Math is harder for girls

[nublikescake]

Originally posted by: dNor
It doesn't require very much math to be able to cook and clean, really

Sexist much?

 

[Mo0o]

Seems like thats true for a lot of activites, men tend to dominate the upper echelons while women might be equal or better on average.

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: OdiN

Originally posted by: destrekor

Originally posted by: KaOTiK
Lies, when money is involved they are brilliant at math

HA. Lies.

Was at Pizza Hut one day. Had a bill that was like 27 or so, and we wanted to have it split 4 ways, because none of us had the cash on us to cover it total, unless one wanted to use a credit card. The girl was like "I don't know how to do that... can you? I'm not so good at math". When we walked out we busted up laughing.

Could you honestly divide something like $27.63 by 4 in your head on the fly?

Of course, she should have had a calculator available.

Sure, if $27.63 was divisible by 4 at all that would be nice...

 

[jiffer]

Originally posted by: Eeezee
Sure, if $27.63 was divisible by 4 at all that would be nice...

$27.64 is divisible by 4. Just subtract a quarter of a cent from the result if you want to divide $27.63 by four. It's, like, only one extra step if you're doing it in your head.

$28.00 divided by 4 = $7.00
$28.00 - $27.64 = $0.36
$0.36 divided by 4 = $0.09

For a relatively easy estimate, $27.63 divided by 4 is very close to $7.00 - $0.09 = $6.91. For an exact result, do one more easy step:

$27.64 - $27.63 = $0.01
$0.01 divided by 4 = $0.0025

$7.00 - $0.09 - $0.0025 = $6.9075

What do you do about the extra $0.0075 required of each person? Well, that requires judgment, not math skill, and I'm probably wasting my time even mentioning it, judging by the comments made about women in this discussion.

By the way, people who can do math in their heads but don't know when to tip (because they assume too much and makes asses of themselves) or how to treat other people, including women, with respect (because they don't have enough sense to understand why it matters) do not impress me with their "intelligence". (Okay, so you're "intelligent", but you're also an ass. And probably proud of it.)

 

[JTsyo]

Originally posted by: jiffer

Originally posted by: Eeezee
Sure, if $27.63 was divisible by 4 at all that would be nice...

$27.64 is divisible by 4. Just subtract a quarter of a cent from the result if you want to divide $27.63 by four. It's, like, only one extra step if you're doing it in your head.

$28.00 divided by 4 = $7.00
$28.00 - $27.64 = $0.36
$0.36 divided by 4 = $0.09

For a relatively easy estimate, $27.63 divided by 4 is very close to $7.00 - $0.09 = $6.91. For an exact result, do one more easy step:

$27.64 - $27.63 = $0.01
$0.01 divided by 4 = $0.0025

$7.00 - $0.09 - $0.0025 = $6.9075

What do you do about the extra $0.0075 required of each person? Well, that requires judgment, not math skill, and I'm probably wasting my time even mentioning it, judging by the comments made about women in this discussion.

By the way, people who can do math in their heads but don't know when to tip (because they assume too much and makes asses of themselves) or how to treat other people, including women, with respect (because they don't have enough sense to understand why it matters) do not impress me with their "intelligence". (Okay, so you're "intelligent", but you're also an ass. And probably proud of it.)

:music:
I've known a few guys who thought they were pretty smart
But you've got being right down to an art
You think you're a genius, you drive me up the wall
You're a regular original, a "knowitall"

Ohwooh, you think you're special
Ohwooh, you think you're something else

Ok, so you're a rocket scientist...

That don't impress me much!
So you got the brains, but have you got the touch?
(Now) Don't get me wrong, yeah I think you're alright
But that won't keep me warm in the middle of the night
That don't impress me much!:music:

 

[ICRS]

A way to quickly do 27.63 in your head and get as close as possible is this.

Round dpwn to next number with no remainder which is 24.

Next take 24/4 which is $6.

Next take 28 - 27.63 which is 37.

Round 37 down to the nearest number with no remainder which is 36.

