The Random Thread

[meriad]

I agree Osc, it's quite dire.... i was in the shop the other day and the total was £12.10 so I handed over a £20 note which the girl entered into the till. I then found I had £2.10 in coins so gave her those as well; simple maths you'd think right? Well no - she had to think for a few minutes and then asked me to confirm that I should be getting a £10 note back now instead of the £7.90 as per the till instructions


So yes I despair with you

[Kaz]

I found this all the time, when I worked in retail. The much younger people I worked with were amazed that I could do simple arithmetic in my head, to work out change.

The rot set in when kids were allowed to use calculators in class. They have their uses, but you should know how to do it without first!

[JanB]

When I worked in a bar, years ago, I'd do 3 or 4 rounds in my head.

Bit sluggish now though, I still try

[Weka]

When I was at school we got to use calculators in class in year 9, 1st year high school. This year I have to provide one for Sasha. She’s going into year 5. She doesn’t yet know all these basic facts off the top of her head. And unless we drum it into her at home she’s not going to either. She will just reach for the calculator. She hasn’t even done division where there is a remainder yet.

[JanB]

To be quite honest, I'm rubbish at maths, always have been Anything with a 9 or 7 in it throws me

Because we play cards a few times a week, I make myself add them up in my head, which I'm not bad at. But give me the numbers on a piece of paper I always used to try three times, and if I got the answer twice, then I'd go with that one

My brother, though, can look at a column of figures and add it up quicker than a calculator

[Osc]

I'm not great at maths either, but can still rattle off my times tables and do mental arithmetic - good teaching while my brain was still receptive

[JanB]

Dear me, it's cold tonight

[AliasAggers]

Well, it is January !

[JanB]

1C in Portugal

[JoM]

1C in Portugal

It always surprises me how cold you get it at times there Jan.
It's about the same here at the moment, which is quite tropical compared to the minus figures of last night.