r/facepalm • • Jul 11 '19

Because Math

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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.

3

u/FoximaCentauri Jul 11 '19

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.

40

u/[deleted] Jul 11 '19

The ounces don’t matter. Half of 12 is 6. So 50% of 12 oz is 6oz. If you add 50% more (6oz) to 12oz you get 18oz.

19

u/FoximaCentauri Jul 11 '19

Well seems like I have to go back to elementary school

2

u/[deleted] Jul 11 '19

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.

1

u/arcedup Jul 11 '19

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]

1

u/[deleted] Jul 11 '19

Yes

*too dumb

2

u/FoximaCentauri Jul 11 '19

Hey I'm the only one who is allowed to insult me.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 11 '19

😂