Thursday, February 9, 2017

Chocolate Percentages

"Something's wrong with the label Poppa."
"What do you mean, dear?"
"The percents add up to more than 100."
She was absolutely right...the percentages do not add to 100.  We have talked a lot about percentages, using them frequently in context, whether it was adding a tip, getting a discount or knowing how much battery life her iPod has.  It is this last context that provided the frame of mind surrounding the devastating 100%.

Her comments opened the door to what a percentage is...a ratio.  What she was confused about was what the units of that ratio were.
"What is the Vitamin C 15% of?".
"The whole thing?"
"What whole thing?"
"The whole container of chocolate milk."...jackpot!
"I think you're right.  If that's what the 15% means, the label couldn't possibly be right; that's too much stuff!"
"So the label's wrong?"
"Not quite.  The 15% is comparing the amount of Vitamin C in a serving of chocolate milk to the amount of Vitamin C that you need each day."
"Oh."
"What questions do you have?"
"So that's why they don't have to add up to 100?  Because each one is only used for itself?"
"Yep."

Definitely going to have to come back to this one, but love that she is initiating conversations!

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