By Mike Pound

Globe columnist

mpound@joplinglobe.com

So far this school year, our 10-year-old daughter, Emma, has an “A” in math.

I know! I can’t figure it out either.

Emma is in the fifth grade, and throughout her young school career she has always done pretty well in math. The only thing I can think of is that she was adopted, but, since I was in the room when she was born, I tend to rule out that explanation. But now that I think about it, my wife did look a little different during the whole “birth” thing, so maybe it’s possible. I guess I should ask my wife — if that’s her real name — about that.

The reason Emma’s math skills baffle me is that neither me nor my wife have much of a knack for numbers. The last time I was able to successfully help Emma with her math homework was (and this is true) when she was in second grade. I’m not proud of that, but at least I can say that I’m smarter than a first-grader.

A couple of weeks ago, Emma brought home a math page that required her to complete a sequence of numbers by filling in the numbers left out of the sequence. Let’s say, for example, the sequence went like this: 2 __ 6 __ 10. In that case, to complete the sequence you would write “Red” in the first blank and “Gordie Howe” in the second blank.

Ha. That’s a joke. Everyone knows the second blank should be “Bobby Orr.” No, seriously, the correct answers are “4” and “8.” The problem is that the number sequences Emma was supposed to figure out wasn’t quite as simple as 2-4-6-8-10. I mean, even I (using all 10 fingers) could figure that one out. Nope, the sequences Emma was supposed to figure out were just a tad more random. Most of the sequences read like this: 46 __ 19 __ 85 __ Trigger.

Now, it’s possible that I got the sequence wrong but, really, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that Emma had no idea how to do the sequence problems and she came to me for help.

Emma: Dad?

Me: Who are you?

Emma: I’m your daughter and I need help.

Me: Sure. What’s the problem?

Emma: I can’t do my math homework.