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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

160 replies

00100001 · 02/06/2017 07:57

I run a local board games group.

Behind me three grown men were trying to work out this very difficult sum Hmm 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!

OP posts:
PeanutButterJellyTimeforTea · 02/06/2017 12:51

This reply has been deleted

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RyanStartedTheFire · 02/06/2017 12:53

No one has said it's not an issue, people have declared that not being able to do a sum like that makes you thick, made snide comments about their 2 year olds being able to do it and have generally been dismissive and mean spirited in their attitude towards those that can't.

I did that sum no problem, but I won't join in with finger pointing and laughing at others that can't. Tell me to piss off all you want.

ArgyMargy · 02/06/2017 13:04

It wouldn't be a problem if there weren't potentially dire consequences to being innumerate. Such as not understanding the interest rates on payday loans or in fact interest rates in general, not understanding how to spend less than you earn, not understanding how to budget a salary across a month, not understanding buy one get one half price or buy three get cheapest free. And yet people moan about all these things and expect the government to step in and compensate them.

Sallystyle · 02/06/2017 13:05

I am crap at maths.

I couldn't do 17 divided by 3 without a bit of paper and time to remember how to work it out. The hardest bit would be remembering how to do it because nothing bloody sticks. I have spent months trying to get better at maths and nothing ever sticks for long.

Thankfully my job requires you to have good people skills and empathy and no maths skills at all so it's not too much of a problem for me right now.

Orlantina · 02/06/2017 13:06

I couldn't do 17 divided by 3 without a bit of paper and time to remember how to work it out

Just out of interest, could you do 18 divided by 3 and 15 divided by 3?

nonetcurtains · 02/06/2017 13:11

I teach six year olds. They would struggle with this as he remainder would through them out

And there's your problem. Hmm

PenelopeFlintstone · 02/06/2017 13:18

Yep

PenelopeFlintstone · 02/06/2017 13:21

A note to the school office from a teacher (seen with my own eyes): 'Councilor refferal form'

This referral form was for the school counsellor. I was gobsmacked!

PenelopeFlintstone · 02/06/2017 13:24

And in the 17/3 example, the men didn't have to get the .6666 as it was game counters. They only had to work out it was 5 counters each and two left over. So, an easier sum than some might be attempting.

SteppingOnToes · 02/06/2017 13:26

My DSS who is just 6 can do simple division and multiplication - I suppose it depends on the child or adult

Zoflorabore · 02/06/2017 13:40

I've just asked my dd this, she is 6 and in year one.
She said " each person will have 5 sweets and there will be 2 left over " fair enough.

ForalltheSaints · 02/06/2017 13:42

To answer the OP, yes they should be able to.

ErrolTheDragon · 02/06/2017 13:49

IRL the OP just helpfully told the blokes the answer. Nothing particularly wrong with then discussing it on MN IMO.

It's quite unlikely that all 3 had dyscalculia. They might have all had particularly bad maths teaching, I suppose. But the context was a board games group, where the need for this sort of practical numeracy must be commonplace, in the same way that darts players are often very fast at the maths they need. So, in this context it is surprising that between them they couldn't share the tokens without recourse to a calculator.

Abitofaproblem · 02/06/2017 13:52

YANBU. It is a problem if none of them can.

MaisyPops · 02/06/2017 14:47

There are a lot of very defensive answers here.
Maybe, but then if I were one of those people who struggled to do it and I saw the sheer sense of superiority some people on this thread have then I might feel defensive. After all, quite a lot of posters seem to just delight in making other people feel bad.

I, like lots of people, think it's basic maths that's simple enough. But I would just help someone and give it no further thought and not sneer the way some on here have.

Crunchyside · 02/06/2017 14:51

That's the thing though - it's basic maths, i.e. not a necessary skill when everyone has a calculator in their pocket, in the form of a phone. You can be good at maths while being rubbish at mental arithmetic. I got an A* in my Maths GCSE when I was at school, despite never having learnt my times tables and not being able to easily perform these kind of calculations quickly in my head. There is no real value in being good at performing simple calculations which can be done with a calculator.

SecretlyChartreuse · 02/06/2017 15:01

I work in a restaurant. We have a calculator behind the bar.

I think it is for adding up when we have a power cut (the internet that works the till goes off but our kitchen runs off a generator).

However, I see no problem offering it to those struggling to split a bill. Some people are good at maths, some aren't.

Trifleorbust · 02/06/2017 15:02

Crunchyside

It's far more efficient to do basic calculations in your head. I'm not going to carry a calculator round Sainsbury's so I can make sure I can afford to buy X, Y, Z.

Obviously sneering at people is out of line, but being quick with numbers is a strength.

blackteasplease · 02/06/2017 15:08

I do think it's basic. Sorry.

Even if they didn't get the .66 or .67 bit straight away they could have said "well you two pay 5.50 and I'll pay 6" quite easily.

blackteasplease · 02/06/2017 15:09

Sorry, I think I've misread and that it doesnt involve money Blush

ineedaholidaynow · 02/06/2017 15:19

Maybe I am missing the point but surely basic calculations are where you don't need to use a calculator.

Also if they had used a calculator would they have understood the answer as the calculator would not have given them the answer that they would have had 5 counters each and 2 would need to be put aside.

Hdgshsksk · 02/06/2017 15:22

I think not being able to do that sum is worse than being unable to use apostrophes or spell properly etc. You can get by with reasonably poor English skills but really basic maths is essential. Examples....adding bills, percentages, areas, interest rates, betting odds Wink etc.

ErrolTheDragon · 02/06/2017 15:32

There is no real value in being good at performing simple calculations which can be done with a calculator.

There is if you don't have a calculator to hand, or if it's out of power. Or if you want to estimate something without fuss, eg a quick mental doublecheck that you've not been mischarged.

LiveLongAndProspero · 02/06/2017 16:03

There is no real value in being good at performing simple calculations which can be done with a calculator

It's this kind of thinking that contributes to a normalisation of innumeracy! Do you carry a calculator when you get your change, when you shop? Can you work out a tip or split a bill without getting out your calculator?
Of course there is value in being able to do the most basic of sums!

CrystalMethHog · 02/06/2017 16:14

I can't, but I have a wonderful personality Wink

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