The principal told me that in fact "eight hundred, nine" is the correct way to write it (according to Wolfram Mathworld it actually has to be written without that comma, and DD's math teacher picks on that level of "error").
We'll.. I was *about* to say - that's amazing... I have a degree in math, and a successful career as a scientist, and I have always written "eight hundred and nine".... astounding no one has ever rejected a paper or called me to task on that grievous mistake!
Then I realized - where in real life do you actually write out a number that large? In English class we were taught to use numbers rather than long-hand for any number above 10. I do write "eight hundred nine" on my checks, but really, would a bank *not* cash a check that had the "and" in it? Hmmm.... I think it would go through lol!
So, um, yeah, getting that odd little grammatical rule down in early elementary is really really important (sarcasm dripping)
Irena, the way I (as in me, not ds) got through early elementary math-silliness was to just remind myself every night.... this will not be showing up on his high school transcript...
Best wishes,
polarbear
