[DTA]

25% of North American population can not do the basic math. That's why there are so many sales deals (e.g. buy one, get another 50% off) exploiting it. That's why there is a skill testing question on sweepstakes - organizers keep some prizes for themselves that way.

It has nothing to do with education or IQ. Anyone who is vulnerable should be fully aware of it and stay clear of any deal involving ANY math.

[definitelynotaliberal]

I was at a beauty school once, and decided to have my hair trimmed. Everything is done by students, but before they begin, the student must describe to the instructor what (s)he is going to do and is then judged on how close (s)he came to his/her description. I told my student what I wanted. Then the instructor asked her a question, and without any shame, she answered, “I don’t do fractions.”

[Peter Horry]

Post 17

I know what you mean. Sometimes I will give a cashier $23.53, for a 18.38 purchase, (don’t have the right change and don’t want dollars and pennies back) and it confuses the heck out of many of them.