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It's well-acknowledged that those who don't understand the fundamentals of a subject are hampered. Whether it's computer use, programming, or mathematics. Of
by pnathan 15y ago
It's well-acknowledged that those who don't understand the fundamentals of a subject are hampered.
Whether it's computer use, programming, or mathematics.
Of course, the prof would do well to become fully familiar with a TI-89 or a HP-50 graphing calculator. It's ignorant to bash what you don't understand.
Since having a sense of math is required for being a mature citizen in modern life - think about all the numbers we are flooded with regarding public policy - it is no surprise that as numeracy goes down (helped by our good friend Calculator), mass voting wisdom goes down with it.
Speaking as a US citizen.
- deleted 15y ago[deleted]
- rmc 15y agoThe fundamentals of mathematics are logical deduction, reason and abstraction. Not begin able to do 134 * 23.
- shadowfox 15y agoUnless you are a savant of sorts, being able to do 134 * 23 in your head requires all three. For example, you note that 134 * 23 is really 134 * (20 + 3), which is just 2680 + (100 + 34) * 3 which leads to 2680 + 300 + 102 = 3082. And that is just one way of doing it. I do agree that arithmetic ability isn't all that great. But there is more logic and reasoning involved than you would think at first sight.
- khafra 15y agoI don't think literacy tests should be required before voting. But I would support a required test in probability theory and cognitive bias recognition.