Are You Good With Numbers? Can You Do Sums In Your Head?
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
November 28, 2011 6:42pm CST
I can't!
We're all good at something aren't we? Unfortunately, I'm not very good at ANYTHING with numbers in such as the times tables (which I dreaded having to learn at school), algebra (ditto), or sodding fractions, long-division and binary numbers!
However, I would say that most jobs I've had in my life have involved numerical calculations such as working out VAT on invoices, that type of thing..but don't ask me to do it now as I haven't got a clue! I have also used electronic databases where I have inputted numbers for one reason or another, using the keypad on the right-hand side, don't you know!
What I'm trying to say is; maybe learning anything regarding numbers in a job (where you get paid, therefore you pay more attention) is preferable than trying to learn maths in a negative environment where the teacher is only interested in the brightest kids. Do you know what I mean?
I once went out with a guy that could add up food items in the trolley (in his head) and when the cashier was adding them up on a machine he would shout out the total well before the cashier did.
Clever git!
We're all good at something aren't we? Unfortunately, I'm not very good at ANYTHING with numbers in such as the times tables (which I dreaded having to learn at school), algebra (ditto), or sodding fractions, long-division and binary numbers!
However, I would say that most jobs I've had in my life have involved numerical calculations such as working out VAT on invoices, that type of thing..but don't ask me to do it now as I haven't got a clue! I have also used electronic databases where I have inputted numbers for one reason or another, using the keypad on the right-hand side, don't you know!
What I'm trying to say is; maybe learning anything regarding numbers in a job (where you get paid, therefore you pay more attention) is preferable than trying to learn maths in a negative environment where the teacher is only interested in the brightest kids. Do you know what I mean?
I once went out with a guy that could add up food items in the trolley (in his head) and when the cashier was adding them up on a machine he would shout out the total well before the cashier did.
Clever git!7 people like this
29 responses
@bounce58 (17385)
• Canada
8 Dec 11
I actually am good with numbers (I think
)!
I do mental gymnastics almost everyday. Not only with money when I'm shopping (and accounting for tax), but also with time (I like counting down how many seconds left I have to stay at work, before I could go home).
I remember having contests in class when I was in the third grade, on how good we were with the times-table. Maybe that's why I became good at it.
)!
I do mental gymnastics almost everyday. Not only with money when I'm shopping (and accounting for tax), but also with time (I like counting down how many seconds left I have to stay at work, before I could go home).
I remember having contests in class when I was in the third grade, on how good we were with the times-table. Maybe that's why I became good at it.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
8 Dec 11
Counting down time is good, especially before you go home. How satisfying is that?
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
6 Dec 11
I reckon if we'd been told by the teacher what complicated sums are used FOR I'd be more into it. I know binary numbers have something to do with computing, for example. I bet I'd really like maths now but not at the time I was at school lol.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (161307)
• United States
29 Nov 11
I do okay with numbers, and did alright with them in school, once the curriculum changed and it made sense to me. When I worked in the schools one teacher said that if she could get kids to see numbers as money they could learn it much easier, because money was relevant. I had some teachers who enjoyed putting people down, and I did not do well with them. Hubby can figure out shopping lists very closely, even if he does not know the area tax. We have taxes of all kinds and they are different in different towns.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
29 Nov 11
Our biggest tax is VAT (Value Added Tax) which is calucated but included in the things we buy...some things are exempt but not a lot.
If we stopped to think about how much tax is being deducted and going to the government, no-one would buy anything. It currently stands at 20% but Labour had it at 15% for a while..and I wish the Tories would do the same. It would encourage more spending, I'm sure of that.
