To think that 3 adults should be able to work out 17 divided by 3 without the need for a calculator?

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I run a local board games group.

Behind me three grown men were trying to work out this very difficult sum wondering what the answer was, one of them said they would get their phone out to us the calculator at which point I interjected and told them the answer.

These men are 25+!

Id expect a 6 year old to be able to do this... In their head!

In the circumstances described OP, YANBU but it's not worth the bother starting a thread on here. Far too many people seem proud of their innumeracy or have extremely low expectations of what people should be able to do.

I was flamed for commenting on a thread where someone wanted to know the answer to 3% of a number that surely they could manage primary school maths by themselves, but apparently not.

And I watched someone use a calculator to work out a 10% tip on a restaurant bill not so long ago.

I would consider it basic maths personally.

But if others couldn't do it, I'd give the answer so we could solve whatever situation required the maths and move on.

I probably wouldn't be sat later on still feeling shocked that some people can't do me talk maths and write a thread about it. I don't know (I'm sure it's not intended that way OP), it feels a bit like let's look down on people who can't do what we consider basic maths

What a sneery thread. So you were able to complete mental arithmetic that others couldn't - big whoop.

My maths is shit - really shit. I have always really struggled with numbers and it took me ages as a kid to learn to tell the time. I don't know all of my times tables and never managed to learn long division. I suspect I have dyscalculia as despite years of slogging, extra tuition and straight A's in every other subject, Maths was my worst by a long shot - and no amount of effort or explanation made a jot of difference. Interestingly I also struggled with music and despite learning to play the piano I did it by ear as I couldn't - and still can't - read music, again despite hours of practice and years of trying.

Perhaps you might sit and think for a moment before you start expressing shock and horror that you've met some people who can't do something that you think is basic? Yes, it may well be a core skill but we're not all equally 'blessed' - but people like you make people like me feel so embarrassed on the occasions that this happens.

Far too many people seem proud of their innumeracy or have extremely low expectations of what people should be able to do.
Why shouldn't they if it's the best of their ability? People are all different, sneering at others not performing to your standards is just small minded. Do you feel the same way about people with dyslexia?

Even if you can't do the maths, surely in this case you split the counters going 'one for me, one for you, one for Bob' until there's fewer than three counters left, which by the rules of the game, stay on the board?

Yes it's basic and yes a kid could work it out but so what if they didn't know it. Give them the answer and move on. What's more perplexing than the fact they couldn't work it out is the fact it bothered you sufficiently to post about it on here

Well it IS basic maths TBH....
But no most of the teenagers I know aren't able to do that easily. They're too use to calculators (or at least that the case with the teenagers I know... none of which are stupid or bad at maths)

Also, lots of people rely on their phones to do calculations these days, it's just a sign of the times and surely doesn't reflect their intelligence.
Well, it is. People just live with their brains switched off these days. People cannot even remember phone numbers.

BarbaraofSeville
Do you not think that it's comments like "primary maths" and a 6 year old could do it that's what got people's backs up?

I think numeracy rates are shockingly low in places, but I wouldn't want to be saying 'well a child can do it'. Sometimes I think the it's cool not to like/do maths thing is quite damaging but is acts as a deflection for people who probably already feel bad or aware they can't do it. Why would I want to add to that unless I'm practically going to help them?

I do think that it is a worry if that level of numeracy cannot be expected from adults.

I teach six year olds. They would struggle with this as he remainder would through them out. Why don't you help them instead of sneering at them!

It's not maths! It's incredibly basic numeracy which is most definitely primary level. Indeed, that's what my 8 (almost 9) year old has been doing for a lot of this year - dividing with remainders.

OK, some adults struggle with numeracy for whatever reason. But what's the more likely scenario - three thickos who can't do this most basic sum and resorting to a calculator, or three people with a genuine learning difficulty who all happen to be together, in the same club, at the same time, all coming together to try to work it out.

I love mental arithmetic. However I realise it is no a key skill these days. It definitely is not a reflection of people's intelligence.

I think if your worried at peoples level of maths writing sneery threads like this won't help them.

One of my children could have done that sum at six, but is ridiculously talented at maths.

Another one of my children can't do that sum now, and is in his late teens.

Some people can do maths and some people can't. Yes, it's easy for me but I can't change the wheel on the car when I get a puncture, and my husband can do it easily. We're all good at different things.

three thickos

You sound like a pleasant person.

I volunteer in a charity shop and the manager asked one of the other volunteers to half price all the stock which had been out for a certain time. Exceptionally simple task - £5 becomes £2.50, £6 becomes £3 etc. She looked at the manager as if she were speaking Chinese. Hadn't a clue.

She has no declared learning difficulties. How people that poor in numeracy function on a day to day basis I have no clue.

Macarena - 'Thickos'? Really?

So funny, they could have just done one for you, one for you, and one for me...

YANBU.

More intrigued by the idea of a board game group - I'd love that!

It's not untrue to say some people are thick, just like some people are very intelligent.

Come on folks! This is indeed basic numeracy; we all need to be able to do this. no argument .

About half of my Y2 class could happily do that calculation, but some would need a pencil and paper!

Tbh OP I too would be surprised at 3 adults unable to do this. Some division is hard but I would consider 2/3 fairly basic (I'm assuming that this is the bit they had problems with once they'd worked out the 5 each out of 15).

Legitimate reasons withstanding, some of which have already been mentioned, I'd think it was pretty bad if an adult couldn't work this out. Unfortunately though it's not uncommon.

Yes it is basic numeracy. Yes, it's shocking thay some people can't do it.

But what's to be gained from patting ourselves on the back thinking at least I know how to do it unlike those idiots?

Consider the inverse snobbery on threads about PhDs and all the talk about nobody cares if they're smart. And yet here we have a thread where people pat themselves on the back because they can do a simple maths question. Just made me laugh a little bit. Don't be happy you got a PhD buy be thrilled that you're better than someone who is innumerate.
This thread is actually a bit unkind.