Next take 36/4 which is 9 and divide by 10 to get 0.90

Next take 37-36 which is 1

Round 1 up to the nearest number with no remainder which is 4.

Next take 4 - 1 which is 3.

Next take 3/4 which is 0.75 and divide by 100 to get 0.0075

Add them all together ($6 + 0.9 + 0.0075) = $6.9075 or $6.91

It might seem complex reading it, but it is actually very quick and simple to do in your head.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
This is sad but no matter how many times I show her, my daughter can't figure 10% of a number.
She couldn't do 10% of 100 without a calculator.

are you kidding me?!?!?!

 

[Paperdoc]

The article makes a good point in saying that the choice of people in university Math Dept faculties is made ONLY from the very top echelons, and not from average students. And it happens that it is in those top echelons where the tests cited show an actual gender-related difference.

However, the tests are those done on kids half way through their teen years. Most phsychologists, sociologists and educators will tell you that, by that age, there has been a huge influence from "social norms" and expectations on each child's choice of interests and what they spend their time developing. From early childhood in North American society, girls are NOT encouraged as much as boys to play with things mathematical, scientific or mechanical. There is no doubt in my mind that that set of "norms" will produce fewer girls with highly develped skills in those areas by the time they hit 15.

Now, you can dismiss the phsychologists, sociologists and educators as liberal softheads if you want. That's just as solid an argument as claiming that all Techie Geeks should be dismissed because their egghead minds do not comprehend the real world. I'm sure I could find similar reasons to ignore anyone I choose by that logic. That way could be comfortable proclaiming, "Don't confuse me with facts; my mind's made up!"

 

[Nitemare]

shopping for clothes and shoes is harder for guys

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: Nitemare
shopping for clothes and shoes is harder for guys

what it comes down to is males and females compliment each other. we aren't the same. it would be very boring if we were.

but it does seem that *you* did fine clothes shopping recently.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
This is sad but no matter how many times I show her, my daughter can't figure 10% of a number.
She couldn't do 10% of 100 without a calculator.

are you kidding me?!?!?!

I didn't even bat an eyelash when I read what he typed. I've seen far too many students these days who can't do 2 times 1/2 without a calculator.

 

[BlackTigers]

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
This is sad but no matter how many times I show her, my daughter can't figure 10% of a number.
She couldn't do 10% of 100 without a calculator.

are you kidding me?!?!?!

I didn't even bat an eyelash when I read what he typed. I've seen far too many students these days who can't do 2 times 1/2 without a calculator.

You teach high school and this happens?

 

[MotF Bane]

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
This is sad but no matter how many times I show her, my daughter can't figure 10% of a number.
She couldn't do 10% of 100 without a calculator.

are you kidding me?!?!?!

I didn't even bat an eyelash when I read what he typed. I've seen far too many students these days who can't do 2 times 1/2 without a calculator.

That's uh.... three? Right?

 

[BlackTigers]

Originally posted by: MotF Bane

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
This is sad but no matter how many times I show her, my daughter can't figure 10% of a number.
She couldn't do 10% of 100 without a calculator.

are you kidding me?!?!?!

I didn't even bat an eyelash when I read what he typed. I've seen far too many students these days who can't do 2 times 1/2 without a calculator.

That's uh.... three? Right?

No, it's two.

I can't believe you're that big of a moran.

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: BlackTigers

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
This is sad but no matter how many times I show her, my daughter can't figure 10% of a number.
She couldn't do 10% of 100 without a calculator.

are you kidding me?!?!?!

I didn't even bat an eyelash when I read what he typed. I've seen far too many students these days who can't do 2 times 1/2 without a calculator.

You teach high school and this happens?

we live in NY, where we round gravity to 10 on the state senior physics test so the math is easier

 

[cubeless]

Originally posted by: Paperdoc
The article makes a good point in saying that the choice of people in university Math Dept faculties is made ONLY from the very top echelons, and not from average students. And it happens that it is in those top echelons where the tests cited show an actual gender-related difference.

