Here is why you need to learn math: Today I bought lunch at my favorite cafe. The electronic register was down, but they were still doing transactions. The bill was $10.50. I gave the clerk $20.50. She still had to use a calculator to figure out how much change to give me!
Want to see their head explode? If your change is .24, give them a penny. I have had them give it back to me and then count out the 2 dimes and 4 pennies. So freakin’ sad!
There’s a local grocery store which regularly runs “specials” where a big bulk pack is “on sale” — at only a little bit more expensive than two smaller packages which together contain more content than the “bulk pack.”
I am always a little disheartened by how many people who don’t catch that.
I’m even more disheartened by the number of people who don’t understand even more basic numeracy than that, much less occasionally useful things like how to understand concepts like ‘percentage’ or ‘average’.
Her dad made his billions because someone there knows enough math to correctly formulate pharmaceutical synthetic compounds using organic chemistry and engineering. All computers now are using 64 bits because Bill Gates can’t count his money with 32 bit math.
More than once I’ve had to give back change that I wasn’t due. Once, it was ten dollars too much!Many years ago I worked as a clerk in a department store. One job was to re-sticker gallons of paint for a sale. Previous price: $2.49 a gallon. Sale price: 2 for $5! It sold very well.
Math teachers can’t answer this question because they don’t have crystal balls to see what each student will do for a living. If he knew he was talking to a future tile layer, he could say that he would need math in order to estimate labor and supplies. If he knew he was talking to a future inventory manager, he could tell him that math is essential for managing inventory. Albert Einstein’s teacher could have told him that he would need math in order to develop the theory of relativity. All they can do is equip the kids the best they can and then hope for the best.
I bought a home with a round air cooler on the roof that needed a pad. It measured 36" in diameter by 36" tall. How long, in feet did a 36" tall pad have to be when they only sell the pads in 1’ increments?.Answer: 10’ and cut it to fit.
Might need to change ‘math’ to ‘calculus’ in this to make it not so vitriolic. Even then, there’s a few top professions that need to know flow rates and integrals.
I love the comment about Bill Gates needing 64 bits to count his money! Innumeracy astounds me as it really is trivial stuff, which anyone could learn, unlike illiteracy.
randayn almost 11 years ago
Here is why you need to learn math: Today I bought lunch at my favorite cafe. The electronic register was down, but they were still doing transactions. The bill was $10.50. I gave the clerk $20.50. She still had to use a calculator to figure out how much change to give me!
suzibuy almost 11 years ago
Want to see their head explode? If your change is .24, give them a penny. I have had them give it back to me and then count out the 2 dimes and 4 pennies. So freakin’ sad!
3pibgorn9 almost 11 years ago
Teaching English; same deal.
lbatik almost 11 years ago
There’s a local grocery store which regularly runs “specials” where a big bulk pack is “on sale” — at only a little bit more expensive than two smaller packages which together contain more content than the “bulk pack.”
I am always a little disheartened by how many people who don’t catch that.
I’m even more disheartened by the number of people who don’t understand even more basic numeracy than that, much less occasionally useful things like how to understand concepts like ‘percentage’ or ‘average’.
Bob, near Mark almost 11 years ago
A cashier at a local card shop, when he hit the wrong key on the cash register, had to ask ME how much change he should give me.
PoodleGroomer almost 11 years ago
Her dad made his billions because someone there knows enough math to correctly formulate pharmaceutical synthetic compounds using organic chemistry and engineering. All computers now are using 64 bits because Bill Gates can’t count his money with 32 bit math.
sbchamp almost 11 years ago
Give ’em all smartfones and turn ’em loose
ChessPirate almost 11 years ago
More than once I’ve had to give back change that I wasn’t due. Once, it was ten dollars too much!Many years ago I worked as a clerk in a department store. One job was to re-sticker gallons of paint for a sale. Previous price: $2.49 a gallon. Sale price: 2 for $5! It sold very well.
linda trigg almost 11 years ago
That is how they are in Portugal cannot work out maths in their head always use a calculator, @Randayne
kaecispopX almost 11 years ago
Cynthia is going to need math if only to keep track on how much is left in her trust fund.
R0Randy almost 11 years ago
Math teachers can’t answer this question because they don’t have crystal balls to see what each student will do for a living. If he knew he was talking to a future tile layer, he could say that he would need math in order to estimate labor and supplies. If he knew he was talking to a future inventory manager, he could tell him that math is essential for managing inventory. Albert Einstein’s teacher could have told him that he would need math in order to develop the theory of relativity. All they can do is equip the kids the best they can and then hope for the best.
DaveBNM almost 11 years ago
I bought a home with a round air cooler on the roof that needed a pad. It measured 36" in diameter by 36" tall. How long, in feet did a 36" tall pad have to be when they only sell the pads in 1’ increments?.Answer: 10’ and cut it to fit.
Tyrnn almost 11 years ago
Might need to change ‘math’ to ‘calculus’ in this to make it not so vitriolic. Even then, there’s a few top professions that need to know flow rates and integrals.
donweingarten almost 11 years ago
I love the comment about Bill Gates needing 64 bits to count his money! Innumeracy astounds me as it really is trivial stuff, which anyone could learn, unlike illiteracy.