Time for a poll

[chickenfeet]

I needed an excuse to use the user pic voted most popular by a random sample of sentient beings. I've also had some interesting on and off line convos and comments about math(s) recently so I thought what we really need is more ticky boxes. Lo, I bring you the great math(s) poll!

[Poll #826509]

Comments

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

One thing that exasperates me is the way the general public use "maths" as a synonym for "arithmetic". Because my job does require extensive use of arithmetic, so that confusion crops us a lot. (And yes, it's a branch of maths, but I would never describe what I do as maths.)

Typical conversation with my boss:
Him: "Can you check the maths for me?"
Me: "You mean the arithmetic."
Him: "If I wanted your help on English language and grammar I'd say so."

[chickenfeet2003.livejournal.com]

I know exactly what you mean. See asrana's comment above.

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

The other thing that annoys me is the way people glory in their inability to do arithmetic or maths (of course, they generally say the latter and mean the former). I don't mean that they should be deeply embarrassed or ashamed, just that they should admit to their blind spot in a matter-of-fact way rather than indicating that it's a badge of pride (because understanding maths would be so uncool).

This carries over into radio programmes on the topic, which always seem to take the line "Ha, ha! Bet you really hated maths at school! He, he! But we're here to tell you lots of jokes so you'll realise it's jolly fun! Ho, ho, ho!" (At this point, I switch off, so I never find out whether they had something worthwhile to convey.) They never do this in programmes on science, where the presenters adopt a businesslike approach assuming an uninformed but intelligent listener.

[chickenfeet2003.livejournal.com]

Grr, snarl, yes!

I've never met anyone who thought it was smart or a sign of a superior mind to be illiterate.