However, the tests are those done on kids half way through their teen years. Most phsychologists, sociologists and educators will tell you that, by that age, there has been a huge influence from "social norms" and expectations on each child's choice of interests and what they spend their time developing. From early childhood in North American society, girls are NOT encouraged as much as boys to play with things mathematical, scientific or mechanical. There is no doubt in my mind that that set of "norms" will produce fewer girls with highly develped skills in those areas by the time they hit 15.

Now, you can dismiss the phsychologists, sociologists and educators as liberal softheads if you want. That's just as solid an argument as claiming that all Techie Geeks should be dismissed because their egghead minds do not comprehend the real world. I'm sure I could find similar reasons to ignore anyone I choose by that logic. That way could be comfortable proclaiming, "Don't confuse me with facts; my mind's made up!"

spoken like a true liberal arts major...

 

[MotF Bane]

Originally posted by: Anubis

Originally posted by: BlackTigers

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
This is sad but no matter how many times I show her, my daughter can't figure 10% of a number.
She couldn't do 10% of 100 without a calculator.

are you kidding me?!?!?!

I didn't even bat an eyelash when I read what he typed. I've seen far too many students these days who can't do 2 times 1/2 without a calculator.

You teach high school and this happens?

we live in NY, where we round gravity to 10 on the state senior physics test so the math is easier

My physics class in MA did that too.

 

[BassBomb]

Originally posted by: BlackTigers

Originally posted by: MotF Bane

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
This is sad but no matter how many times I show her, my daughter can't figure 10% of a number.
She couldn't do 10% of 100 without a calculator.

are you kidding me?!?!?!

I didn't even bat an eyelash when I read what he typed. I've seen far too many students these days who can't do 2 times 1/2 without a calculator.

That's uh.... three? Right?

No, it's two.

I can't believe you're that big of a moran.

I see wut u did thur

 

[jonks]

Originally posted by: cubeless

Originally posted by: Paperdoc
The article makes a good point in saying that the choice of people in university Math Dept faculties is made ONLY from the very top echelons, and not from average students. And it happens that it is in those top echelons where the tests cited show an actual gender-related difference.

However, the tests are those done on kids half way through their teen years. Most phsychologists, sociologists and educators will tell you that, by that age, there has been a huge influence from "social norms" and expectations on each child's choice of interests and what they spend their time developing. From early childhood in North American society, girls are NOT encouraged as much as boys to play with things mathematical, scientific or mechanical. There is no doubt in my mind that that set of "norms" will produce fewer girls with highly develped skills in those areas by the time they hit 15.

Now, you can dismiss the phsychologists, sociologists and educators as liberal softheads if you want. That's just as solid an argument as claiming that all Techie Geeks should be dismissed because their egghead minds do not comprehend the real world. I'm sure I could find similar reasons to ignore anyone I choose by that logic. That way could be comfortable proclaiming, "Don't confuse me with facts; my mind's made up!"

spoken like a true liberal arts major...

seriously. maybe in 1950 or something, but growing up in the 80s no one was talking in my schools about how girls weren't supposed to be good at math, and the ratio in AP classes would have put any such rumors to bed real quick

 

[Foxery]

I'm surprised noone has mentioned... Waitressing as a job clearly involves 4th-grade math on a daily basis. Even if an exact number takes her longer than she's willing to stand still, she should be used to estimating and have some idea of how to count money. (We had a similar thread last month about counting change.)

You don't have to be a calculus wiz, but it's pathetic that so many high school graduates are overwhelmed by the activities of a minimum-wage job.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: Anubis

Originally posted by: BlackTigers

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
This is sad but no matter how many times I show her, my daughter can't figure 10% of a number.
She couldn't do 10% of 100 without a calculator.

are you kidding me?!?!?!

I didn't even bat an eyelash when I read what he typed. I've seen far too many students these days who can't do 2 times 1/2 without a calculator.

