We need math

[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.