I'm 43, I got taught fractions in primary.. wait let me do some math, about 32 years ago. 1 I seem to recall fractions being presented as the necessary "old wa

I'm 43, I got taught fractions in primary.. wait let me do some math, about 32 years ago. 1 I seem to recall fractions being presented as the necessary "old way" before they taught us decimals, but maybe that was just me. I had no idea* about the multiplying fractions thing to solve the example. 2. Maybe I was tought it, I guess I probably was, but it also just about the last time the curriculum touched on fractions at all, at least until I dropped out at year 10 ( 2 years early ). Maybe those last two years are a fraction filled bonanza.. but I suspect not. So unless I'm super interested on my own, its quite possible it's decades before I find a use for it? Just how effective do you think 5 hours a week for two 4 week periods 30 is at instilling knowledge - especially over decade timeframes. The example is actually a good one, because finding a fraction of a fraction of a cup is the kind of thing you might need when reducing the size of a recipe.. but it also demonstrates the problem... Close enough is good enough.. I can tip out part of the measure and eyeball it anyway - and can do so without thinking about it at all! And I'm cooking.. I'm doing rough measures and adjusting as I go anyway.. If math concepts aren't revisited throughout schooling, with concrete uses how does anyone retain this stuff? ( Of course, I'm a drop out with a notoriously bad memory, so maybe I'm a bad example ) There might be some value in local colleges or whatever running little "hey, now that you're an adult, here's how you can use all that math you've mostly forgotten" classes... 1: The uncertainty is I don't remember which year they taught us, not that I can't calculate the answer!! *2: OK, if I think of them as decimal values it makes sense and is semi-obvious. But I'd still just spoon out a bit of the measuring cup.