affiliate@lemmy.world I have a masters degree in physics, and I just straight up don't do mental math, and never have. Math is for pencils and notepads. And I love pencils and notepads!
When Common Core math came out and people were up in arms against it, I wanted to know what the big deal was. I researched it, read that it makes mental math easier, and deciding to learn/practice it myself.
I understand the parents who struggled to help kids with their homework, since they weren't taught the same way and if you're just thrown into it, it's hard to figure out. Though how it turned into this big hullabaloo was an extreme reaction. Mental math has become very easy for me since learning it, which makes me think many of us missed out on a method that could've helped us a lot.
So, no, I don't struggle with math. What I struggle with is the confidence to believe I've come to the right answer. I usually do math calculations more than once because I doubt myself. My first college mathematics professor gave me a reality check about it once, as he was getting frustrated that I wouldn't put my hand up even though he knew I had figured out the answers. I can still see him standing there, going, "Come on, Whats_your_reasoning, I know you've got it. What's the answer? Just say it!"
Common Core everything in general is pretty solid. You know how people like to complain about critical thinking not being taught in schools? Well CC English classes at the end of HS are all goals like finding textual evidence to support an opinion, or distinguishing between stated text and actual meaning (vis a vis satire, irony, etc).
The real problem is underfunded schools not having the resources to address student needs, not the teaching aims themselves. Imagine if every classroom maxed out at 15 students, just for one simple thing we could do to start fixing shit.
Yeah I remember looking into it back when people were freaking out, and I realized that it was basically how I taught myself to do mental math like 30 years ago.
Did they ultimately get rid of Common Core? Or did people finally just shut up about it?
Many states adopted their own standards instead of the Common Core, likely because of the political backlash. Most that I've seen are 90% CC with some state-specific requirements for things like history.
I've never really interacted with Common Core in any form; I was out of public school long before it became commonplace and I guess my kid isn't old enough to encounter it yet. As such, I have no real opinion nor understanding of it.
However, whenever I interact with people discussing it, I think of Tom Lehrer.
I was the opposite. Math was, if not easy, then simple. Every math problem has a specific set of steps you take to solve it, and a single objective answer. Unlike literature, there's no room for differing opinions or interpretation. It meshed very nicely with my black-and-white worldview.
People have their strengths. Although knowing how to halve, double, etc. on small numbers quickly is quite useful. Rounding makes this easier. 3 for $6.49 is > 3/6 so like 2.25
I can do arithmetic without a calculator, it just takes me a lot longer. Simple addition/subtraction/multiplication/division? It can sometimes take me what feels like an "embarrassingly long* amount of time. Multivariable calculus though? I breeze right through it (it's the basic arithmetic involved with it that takes me most of the time lol)
I had issues with making mistakes over long calculations. So math where your calculations were like a page long meant I would very likely have the wrong answer. So basic math no real problem and begining algebra to. then advanced algebra bad. geometry and trig good. precalc and whatever was put with it bad. beginning calc good. advanced calc and differential equations. ugh. im not really sure if im autistic or adhd or anything but im definately not normal. that is any place I worked im fairly sure im the wierd guy but like quirky weird. i mean not everywhere. im in tech and I have worked in places where I was closer to norm.
35 Comments
affiliate@lemmy.world · 19 pts · 146d
i have a masters degree in math but i still use a calculator anytime either of the numbers is 2 digits or more
showmeyourkizinti@startrek.website · 14 pts · 146d
Seriously I’ve got a Batchelor in Math and the more higher maths I learned the worse my basic maths got.
kichae@wanderingadventure.party · 6 pts · 146d
affiliate@lemmy.world I have a masters degree in physics, and I just straight up don't do mental math, and never have. Math is for pencils and notepads. And I love pencils and notepads!
OpenStars@piefed.social · 2 pts · 146d
10 + 10 = ... hold on, where did I put that thing? 🤔🤪
lagoon8622@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 146d
100, ez clap
OpenStars@piefed.social · 6 pts · 146d
WRONG! 1010 = uh... 10 actually?
I may need to rethink my life.
Rusty@lemmy.ca · 4 pts · 146d
This is correct in JavaScript math
OpenStars@piefed.social · 2 pts · 146d
Concatenation, then binary -> decimal. Computers are weird. People are weirder. 🤪
Scotty_Trees@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 146d
you're breaking my brain! 🤣🤣
Whats_your_reasoning@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 146d
When Common Core math came out and people were up in arms against it, I wanted to know what the big deal was. I researched it, read that it makes mental math easier, and deciding to learn/practice it myself.
I understand the parents who struggled to help kids with their homework, since they weren't taught the same way and if you're just thrown into it, it's hard to figure out. Though how it turned into this big hullabaloo was an extreme reaction. Mental math has become very easy for me since learning it, which makes me think many of us missed out on a method that could've helped us a lot.
