Hardly Anyone Remembers How to do Fractions

[Firefighter01]

I own a business where employees need to now how to work out fractions and long multiplication to do their job efficiently. Here are my questions that I placed in their interview exam to determine if they know basic maths: 
1. 1/4 + 1/3 =
2. 1/4 x 1/3 =
3. 132 x 64 =

Only about 3 applicants over dozens that have sat the exam have answered all questions correctly. Most of them got the last one right, but they used their mobile phones.  I originally thought that the questions were too easy, but apparently they are now redundant? I don't know why teachers today don't teach fractions so that their students are competent in their usage, or is it a case that they aren't considered important enough to warrant any special attention?

[robvalue]

Yeah, when I have taught before, a shocking number of adults have no idea how to do fractions. They were probably taught but paid no attention, or maybe just didn't receive the individual help they needed to understand it at the time. Maybe they just couldn't grasp it, some people find maths really hard.

Even still, what you describe is appalling. I taught GCSE maths not long ago and it was a big part of the syllabus. I highly doubt that had changed.

[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.

[Longhorn]

In the immortal words of the greatest math teacher ever to teach me, 'don't bother with that shit, you'll get it wrong and lose points on the final'

[zebo-the-fat]

40 years ago I could probably do them in my head... but it's a case of "use it or lose it" I think, now I have to sit down and think hard about it

[downbeatplumb]

I own a business where employees need to now how to work out fractions and long multiplication to do their job efficiently. Here are my questions that I placed in their interview exam to determine if they know basic maths: 
1. 1/4 + 1/3 =
2. 1/4 x 1/3 =
3. 132 x 64 =

Only about 3 applicants over dozens that have sat the exam have answered all questions correctly. Most of them got the last one right, but they used their mobile phones.  I originally thought that the questions were too easy, but apparently they are now redundant? I don't know why teachers today don't teach fractions so that their students are competent in their usage, or is it a case that they aren't considered important enough to warrant any special attention?

When you say "hardly anyone" can you suggest a way to describe how many?

[Firefighter01]

I own a business where employees need to now how to work out fractions and long multiplication to do their job efficiently. Here are my questions that I placed in their interview exam to determine if they know basic maths: 
1. 1/4 + 1/3 =
2. 1/4 x 1/3 =
3. 132 x 64 =

Only about 3 applicants over dozens that have sat the exam have answered all questions correctly. Most of them got the last one right, but they used their mobile phones.  I originally thought that the questions were too easy, but apparently they are now redundant? I don't know why teachers today don't teach fractions so that their students are competent in their usage, or is it a case that they aren't considered important enough to warrant any special attention?

When you say "hardly anyone" can you suggest a way to describe how many?

I'm only guessing, but I would say around 100 applicants. Try it yourself. It's surprising how many "educated" adults today don't know how to do simple maths without using Google.

[Chad32]

I remember hating math in highschool. Basic math is important. Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Anything higher just didn't interest me. Fractions, and percentages? I guess some jobs might need that stuff, but I just wasn't interested in any job that needed it. Screw algebra. Being a bit literal minded probably doesn't help.

[Firefighter01]

40 years ago I could probably do them in my head... but it's a case of "use it or lose it" I think, now I have to sit down and think hard about it

Yes, I reckon you would have remembered about how to work out fractions in a couple of reminder lessons.  Now all you have to do is Google the answers as in the solution I found on http://www.wikihow.com/Add-and-Multiply-Fractions

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

About 1/2 the time, I remember how to do 1/3 of fractions, and get about 7/10 of those right. But I do know that '132 x 64' doesn't involve fractions.

Boru