Are you good at math?

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Helixstein
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30 Mar 2011, 10:06 pm

Ahaseurus2000 wrote:

MasterJedi wrote:

I'm 38 and am lucky if I can understand the addition of fractions.

Code:

/  is the fraction sign e.g.  1/4 is one-quarter

+ is obvious,

* is multiplication,

1/4 + 1/8

common denominator = 8, because 4 divided by 8 = 2 .

So,

1 * 2  +  1  =  2 + 1  =  3
  /       /       /       /
4 * 2     8  =    8    =  8

similar rules apply to subtraction.

2/5 + 5/7

no clear common denominator, therefore

2 * 7      5 * 5     14     25      39
  /     +    /    =   /  +   /   =   /
5 * 7      7 * 5     35     35      35

If we can we simplify the fraction. e.g.  10/25 becomes 2/5, because 10 and 25 are divisible by 5.

for multiplication, simply multiply the numbers on top together, and multiply the numbers on bottom together, and thst gives you the answer.

for division, flip one of the fractions, then multiply.

does that help?

Or did that make your brain fall out and walk away?

Excuse my potentially offensive nature, but how can one not comprehend elementary addition, fractions and reciprocals (very basic reciprocals, at that)? I am better than an average person of 14 at Mathematics, although I am not exceptional. In Mathematics I have a tendency to find the rudimentary work difficult, and the difficult work simple.

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Helixstein
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30 Mar 2011, 10:18 pm

Here are some basic fraction questions from my 9th Grade (Year 10) Mathematics Homework Book. Yes, you should be mortified if you are over 14 and you cannot understand these very basic questions.

(BTW - I will be referring to fractions like this: e.g. 4/5 + 6/5 =, or 1 4/5 x 865 7/8. Thus, + = addition, x = multiplication, * = division and - = subtraction)

From the 2nd Edition of Beta Mathematics, by David Pearson.

3.09 Using Fractions - 2

1. A traveller notices that 3/8 of the sears on a plane are occupied by females and 2/5 of the seats are occupied by males. What fraction of the seats on the plane are empty?

2. An unopened packet of paper-clips holds 200. Lee has one packet with 70 paper-clicks left, and another with 1/4 of the paper-clips left. If the paper-clips are combined, what fraction of a packet does Lee have? Give your answer in its simplest form.

3.10 Mixed Numbers

1. Change these fractions to mixed numbers.

a. 8/3
b. 51/8
c. 29/11

2. Change these mixed numbers into fractions.

a. 4 1/2
b. 2 2/5
c. 7 3/10

Okay, now let's move onto some basic Volume and Surface Area

17.05 Volume of Cylinders

A measuring cylinder with a flat base has a radius of 1cm and a height of 11 cm. What volume of water (in centimetres cubed) will it hold when full?

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Kmgtpezy
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30 Mar 2011, 11:24 pm

Helixstein wrote:

Yes, you should be mortified if you are over 14 and you cannot understand these very basic questions.

A lot of people on these boards probably have dyscalculia (1), so it is unfair to say that one should be "mortified," despite the extreme clarity of the questions.

#1: What this means is that some people on these boards might have trouble with numbers or symbols to a certain degree.

So, in a nutshell:

You could be a wizard with arithmetic, but at the same time, you could be turned off by the shapes of symbols and have no understanding of higher level mathematics (or even basic fractions and algebra).

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Last edited by Kmgtpezy on 31 Mar 2011, 2:23 am, edited 2 times in total.

Orwell
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31 Mar 2011, 12:11 am

Kmgtpezy wrote:

Helixstein wrote:

Yes, you should be mortified if you are over 14 and you cannot understand these very basic questions.

A lot of people on these boards probably have dyscalculia, so it is unfair to say that one should be "mortified," despite the extreme clarity of the questions.

What this means is that some people on these boards might have trouble with numbers or symbols to a certain degree.

So, in a nutshell:

You can be a wizard with arithmetic, but at the same time, you can be turned off by the shapes of symbols and have no understanding of higher level mathematics (or even basic fractions and algebra).

And arithmetic isn't really math. Plenty of math professors will add something up incorrectly. I'm about a month away from completing a BS in applied math, and I will still make errors in adding and subtracting fractions if you ask me to do it.

