Hardly Anyone Remembers How to do Fractions

[pocaracas]

I'm clearly not in the majority, as I can work out those fractions in my head, but for the multiplication I need pen and paper (or a calculator).
But... Working in programming for nuclear fusion diagnostics... I'm also not your average candidate.

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1/4 + 1/3 = 3/12 + 4/12 = (3+4)/12 = 7/12
1/4 * 1/3 = 1/12
132*64 = 8448

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I think the problem isn't what teachers teach.
The problem is the attitude towards maths displayed by most students, passed on from generation to generation, coming from the realization that, for the most part, calculus is a skill that is not necessary in the real world.
Also, no practice leads people to forget how to do things.