried to instruct a bunch of know-it-all sixteen-year-olds on the basic principles of higher mathematics. That poor man endured a lot from us. Specifically, moaning and whining about how we would "never use this math stuff in real life."

You know what? I realized recently that I do "use this stuff" in real life. Don't get me wrong. I'm not computing the angles of an isosceles triangle. Nor am I finding the square root of 14,721. But I am using the Given - If - Then problem solving method.

For example.

I recently escaped from my home enjoyed a quick shopping trip without my children. Joel called 2 hours into my errand (at 5:30). I'll spare you the details of the conversation. The important part is that we decided I would bring home supper and return to the store the next day.

Here's where the math problem solving comes into play. My thoughts as I walked to the van went like this-

Given:

• After we eat supper, Joel will clean the bathroom, give all 4 kids baths, and read our family devotions.
  
• That will all take about 2 hours.
  
• I want the kids in bed sooner rather than later.
  
• I don't want to have to wash dishes.
• I don't want to spend a lot of my grocery budget.
  

If-Then:

If I go next door to Walmart:

• Then it'll take 15 minutes to move the van, pick out supper from the freezer, and check out.
• Then I'll spend $10-$15 of my grocery budget on frozen food.
  
• Then another 5 minutes to drive home.
• Then 20-30 minutes to heat the food.
• Then I'll have dishes to wash. Ugh.

If I go down the road to McDs:

• Then it'll take 20 minutes to drive to the restaurant, use the drive-thru, and drive home.
• Then I'll use a gift card we received for Christmas and spend $0 from my grocery budget.
• Then supper will be ready when I walk through the door.
• Then I won't have to wash dishes.

See?! Given - If - Then Thinking. Mr. R. was right. I am using "that math stuff" in my every day life. I guess he knew what he was talking about after all.

I wonder if he had the answer to:

3 month-old-baby + X = momma sleeping 8 hours straight.

Have you also discovered your high school teachers were pretty smart? What lessons did you endure as a teenager but now use on a regular basis?

*** Edited to add: Visit the What I Learned this Week Carnival @ Musings of a Housewife.

Photo by Phillie Casablanca