I'd agree that knowing basic arithmetic is important but the issue is deeper in America. The rules and problem type issue is a direct result of uninspired math

I'd agree that knowing basic arithmetic is important but the issue is deeper in America. The rules and problem type issue is a direct result of uninspired math teaching. Teaching arithmetic for the sake of arithmetic is boring and uninspired and leaves a person incapable of doing both the arithmetic and math. You don't need arithmetic if you have nothing to apply it too. Arithmetic is a tool but a tool without a problem to apply it to is easily forgotten. Take this from someone who could get through advanced complex analysis but who is also bad at arithmetic. Time plus checking solves all arithmetic issues but arithmetic never solves a realistic problem. Even balancing checks(not that is useful today) if you only know how to computer you'll be at a lost until you know what to compute.