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ruveyn
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31 Mar 2011, 7:28 am

Orwell wrote:

Arithmetic is a mechanical activity. It is best done by a non-organic machine that does not get tired or confused.

ruveyn

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31 Mar 2011, 10:47 am

For those expressing exasperation at some people's inability to grasp 'simple' manipulation of numbers - the link below may be useful. It will certainly be an education thus far missing. (Excluding Kmgtpezy, who understands :wink: )
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyscalculia

Perhaps those exasperated ones, blessed as they are with numerical abilities, may also want to consider what it's like when an NT expresses similar frustrations to an Aspie - pick any common manifestation of Asperger's to practice venting your exasperation on although for maximum effect, I'd suggest using one of your own, more prevalent and difficult to manage manifestations.
How does it feel now? :lol:

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ryan93
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31 Mar 2011, 10:55 am

That's a really interesting link, I actually have a few of them symptoms

Quote:

Difficulty with everyday tasks like checking change and reading analog clocks.
Particularly problems with differentiating between left and right.
Difficulty keeping score during games.
Mistaken recollection of names. Poor name/face retrieval. May substitute names beginning with same lette

r.

That said, given that I've just finished Calulus and Algebra 101, I have an above average ability in math for the population as a whole, although a below average ability for the particular group I'm in (the concepts are usually fine, but I fudge the arithmetic :/)

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Kmgtpezy
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02 Apr 2011, 4:56 pm

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... ivity.html

Speechless. :lol:

Cornflake
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02 Apr 2011, 6:15 pm

Gah. The Daily Mail strikes again. Crap with a veneer of respectability. :roll:

"Jacob Barnett has an IQ of 170 - higher than Albert Einstein".
Did Einstein actually take an IQ test and if so, where can the test and his results be studied?
IQ tests measure the ability to pass IQ tests.

But - it's still very good to see someone so young being so expressive.

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Kmgtpezy
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02 Apr 2011, 7:05 pm

Cornflake wrote:

Gah. The Daily Mail strikes again. Crap with a veneer of respectability. :roll:

"Jacob Barnett has an IQ of 170 - higher than Albert Einstein".
Did Einstein actually take an IQ test and if so, where can the test and his results be studied?
IQ tests measure the ability to pass IQ tests.

But - it's still very good to see someone so young being so expressive.

Unfortunately, Einstein never took an IQ test. (IQ tests are not a GOOD measure of intelligence, anyway.)
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Ninety percent of the time, websites like that use fabricated and otherwise false information to make other people look dumb.

Furthermore, it would be foolish to say that he is even comparable to Einstein, for Einstein began most of his work in his twenties, not at the age of 12. The truth of the matter is that regardless of his eidetic memory, he should spend more time like Newton with his head in the clouds before coming up with solutions to problems.

^^^

Simply opinions with a hint of jealousy.

ruveyn
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02 Apr 2011, 8:05 pm

Kmgtpezy wrote:

x

Unfortunately, Einstein never took an IQ test. (IQ tests are not a GOOD measure of intelligence, anyway.)
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I.Q. is a good predictor of how well the subject will do on future I.Q. tests.

ruveyn

Orwell
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02 Apr 2011, 8:27 pm

ruveyn wrote:

Kmgtpezy wrote:

x

Unfortunately, Einstein never took an IQ test. (IQ tests are not a GOOD measure of intelligence, anyway.)
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I.Q. is a good predictor of how well the subject will do on future I.Q. tests.

ruveyn

IQ tests do have some value, though I think we all agree that they are a very flawed measure. They especially break down when trying to evaluate exceptional cases, like the extremely intelligent or people with unusual psychological profiles (eg autistics like us).

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Cornflake
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02 Apr 2011, 9:37 pm

Kmgtpezy wrote:

Unfortunately, Einstein never took an IQ test. (IQ tests are not a GOOD measure of intelligence, anyway.)

I know he didn't - or at least, I've found no hint of a reference to it.
That was my point - although considering the source was The Daily Mail that hardly needed making. :lol:

Still; a very bright kid and I hope he gets no further exposure like this. It's hardly going to help him.

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Kmgtpezy
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02 Apr 2011, 10:00 pm

Cornflake wrote:

Kmgtpezy wrote:

Unfortunately, Einstein never took an IQ test. (IQ tests are not a GOOD measure of intelligence, anyway.)

I know he didn't - or at least, I've found no hint of a reference to it.
That was my point - although considering the source was The Daily Mail that hardly needed making. :lol:

Still; a very bright kid and I hope he gets no further exposure like this. It's hardly going to help him.

I figured that you knew, but I was itching for the first chance to reply. ^.^

And yea, it would be best if he did not get any more exposure. Although, I am sure that he enjoys the attention at that age. (Not that everyone at that age is begging for attention.) :bounce:

Kairi96
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15 Sep 2012, 12:42 pm

Well, depends. I'm quite good at some algebra things, but I suck in all the others math things, expecially in geometry.

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Evinceo
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18 Sep 2012, 8:59 am

I can do algebra ten times better than arithmetic.
But that's why I've got one of these...

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