1 person likes this
@derek_a (10873)
•
29 Nov 11
This is interesting Janey, because when I was a kid, I used to add up long lists of numbers in my head. That was in the old sterling money too! Giving away my age here... It wasn't all in units of 10 because there were 12 pennies in the shilling and 20 in the pound, so you had to add up the pences to make shilling and if you went over 20 shilling they became pounds, but I did it. I worked for a relative helping out on a bread delivery round and had to add up people's bills in my head - you can hardly stand at the doorway with a book and pen working it out, especially in the rain! Anyway, at first I was terrible at it, but the more I did it, the more skilled I became. Like a family may want a large loaf of bread for 1 shilling and 11 pence, a small loaf for 9 pence-halfpenny and a bag of assorted cakes all costing various sums.. I was actually doing it without hesitating after a while and maths had been one of my worst subjects in school.. It's a question of use it or lose it I guess. _Derek
_Derek@derek_a (10873)
•
30 Nov 11
Yes, I can still add up pounds, shilling and pence in my head. It was a bit awkward when decimalisation came in, but I soon got the hang of it. I guess in those days, I didn't have a choice other than to learn about it. I was between contracts in my work as a musician, so took a job as a sales rep. I had to go around shops and businesses getting orders from them and writing out invoices meant I had to do it first with retail prices and then put the wholesle discount at the bottom that was in percentages (usually about 12%, if I remember correctly. I did this work in pounds shilling and pence and then (I think it was 1970), decimalisation came in. At first it took me a bit longer to get round my customers, but then I found the decimal system made my calculations much faster. 
_Derek
_Derek@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
29 Nov 11
How are you with the good old pounds, shillings and pence? Mum hated it when we went decimal, was it in 1971 or thereabouts?
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
29 Nov 11
Hiya Janey,
Alas Janey not goog with numbers at least I never was in School but I can take my Shopping round in my head and calculate it almost to the cent sorry no British Pounds here wish there was.
I get it almost right everytime but I never shout it out I never liked being in the limelight but yes he is a clever guy if he can do that but then maybe he can´t do other things that other People can do we all have our talents just waiting to come out somewhere along the line.
You are funny anything to do with divisions or decimals would make my head go round and Algebra extremely boring.
There were lots of Geniuses in our Class and I was not one of them lol. I was clever at other things like talking a lot laugh.xxx
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
30 Nov 11
Hiya Janey,
That is really awful what they did to her I would never do that to anyone you cannot change People overnight that way and they have to love what they are doing as well.
So hard cheese to her Mom if she did not make it. I hope she did make it so her Mom would leave her alone.
I also know someone that pushed their Kids much too far in their Studies and Results she always looked ill and pasty to me not enough fresh air and exercise always in the School to push forever upward I just do not believe in that never ever.
None of mine made it anywhere special now is the time when they are studying or learning something because they want to and not with anyone forcing them to do that. Really feel for the poor Girl.xxx
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
29 Nov 11
I wasn't a genius either but I felt sorry for those who had pushy parents. One of my friends was MADE to take her exams again because her mother wasn't happy with her grades..and she failed them again..so she was made to take them a third time.
Unbelievable!
@changjiangzhibin89 (16810)
• China
29 Nov 11
I may well say I was good at maths when I was a middle school student.Maybe the teaching material in those days was easier than that today's student study.When it comes to mental arithmatic,I don't dare to talk big.But then, I have few chances to do that,as I hardly do shopping.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
29 Nov 11
When we went shopping at a large supermarket the other day I guessed what the amount would be of all the food items, etc, we got. I didn't do this by memorising how much it all was, just by the volume and type of things purchased. I was about £11 out but that's fine because John ended up paying less than I thought it would be, so it was a good result in the end.
@changjiangzhibin89 (16810)
• China
30 Nov 11
I think it is difficult to sum up so many items in your head.Why did you take a calculator with you? Are you afraid other people laugh at you?
@nishdan01 (3051)
• Singapore
5 Dec 11
I was not good at it. Later on, I made a genuine effort to count at shop before the cashier told me the total. It is another way to exercise the brain. It has benefits and with practice it can turn out to be a habit.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
6 Dec 11
I don't add the items up that are in the trolley. What I try to do is guess what the total is. Sometimes I'm only about £2 out which isn't bad at all.