So, no, I don't struggle with math. What I struggle with is the confidence to believe I've come to the right answer. I usually do math calculations more than once because I doubt myself. My first college mathematics professor gave me a reality check about it once, as he was getting frustrated that I wouldn't put my hand up even though he knew I had figured out the answers. I can still see him standing there, going, "Come on, Whats_your_reasoning, I know you've got it. What's the answer? Just say it!"
tigeruppercut@lemmy.zip · 8 pts · 146d
Common Core everything in general is pretty solid. You know how people like to complain about critical thinking not being taught in schools? Well CC English classes at the end of HS are all goals like finding textual evidence to support an opinion, or distinguishing between stated text and actual meaning (vis a vis satire, irony, etc).
The real problem is underfunded schools not having the resources to address student needs, not the teaching aims themselves. Imagine if every classroom maxed out at 15 students, just for one simple thing we could do to start fixing shit.
Here are CC standards for 11-12 grade reading and writing
https://www.thecorestandards.org/ELA-Literacy/W/11-12/
https://www.thecorestandards.org/ELA-Literacy/RL/11-12/
prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 3 pts · 146d
Yeah I remember looking into it back when people were freaking out, and I realized that it was basically how I taught myself to do mental math like 30 years ago.
Did they ultimately get rid of Common Core? Or did people finally just shut up about it?
nickiwest@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 146d
Many states adopted their own standards instead of the Common Core, likely because of the political backlash. Most that I've seen are 90% CC with some state-specific requirements for things like history.
toynbee@piefed.social · 1 pts · 144d
I've never really interacted with Common Core in any form; I was out of public school long before it became commonplace and I guess my kid isn't old enough to encounter it yet. As such, I have no real opinion nor understanding of it.
However, whenever I interact with people discussing it, I think of Tom Lehrer.
pedantichedgehog@sh.itjust.works · 9 pts · 146d
I was the opposite. Math was, if not easy, then simple. Every math problem has a specific set of steps you take to solve it, and a single objective answer. Unlike literature, there's no room for differing opinions or interpretation. It meshed very nicely with my black-and-white worldview.
calculuschild@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 145d
Same here. Math was the one place I felt like things made sense. The subjectivity of arts and literature drove me crazy.
funkajunk@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 146d
12-8IDew@lemmy.zip · 7 pts · 146d
5
AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 146d
Within the margin of error.
tr0xy@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 144d
My dad lost faith in my Math skills when I guessed the result once
eupraxia@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 7 pts · 146d
I have studied so much goddamn math in my life...
...and yet the hardest parts of being a trainer has been a) counting reps and b) subtracting 45 from a number and dividing it by 2.
Gust@piefed.social · 1 pts · 146d
That last one is easy. Given any x,
(x - 45)/2 = lost gains. If you still fit through doors, put that plate back on
The derivation is
a bitchleft as an exercise for the readerLodeMike@lemmy.today · 7 pts · 147d
Just because you're not good with large logical operations doesn't mean you're dumb.
SharkWeek@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 3 pts · 146d
LodeMike@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 144d
People have their strengths. Although knowing how to halve, double, etc. on small numbers quickly is quite useful. Rounding makes this easier. 3 for $6.49 is > 3/6 so like 2.25
purplerabbit@piefed.blahaj.zone · 6 pts · 146d
I have dyscalculia. So call me Mason because I have no fucking clue what the numbers means.
prenatal_confusion@feddit.org · 6 pts · 146d
Sometimes I divide numbers by ten and just the moment before I press equals I realize what I've done. But then it's to late.
OwOarchist@pawb.social · 4 pts · 146d
There. I don't think I have anything to be particularly embarrassed about. Well, except maybe that last one.
protogen420@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 3 pts · 146d
math was the only fun subject to me
SuspciousCarrot78@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 146d
Lexam@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 146d
I'm gifted in other ways.
mickus@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 146d
I struggle with arithmetic. Generally i do think this is a case of just not using it, thanks to calculators
Filetternavn@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 2 pts · 146d
I can do arithmetic without a calculator, it just takes me a lot longer. Simple addition/subtraction/multiplication/division? It can sometimes take me what feels like an "embarrassingly long* amount of time. Multivariable calculus though? I breeze right through it (it's the basic arithmetic involved with it that takes me most of the time lol)
benderbeerman@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 146d
58008
roserose56@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 146d
1+27
aproposnix@scribe.disroot.org · 1 pts · 146d
Yup. Its called Dyscalculia.
HubertManne@piefed.social · 1 pts · 146d
I had issues with making mistakes over long calculations. So math where your calculations were like a page long meant I would very likely have the wrong answer. So basic math no real problem and begining algebra to. then advanced algebra bad. geometry and trig good. precalc and whatever was put with it bad. beginning calc good. advanced calc and differential equations. ugh. im not really sure if im autistic or adhd or anything but im definately not normal. that is any place I worked im fairly sure im the wierd guy but like quirky weird. i mean not everywhere. im in tech and I have worked in places where I was closer to norm.