85% of people in America don't know basic math.

Is it only younger people? For as long as I can remember, people my own age have counted the simplest things out on their fingers. For example, if it's 1 pm and they have to wait 3 hours for something, they can't figure it out in their heads.
 

I can get by but admit my math skills are not great. But I did get the OP's 25% here. At least.
 

One of the secondary reasons to teach math is that it is a system of rules. There is only one right answer and you must follow a process to find it. Learning math is the precursor to following rules.
 
In school I approached math as though it was a foreign language, so I think I resisted it. My math grades were terrible and I was put in a fundamentals math class. But when I build things, all the corners fit perfectly, everything comes together as planned, and I very rarely have to re-cut anything. So imo, if a student can relate to math in some familiar way, they can learn it easily.
 
How many taught their kids..

The counting...One Potato, two potato. three potato, four.....etc. ..etc.etc.🤗
 
Evada said:
That would be highly inelegant, I was talking [thinking] about solving it the smart way, not using brute force ...
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When I went to school pencils were not considered Calculators. ;) On the web, members actually can't read a posters mind if they don't actually state something in their posts.
 
I was the "numbers guy" in my department. My boss was slightly mathematically challenged but I was very good at Excel spreadsheets.
 
Michael Z said:
Could be true. I taught math at a community college and many students had to start with a basic arithmetic refresher course. Many could not add two fractions.
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Really depressing to hear that. There should be entrance exams and the top scorers admitted. Admissions based on skin color, pronouns or whatever other non-academic insanities are a cancer to this country ...
 
Educational standards were high in the 50s and 60s so I was fortunate to get a good foundation in math. The nuns in parochial school saw to it, and my math teacher in high school knew how to teach it and make it interesting. He ran the Math Club for students who maintained at last a 90% average in math and I was able to be a part of it.
 

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