Innumeracy
The national bestseller book, Innumeracy, written by John Allen Paulos illustrates the significance of math within society as well as the consequences society faces when individuals are innumerate. Paulos depicted details in which mathematical illiteracy has severe detrimental consequences in society, particularly in one individual’s life. In order for society to understand and respect the role math has in society, Paulos provides details for his readers in a sarcastic and playful tone. There are four critical areas of life where numerate people have an advantage over innumerate people, which are in the work, their social life, financially, and finally, their personal life.
Society is continuously placed into jobs that require a minimal math skill level in order to be successful, however it is not common to encounter an individual whom is the cashier and is unable to add even the simplest figures. Sure the cash register is computing all the work for them; unfortunately technology is not always reliable. If the cash registers were to fail, then the employee must compute the math on their own. A prime example of this situation occurring is constantly in the restaurant industry. Once the computers fail, the servers are responsible for adding the cost of food, drinks, as well as calculating the amount of tax for that particular receipt. Another example which happens frequently, is when the employee punches in the wrong amount into the cash register. When this occurs, the employee must quickly calculate the amount of change needed to give back to the customer, because the cash register does not recognize that the employee has just made a mistake. If one is innumerate, the accuracy as well as the efficiency of the line will be directly affected, and the business could suffer for it.
Another relatively easy math procedure that is taught at a fairly young age is area. It has been a constant struggle for many adults when they are placed...