[Poll] Do you remember how to do long division and multiplication?

[TitanDiddly]

With calculators and computers so handy these days, many people haven't done long division or multiplying by hand in years. So find out- Do you remember how to do either or both? Take out a piece of paper (notepad isn't good enough) and see if you can do these by hand, without looking up the method:


8945 divided by 23 (get a decimal answer, not a remainder)

942 multiplied by 482

Now check your answers with Google/calc.exe/TI-89. Are you right?

PLEASE don't vote without actually testing yourself!

Here's instructions on multiplication: http://www.webmath.com/k8ipmult.html

and division: http://www.webmath.com/divide.html

 

[FoBoT]

when your kids ask you for help with homework, it refreshes that stuff in your head

 

[yllus]

Multiplication is a cinch, but I can't do long division anymore because I don't remember the steps.

 

[hypn0tik]

19-25 and I can do both long division and multiplication manually.

 

[Aharami]

26 and I can do both

 

[2Xtreme21]

Well I did the division one to the 7th decimal place (one longer than google calc does) and then gave up because it doesn't terminate.

The multiplication one took me about 1/10th as long and got it first try.

 

[TitanDiddly]

Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21
Well I did the division one to the 7th decimal place (one longer than google calc does) and then gave up because it doesn't terminate.

The multiplication one took me about 1/10th as long and got it first try.

Yeah.. I made this poll because the other day I realized I didn't know how to do long division, so the numbers are just random, though I tried them in google calc just to make sure they didn't come out to something too easy.

 

[Crono]

Even excluding calculus and other math classes I've taken recently, I often do manual calculation. Only if I'm front of a computer do I get lazy, since I keep Calculator on the start menu's "Recent Programs". Excel (actually, OpenOffice Calc) makes me even lazier, since I often only enter one calculation and let the program guess along a column or row

It seems each generation gets less exposure to manual methods, and more exposure to calculators and computers, and at a younger age. In middle school for me graphing calculators were optional, and usually kids only got them to play games in class.

 

[Anubis]

26, i can do multiplication on paper just fine

cant do long division to save my life

i majored in physics in college and work as an engineer,

 

[Dacalo]

Can do both, I am 28.

Child's play

 

[herm0016]

when my ti-89 goes dead during an exam the prof does not care. i do it all long hand. ( like i did yesterday! )

 

[Pugnax]

Wow I almost got worried there with the division one, but I got it Multiplication one is cake.

 

[SmoochyTX]

I am 26+ and I can do long division and multiplication manually.

 

[Aikouka]

I can do both. At first I started the method of writing out long division incorrectly (but the math process was still right, so I got the right answer). When writing out this reply, I remembered the proper way to write it out (funny how easy it is when you remember the division line thing that looks like a step ).

Multiplication is easy as pie.

Oh and I've found that as computer literate people, most tend to make mistakes on mental simple math like addition or subtraction.

EDIT: I'm 23.

 

[trmiv]

I'm 32. I can do the multiplication, but I can't remember how to do the division. I sucked at math in school anyway, so I'm not surprised.

 

[hiromizu]

..I forgot HOW to do it. 28.

 

[SpunkyJones]

I'm a old fart at 42, and I was able to do both, though it was a minor struggle with the division, its been a long. long time since I've done that.

 

[AmpedSilence]

cake for the actual method of doing it, but it appears the i have forgotten how to add and subtract. I might have been that i did that in my head without righting it down, though.

 

[Jeff7]

I get: 388.913 for the first one.
454044 for the second.

Yay. I'm sure one of my elementary or middle school teachers would be so proud.

(25 years old)

 

[skace]

I think I'm supposed to divide part of something with part of something else.

Edit: I used to be really good at math.

 

[PrinceofWands]

I'm 35 and tend to help others with their math...from basic arithmetic stuff up through calc.

 

[WisMan]

I can do both! I am a math wiz... woohoo

 

[blackdogdeek]

37
can do both

 

[purbeast0]

I am 26+, and I can do both long division and multiplication manually.

And no I didn't actually do them but I know HOW to do them which is all that matters.

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
when your kids ask you for help with homework, it refreshes that stuff in your head