This is just a little observation I have on the sadness of our society in regards to applied math. We are talking basic math skills. Minimum requirements for graduation from high school type math. Simple addition and subtraction. What everyone must know to engage in trade. Goods for money.
I wish I could say it happens less often than not, but sadly it does not. Let's take 2 instances that happened to me today. First stop - Pei Wei. I was out running errands and decided to grab a bite to eat while listening to some talk radio in the car - one of my favorite pastimes. The bill was something like $6.48. I handed the early 20's gentleman $12.00. And here is where the dance begins...
I usually get a very strange look like I don't know how to count when I am working out what kind of change I want back. My remark is either "just watch and wait for the magic, I promise it will work" or I explain (like I did today) what I am trying to do. The gentleman looked at me quizzically and probably had "blond" thoughts running through his head while I was having "educational" thoughts running through mine- while I observed his various piercings... he placed the 2 1 dollar bills on the counter and said "it's only 6.48 don't you just want to use the 10?" I smiled ever so politely and said, "no, I want a 5 back from you." He just shrugged his shoulders probably thinking I was a ding dong-when low and behold, the cash register told him to give me a 5. Really? Really? Are we graduating people from high school that deal with money all day long who are not able to put that kind of an equation together?
It happened again later when I owed $87.59 and I gave her $100.09….just .09 of the .59 She looked and counted it a couple of times and finally just entered the amount she was given and then slammed the door closed before giving me my change. She probably would have been way too confused if I would have had 3.00 to give her in addition… mind blown!
It is always refreshing when you go somewhere and someone actually counts back your change to you in the way that gets you back to the amount you gave them. Example. You buy an item for 8.00 and you give the cashier 10.00 she would count back your 2.00 by saying: "8, 9,10 is your change." You start with the amount of sale and then count each dollar back. That is a rare bird indeed that you find that knows how to do that. But from now on I'm going to give those rare birds a fist bump and congratulate them on keeping it classy!
Why oh why does no one know how to count money anymore? I also wonder how many of those are college educated with a worthless degree but hey! - they possibly "found themselves" meanwhile they can't even count. It saddens me.
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