KTC, I know you think the country is going the right direction and you think the schools are doing a great job. After all the classes are small and the teachers are all teaching the right stuff. High school kids are good are reading, writing and math, right? The next time you are around a high school kid that you know, ask him this simple math question. Tell him he cannot use a calculator, computer, or even a pencil and paper. It is so easy it can be done in your head. Question:
If you are in a store and you want to buy three items that cost $1.98 each, how much will the three cost, before taxes?
FYI, most young store clerks today can not come up with the answer. I see it regularly. About a week ago I was waiting in line behind a lady who was buying a $15 item that was 30% off. She could not figure it out and called over two asst. mgrs. I told the guy with the lady that it should be $10.50. After about ten minutes the three came up with a price of $10.49. Of course, they had a calculator. The guy looked at me and said “that was what you said it would be“. I learned simple algebra my freshman year in a class of about 30 students and one teacher. But then, she was A TEACHER.
Have you had the computer figure out the answer to the question or did you use a calculator?
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