Basic Math Proficiency (or Lack There-of)

[MarkD]

Yesterday my wife and I experienced item number 12,765 on the list of things that get under my skin: people who can't do basic math in their heads.

We went thru the drive-thru of a fast-food joint, placed our order at the microphone, and drove up to where a high-school-age girl told us the total was $18.23, we handed her a $20 bill. She then hit the wrong key on the register, so it refused to tell her how much her change should be. Her (apparent) manager (maybe a couple years older) told her what she'd done wrong, and said it now wouldn't tell her the change. The two of them stood there complaining about the register, how it has to be fixed, and neither of them could figure out that the change should be $1.77, a number I'd arrived at before the twenty was clear of my wallet. I could have told her the change was seventy-two dollars and eleven cents and she'd probably have handed me that amount of change.

I wouldn't have gotten out of third grade if I couldn't do that calculation in my head. I probably wouldn't have gotten out of first grade if I couldn't do it with pencil and paper. On the other hand, she could probably tell me more than I ever wanted to know about "An Inconvenient Truth", so....

[Rich]

I've done that at supermarket registers, and at eateries, and gotten the "Oh Wow, I could never do that" response. Of course, you can never do it unless you try.

[Termite]

Try giving $2 dollar bills as tips next time you eat out. Or pay for a item with a $2 bill, if the cashier is real young.

All good fun......

[princewally]

Try giving $2 dollar bills as tips next time you eat out. Or pay for a item with a $2 bill, if the cashier is real young.

All good fun......

Every once in a while, I hit the bank and get $100 or so in $2 bills. I've never seen a fast food employee deal with that well.

[Netpackrat]

That reminds me of one of my favorite stories:

http://www.atheistalliance.org/aaw/TACOHELL.htm

[Steamforger]

I can almost understand and sympathize. I understand when it's a little bit convenient to throw in an extra dime or so. These situations are typically wholly of the customer's making though and when done for sport, be prepared for the reaction you get.

I once had a guy give me a $50 and 5 $1's to pay a $4.50 parking fee. At this point he either is looking for a stupid reaction or trying to get some screwey change in his favor. Both of which I take personally.

Got an extra coin to even out the change into $1"s??? o.k. Wanna play games? Get ready. I can play better and for longer than a customer usually has time to. Being a prick is not the best way to encourage good customer service.

[Rod]

Ever watch the kids today? They stand there and count on their fingers. I always laugh. Used to make the point that education was shit today to my students by telling them to take a guess at what tax on 675 dollars would be if the tax rate is .0825 cents per dollar. I'd have them write it out and I'd work it out in my head. I'd usually win the race, amazed the kids. Quick guess on that, is it'd be around 57 dollars.

[Fivetoes]

Yesterday my wife and I experienced item number 12,765 on the list of things that get under my skin: people who can't do basic math in their heads.

We went thru the drive-thru of a fast-food joint, placed our order at the microphone, and drove up to where a high-school-age girl told us the total was $18.23, we handed her a $20 bill. She then hit the wrong key on the register, so it refused to tell her how much her change should be. Her (apparent) manager (maybe a couple years older) told her what she'd done wrong, and said it now wouldn't tell her the change. The two of them stood there complaining about the register, how it has to be fixed, and neither of them could figure out that the change should be $1.77, a number I'd arrived at before the twenty was clear of my wallet. I could have told her the change was seventy-two dollars and eleven cents and she'd probably have handed me that amount of change.

I wouldn't have gotten out of third grade if I couldn't do that calculation in my head. I probably wouldn't have gotten out of first grade if I couldn't do it with pencil and paper. On the other hand, she could probably tell me more than I ever wanted to know about "An Inconvenient Truth", so....

If you were really intent on confusing her you would of given a twenty dollar bill and a quarter.

[Aaron]

Ugh, that's my generation.

I've been taking my math courses over the last three semesters, currently doing stats, and it amazes me how damn near no one under thirty could do basic calculations in their heads or any Algebra. I was embarrassed that I was taking intro to algebra, after having mastered much higher level math a decade ago, but figured I needed the refresher before stats. I knew more algebra when the class started than most of my classmates did the day of the final.

They were all good people, active duty or veterans, and the ones who struggled all busted their asses (I know, I spent hours on the phone helping), but they just had never been exposed to anything resembling challenging math before.

Argh!

[Kommander]

MarkD did you consider the fact that perhaps it was not a matter of the workers being unable to calculate you change, but the fact that they may HAVE to let the machine do so otherwise the till will be off and they will get in trouble.