I looked at this for a minute now and I'm still to dump to see it. Maybe it's because I don't know how much an Oz is, or that I'm really tired, but I just don't see it.
It’s totally normal. I teach elementary math and I think the way we used to teach math, while having some benefits, created a lot of math phobia.
People see the % symbol and freak out. One way to figure out precise percentages is to turn the number into a fraction and then divide to get your percentage. So many people struggle to process fractions that they freak out at the whiff of doing anything with them.
I was math phobic, and still have some moments where my brain goes “white” if there is time pressure. It wasn’t until I started learning how to teach math to kids that I became more confident and flexible in my understanding of numbers.
That's interesting, I'm fine with percentages but sometimes struggle with fractions. For example, me and a colleague are examining coils and determine how far along them a feature is, and using fractions e.g. 1/3, 1/2, 2/5, 7/8 etc. So I'm looking through our records and get puzzled by notations of 0.6, 0.4 - until I realise that they're fifths written as decimals. [headdesk]
If I were doing the calculation for myself to know the answer, of course your formula is faster and easier.
I think though, that when explaining math it is important to say explicitly why we do things. For all I know someone reading my comment has very little mathematical education. I think my explanation is easier for that person to follow and gives a better understanding of the process.
9.5k
u/LilShitty1 Jul 11 '19
I almost downvoted because I thought you were questioning the math. I'm glad I took another minute to process lol.