American Innumeracy

[Admiral Yi]

It is indeed the Rock Em Sock Em Robots.

[Capetan Mihali]

It is indeed the Rock Em Sock Em Robots.

To symbolically represent the ethos of bellicose pugilism that Languish prides itself upon?   

[Admiral Yi]

To symbolically represent the ethos of bellicose pugilism that Languish prides itself upon?   

Correct again.

[katmai]

you give Mutton too much credit Mihali.

[Eddie Teach]

Yeah, he just picked his favorite toy.

[Razgovory]

I had a set of those when I was a kid.  Curiously we called "Fightin' Yis"

[Jacob]

I had a set of those when I was a kid.  Curiously we called "Fightin' Yis"

Raz.  You're funny.  Keep up the good work.

[grumbler]

It's not political, it just grates on the ears, nay, grates on the soul to hear such a horrific concoction.

Then I am switching to "maths" immediately. 

[Ed Anger]

gaol.

[merithyn]

Seeing it as more than one thing is part of the problem.

A more serious problem in the US, I think, is the culturally accepted preconceived notion that math is hard and it's ok to not get it.

My daughter in high school does that.  She just "doesn't get" algebra, and can't understand why I won't accept that as an answer.  She is a smart kid, gets mostly A's with some B's mixed in but seems to think that not getting it is the end.  Any attempts by me to explain or help her find the answers to her questions is a waste of time.

Spoken like two people who "get" math. 

I have struggled my whole life with math(s) because it is not an easy concept for me. I can do Algebra, Geography, and various types of Business math(s), but I seriously struggled with it. In fact, the math(s) class I took last year had me in tears numerous times because no matter how hard I tried to understand why something was what it was, I just couldn't get it.

Part of it, for me at least, is that I have to understand why something is what it is. Just saying, "Well, use this formula and it will work," doesn't cut it for me. I need to know why that formula works so that I can remember it and apply it for other things.

This isn't a logic vs. literature thing, either. My logic scores tend to be my highest on any standardized tests, while my math scores are my lowest.

[dps]

Seeing it as more than one thing is part of the problem.

A more serious problem in the US, I think, is the culturally accepted preconceived notion that math is hard and it's ok to not get it.

My daughter in high school does that.  She just "doesn't get" algebra, and can't understand why I won't accept that as an answer.  She is a smart kid, gets mostly A's with some B's mixed in but seems to think that not getting it is the end.  Any attempts by me to explain or help her find the answers to her questions is a waste of time.

Spoken like two people who "get" math. 

I have struggled my whole life with math(s) because it is not an easy concept for me. I can do Algebra, Geography, and various types of Business math(s), but I seriously struggled with it. In fact, the math(s) class I took last year had me in tears numerous times because no matter how hard I tried to understand why something was what it was, I just couldn't get it.

Part of it, for me at least, is that I have to understand why something is what it is. Just saying, "Well, use this formula and it will work," doesn't cut it for me. I need to know why that formula works so that I can remember it and apply it for other things.

This isn't a logic vs. literature thing, either. My logic scores tend to be my highest on any standardized tests, while my math scores are my lowest.

Well, yeah, the key to algebra and geometry (the gateways to higher math) is understanding the concepts and why a formula works.  Plugging the numbers in and solving a formula is just basic arithmatic.

[merithyn]

Well, yeah, the key to algebra and geometry (the gateways to higher math) is understanding the concepts and why a formula works.  Plugging the numbers in and solving a formula is just basic arithmatic.

And Trigonometry is all theory, which has no basis in real-world applications, so it's much more difficult to grasp if you need that. Once you get past Geometry, math is an entirely different beast. I was tutoring Geometry as a freshmen to juniors and seniors. I dropped out of Trigonometry. Part of that was the teacher's attitude - "I don't understand why you can't get this. It's not that hard. If you can't, then maybe this just isn't the right tract for you." - and part of that was not understanding how to apply Trigonometry to real-world situations.

Max is right in that the culture accepts failure at math as "okay", which is a problem. However, to me, the greater problem is the lack of adaptability by teachers to work with those who don't just "get" it.

[sbr]

Seeing it as more than one thing is part of the problem.

A more serious problem in the US, I think, is the culturally accepted preconceived notion that math is hard and it's ok to not get it.

My daughter in high school does that.  She just "doesn't get" algebra, and can't understand why I won't accept that as an answer.  She is a smart kid, gets mostly A's with some B's mixed in but seems to think that not getting it is the end.  Any attempts by me to explain or help her find the answers to her questions is a waste of time.

Spoken like two people who "get" math. 

I have struggled my whole life with math(s) because it is not an easy concept for me. I can do Algebra, Geography, and various types of Business math(s), but I seriously struggled with it. In fact, the math(s) class I took last year had me in tears numerous times because no matter how hard I tried to understand why something was what it was, I just couldn't get it.

Part of it, for me at least, is that I have to understand why something is what it is. Just saying, "Well, use this formula and it will work," doesn't cut it for me. I need to know why that formula works so that I can remember it and apply it for other things.

This isn't a logic vs. literature thing, either. My logic scores tend to be my highest on any standardized tests, while my math scores are my lowest.

I get math, but that wasn't quite my point.  She seems to think that "not getting" it allows her to not put any more effort into than she wants.  I would rather see her in tears because she is trying so hard, as opposed to just giving up.

[ulmont]

And Trigonometry is all theory, which has no basis in real-world applications

Fields which make use of trigonometry or trigonometric functions include astronomy (especially, for locating the apparent positions of celestial objects, in which spherical trigonometry is essential) and hence navigation (on the oceans, in aircraft, and in space), music theory, acoustics, optics, analysis of financial markets, electronics, probability theory, statistics, biology, medical imaging (CAT scans and ultrasound), pharmacy, chemistry, number theory (and hence cryptology), seismology, meteorology, oceanography, many physical sciences, land surveying and geodesy, architecture, phonetics, economics, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, computer graphics, cartography, crystallography and game development.

See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uses_of_trigonometry

[Razgovory]

gaol.

The US should blockade Britain just for that.