Are there really people this uneducated in this Country?

[wau5]

long story short, I need to ask people the area of their rooms from time to time to quote for a job, yet I get a feeling that 70-80% of people I ask to measure & tell me are unable to do this. I mean they just don't know how to calculate a square area of something,usually they just say flat out that they don't know how to or ask to wait to get someone to do it...
I see online/ all around that everything is sold to fit a small/medium/large room, in stores people buy packs of flooring not the actual square metrage they need which really suggests that this is national..

what the hell???

 

[Nozzle]

I recon it's Maths blindness. They couldn't do well in it at school, they hated having to pass it, and could see no possible reason you'd need it later in life. Consequently, when asked to do something remotely "mathematical" they immediately assume it's too hard to understand, and from that point on refuse to engage with the challenge.

In my unqualified opinion.

Nozzle

 

[Ihavenojob]

The problem is schools are teaching towards the lowest common denominator, so the bright kids get dragged down. To answer your question, YES.

 

[bernardgreen]

How many people behind the shop counter cannot give change without the computor screen telling them how much change is to be given.

 

[Ihavenojob]

Many years ago I placed an order at W H Smith for "Another Green World" , a CD by Brian Eno. I got the call to say it was in, went to pick it up & the girl said "Never heard of Anthony Greenwood".

 

[EFLImpudence]

Further to Bernard's post.

At checkout.
To pay - 2.01
Give - 5.00 note.
Machine says - change 2.99
Oh wait a minute, I have a penny.
Totally baffled. Looks at me as if I'm daft.
Gives me back the penny and 2.99.

 

[Dan Robinson]

Further to Bernard's post.

At checkout.
To pay - 2.01
Give - 5.00 note.
Machine says - change 2.99
Oh wait a minute, I have a penny.
Totally baffled. Looks at me as if I'm daft.
Gives me back the penny and 2.99.

Happened to me recently that one... Used it as a maths lesson for the boy. Have to unteach these sooooo piddling number lines they're taught nowadays. At least in his year now they're doing it the proper way.

 

[wobs]

How many people behind the shop counter cannot give change without the computor screen telling them how much change is to be given.

Computer says 5

 

[bernardgreen]

1lb 5 oz of apples at 1/6 lb
2lb 3 oz of pears at 2/- lb
and a few more similar purchases.

The running total of the prices kept in the head.

10 bob note offered, change calculated in head.

and invariably the customer had also got the total price in their head as well.

Some weigh scales did provide the price on a graph

 

[JohnD]

there's nothing new about it.

People get handy with (simple) calculations if they use them frequently. e.g. darts scoring.

There are plenty of older people who say "I've forgotten my glasses, can you read it for me please"

And you know what that means.

The "Sun" is written to be understandable by people who can read and understand language at the same level as CBBC.

 

[Nozzle]

Further to Bernard's post.

At checkout.
To pay - 2.01
Give - 5.00 note.
Machine says - change 2.99
Oh wait a minute, I have a penny.
Totally baffled. Looks at me as if I'm daft.
Gives me back the penny and 2.99.

This means it's time to get rid of shyster marketing people that insist on using a x.99 pricing. Come to think of it, perhaps best to be rid of 1p and maybe 2p coins.

Nozzle

 

[Deleted member 63160]

there's nothing new about it.

The "Sun" is written to be understandable by people who can read and understand language at the same level as CBBC.

"Big" letters for the start of sentence oh wise one.

 

[EFLImpudence]

This means it's time to get rid of shyster marketing people that insist on using a x.99 pricing. Come to think of it, perhaps best to be rid of 1p and maybe 2p coins.

That is nothing to do with what I wrote. The total of my purchases was £2.01.

Had it been £2.25 and I subsequently offered 25p the result would have been the same.

 

[Nozzle]

That is nothing to do with what I wrote. The total of my purchases was £2.01.

Had it been £2.25 and I subsequently offered 25p the result would have been the same.

All true, to the every last letter. But it IS time to get rid of x.99p pricing, and damned 1p coins. Anyone care to sign a petition?

Nozzle

 

[EFLImpudence]

Wasn't it introduced so that shop assistants had to 'ring' the till and give you a penny change so that they didn't just pocket the money with no record?

Would that still apply in small shops?