You teach high school and this happens?

we live in NY, where we round gravity to 10 on the state senior physics test so the math is easier

I'm not sure if that was sarcastic or not. If a student has to show work, then of course, they'll use g to three significant digits. However, in preparing students to take a multiple choice exam (or to come up with good real-life estimates), I have no problem with instructing them to round it to 10 m/s² to make the mental math very simple. i.e. an object is dropped from a bridge and falls for 3 seconds. How tall is the bridge? Thought process: "after 3 seconds, it'll be going 30m/s, avg velocity = 15m/s, 15m/s for 3 seconds = 45 meters. So, somewhere pretty close to 45 meters; just a little less." A good multiple choice exam testing conceptual understanding wouldn't have two choices very close together to see if the student rounded to 10m/s² so they could do the arithmetic mentally.


Oh, and another area I see that's very common: (a lot of) students can't subtract 5 from 2 mentally. They need a calculator to see that the answer is -3. I gave up a few years ago on getting through to that crowd & instead teach them the process knowing they'll pick up their calculator every step of the way. Since every student in NY has to pass Algebra to graduate, I'm assured that I can get even the worst students through it. (of course, the better students don't need their calculators.)

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: Anubis

Originally posted by: BlackTigers

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
This is sad but no matter how many times I show her, my daughter can't figure 10% of a number.
She couldn't do 10% of 100 without a calculator.

are you kidding me?!?!?!

I didn't even bat an eyelash when I read what he typed. I've seen far too many students these days who can't do 2 times 1/2 without a calculator.

You teach high school and this happens?

we live in NY, where we round gravity to 10 on the state senior physics test so the math is easier

I'm not sure if that was sarcastic or not. If a student has to show work, then of course, they'll use g to three significant digits. However, in preparing students to take a multiple choice exam (or to come up with good real-life estimates), I have no problem with instructing them to round it to 10 m/s² to make the mental math very simple. i.e. an object is dropped from a bridge and falls for 3 seconds. How tall is the bridge? Thought process: "after 3 seconds, it'll be going 30m/s, avg velocity = 15m/s, 15m/s for 3 seconds = 45 meters. So, somewhere pretty close to 45 meters; just a little less." A good multiple choice exam testing conceptual understanding wouldn't have two choices very close together to see if the student rounded to 10m/s² so they could do the arithmetic mentally.

i know why it was done Doc P, but i still think it was stupid, i thought it was stupid when i took the test in HS even before i decided to major in physics. the test is a joke, and that just made it even more of a joke.

 

[IAteYourMother]

Originally posted by: OdiN

Originally posted by: mcmilljb

Originally posted by: OdiN

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: OdiN

What does leaving $7 on a table have to do with dividing $27.63 by 4?

who doesn't round at a restaurant?

It doesn't seem like it was a place you would tip at.

But if we want nice even numbers:

Divide $273,770 by 4.

I can tell you it will end with a .5(not an integer) because the last 2 digits are not a multiple of 20 just by looking at it. Definitely doesn't make nice even numbers.

273770 is an even number, last I checked.

hey moron, 10/4 is 2.5 10 is an even number. I can't tell if you're trying to be difficult on purpose or if that's your natural tendency.

Not to mention he's referring to the 70, not the entire number.

 

[IAteYourMother]

Originally posted by: Anubis

Originally posted by: BlackTigers

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
This is sad but no matter how many times I show her, my daughter can't figure 10% of a number.
She couldn't do 10% of 100 without a calculator.

are you kidding me?!?!?!

I didn't even bat an eyelash when I read what he typed. I've seen far too many students these days who can't do 2 times 1/2 without a calculator.

You teach high school and this happens?

we live in NY, where we round gravity to 10 on the state senior physics test so the math is easier

I've done that on tests even in college.


I think.

 

[jiffer]

Originally posted by: JTsyo
:music:
I've known a few guys who thought they were pretty smart
But you've got being right down to an art
You think you're a genius, you drive me up the wall
You're a regular original, a "knowitall"

Ohwooh, you think you're special
Ohwooh, you think you're something else

Ok, so you're a rocket scientist...

That don't impress me much!
So you got the brains, but have you got the touch?
(Now) Don't get me wrong, yeah I think you're alright
But that won't keep me warm in the middle of the night
That don't impress me much!:music:

LOL