Aunty Acid by Ged Backland for July 14, 2021

Heck, I’d never be able to do any math without my 10 fingers.

Now, you know I’m going to have to check that with my calculator…

My father could do that. I never could.

Confession if I have trouble doing number one I do multipication tabls in my head, has to be at least two digit numbers.

The fourth grade I went to back in the 50s had us memorize the multiplication tables, which in turn, also taught you how to do the opposite & divide, both all in your head. Most kids now can’t figure out how to even make change for a dollar, without using a calculator.

I checked with my calculator. At first I thought she was wrong but that was because I read 73 as 13.

Anyone who can do math using just paper and pencil will be thought to possess supernatural powers

Back in high school, I worked in a local grocery store. I added up the items on the paper sack with a pencil and made change in my head.

There is a concept in binary math called “two’s compliment” and it does subtraction by doing addition.

Making change uses “ten’s compliment” (sorta) since we have a decimal currency system (sorta).

If the bill comes to $6.23 cents and a $20 bill is offered, the math goes like this: 2 pennies makes it $6.25, 3 quarters makes it $7.00, 3 singles makes it $10 and another $10 makes it $20.

Dagwood Bumstead could do it 50 years ago. . .and the little gal who won the national spelling bee can, apparently, divide four-figured numbers by two-figured numbers mentally, along with the fantastic basketball dribbling of numerous round balls. . . me: I’m still writing it down on paper and crossing out numbers and putting other numbers on top of the crossed out numbers. . .

i can do math in my head. just don’t expect the answers to be correct…

Hey Aunty, 30 years is TODAY. Amazing how limp brained much of the world is. Ex…what is 10 % of 50? Answer…let me get my calculator.

It won’t be that long, Aunty. The movement is on to replace math with social propaganda.

look at YouTube: people are offended by algebra.

“The Feeling of Power” written in 1957 by that Asimov guy.

Just stop the average person on the street and ask them to tell you what’s 7 times 8 without using their calculator app or Google/Siri/Alexa.

30 years heck my customers think I have super powers now when I do math like that

Ain’t that the truth!!

I used to create higher power equations and solve them with synthetic division for fun.

When I was in high school I worked the order window at our local Burger King, which meant ticking off the items on a preprinted form then figuring the price of multiples of the same item and adding it all up — on paper. With people waiting in line. I also worked the candy counter (middle school; well, it WAS the early ’60s) at lunchtime, added items up and made change with NO paper or pencil. I am appalled at the lack of brain activity in people who know everything they know from a phone.

Why wait 30 years, go to Chicago and you will be brilliant, especially if you can talk.

Isn’t that the case now?

And, will be in danger of being Burned at the Stake as Witches.

I have to take my shoes off to count to 20. I pray no one asks me to count to 21!

The Feeling Of Power by Isaac Asimov