We need math

[tw]

Learning numbers (and associated trends) expose scams. For example, according to hype, we are all dead - killed by aids. The naive simply hyped a linear projection. Exponential curves applied.

According to hype, we are all crack addicts. What happened? Again they were hyping a linear projection. Those who don't first demand numbers were decieved by the 'lying by telling half truths'.

Cited in another discussion are trends associated with a simple calculation - horsepower per liter. A number that even a decade ago said GM had major financial problems. Had you not been watching the numbers, then you don't yet know you will be paying for the $billions that GM failed to put into their pension funds. Another S&L type scandel.

The naive go the Costco or Wawa because gasoline is sold for five cents less a gallon. Had they been doing the numbers, then they brand name gasoline is less expensive even though sold for 5 cents more per gallon. More miles per penny.

The infamous Lisa Thomas Laurie of Action News who claimed Toyota and Honda were the most stolen cars. First we demand numbers she would not provide. Why? They could steal every Corvette and it still would never appear on LTL's list of most stolen cars. She did not provide numbers, so she could 'lie by telling half truths'.

A symptom of a junk scientist: he fears to provide numbers. Numbers - that also showed why aluminum tubes could not be used for manufacturing weapons of mass destruction. Numbers that accurately suggested those tubes were for cloning the Medusa - an Italian rocket.

Numbers that told many that Enron was not what it claimed to be (and greed that said ignore the numbers).

Numbers such as the amount of electricity in Iraq that still does not meet what was produced when Saddam was in power.

Numbers such as how the death rate of Iraqis and Americans is increasing every year in Iraq while we are told of a 'light at the end of a tunnel'. The numbers say one thing. Why does the administration ignore those numbers? Junk scientists - or some other reason?

Numbers such as the cost per science experiment on the ISS.

Numbers such as the sharp increase in global warming in only the last 100 years.

Numbers such as an overdue and pending major earthquake in the Missouri region.

Numbers such as all that spend nuclear fuel with no place to put it.

Numbers that Feynman put in the Challenger accident report to demonstrate why seven astronauts were killed. What is the probability of those rockets exploding. The workers said one in 300 flight. The management said one in every 50,000 flights. Damning numbers when one wants the truth.

[busterb]

By God TW. I'm glad to know that. But I think UT's post was more about basic math for the working people, in ever day life. NOT sending someone to the fucking moon. IMHO

[tw]

Originally Posted by busterb

But I think UT's post was more about basic math for the working people, in ever day life.

I appreciate UT's point. But even basic numbers cause too many eyes to glaze over.

You know what the price is at the grocery store before checkout. So why do you not know how much that phone call is until the monthly bill arrives? If we really were interested in quantitative information, then we would demand to (be able to) know what that phone call costs before placing it. Are you over your minutes? How do you know until the bill arrives with a massive surcharge? Did your cell phone company (ie Sprint) change your calling plan from 1000 minuted to 500 minutes? Then that call costed how much? If we really cared to understand quantitative information, then we would demand the ability to know what every phone call costs before placing it.

If we don't even demand basic numbers, how in hell could we care what equations tell us. UTs point is valid and accurate. But too many people would rather let their eyes glaze over so that they need not know how many Americans died in iraq this month or even what that phone call costs.

The first because many don't care. The second because we don't care until the bill comes in - and then get angry.