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
29 Nov 11
Well, I managed to go through the math courses as young and studied math as an adult too as it was a part of the school I was in. It was more interesting when I was a bit elder and when I studied on distance and could concentrate at home. 
But I hope nobody asks me to do math now - especially with x and y etc..
The small calculators are a real blessing..
But I hope nobody asks me to do math now - especially with x and y etc..
The small calculators are a real blessing..@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
29 Nov 11
God yes, x and y, I'd forgotten about those..thankfully!
1 person likes this
@josephperera (2906)
• Sri Lanka
29 Nov 11
I just can't let this go without the following story.
There is a well known story about Karl Friedrich Gauss when he was in
elementary school. His teacher got mad at the class and told them to
add the numbers 1 to 100 and give him the answer by the end of the
class. About 30 seconds later Gauss gave him the answer.
The other kids were adding the numbers like this:
1 + 2 + 3 + . . . . + 99 + 100 = ?
But Gauss rearranged the numbers to add them like this:
(1 + 100) + (2 + 99) + (3 + 98) + . . . . + (50 + 51) = ?
If you notice every pair of numbers adds up to 101. There are 50
pairs of numbers, so the answer is 50*101 = 5050. Of course Gauss
came up with the answer about 20 times faster than the other kids.
@josephperera (2906)
• Sri Lanka
29 Nov 11
http://www.ted.com/talks/arthur_benjamin_does_mathemagic.html
Just check the above link and see how Arthur Benjamin does mathematics. When you exercise your brain neurons, they get toned to do work that they are used, just like an athlete gets his muscles developed by exercise. There are also techniques to do calculations easily.
For example how do we multiply a two digit number by 11. 18 x 11 = 198 (Just add the two digits and put it in the middle) (1+8 is 9) Put the 9 in the middle and we get 1(9)8 or 198.
Say we have to multiply 92x95. This is a long process, or is it? Just take 10000. Take the difference of the numbers to 100. 100-92=8 and 100-95=5. So the numbers we take are 8 and 5. Add them together its 13. Multiple them its 40. Add this second number to the latter part of 10000, and deduct the addition to the first half of 10000. It is 100-13 and 40, or finally 8740. Simple, isn't it.
@chipesterkhan (2925)
• Philippines
29 Nov 11
pretty much.
my mom made sure i was good at math.
my younger brother's much better at it though.
math is a perfect science and i love it.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
29 Nov 11
"Perfect Science" or in my case "Bloody nightmare" (only joking) and you're right, of course.
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
29 Nov 11
No I am not good with numbers in my head. I can do it in my head...but it is easy to lose track. I can add a column of numbers as long as I am able to write down the numbers at the bottom of the column.. but not to just keep the whole thing in my head.. give me a calculator~!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
29 Nov 11
Have you ever seen one of those scientific calculators? You need a degree to use them.
The basic ones are OK, well..sort of!
@thewonderboy (7501)
• India
5 Dec 11
I am not much good at maths but I do simple calculations like addition, subtractions in my mind itself. It is very difficult when the number of digit increases. If the number of digit fro addition and subtractions increases I used to have a calculator which helps us to get answers quickly.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
6 Dec 11
Yes, calculators are definitely beneficial in that instance.
@taura2p (349)
• Romania
29 Nov 11
I used to be good with numbers, too. It was in high school, when I practised maths quite a lot. But since I've gone to university and I specialised in other fields, I have forgotten a lot of maths. Just the lack of practice makes it hard for me to do simple exercises right now.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
29 Nov 11
I know what you mean. Thank goodness I was able to carry on with my typing, something I loved to do at school.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
29 Nov 11
Mum is good with dates as she had an extremely good History teacher so the dates stuck in her head. Even now she can rhyme off allsorts of important dates. Me?
No chance!
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
29 Nov 11
I think that you have something there. I can do sums quite quickly but at school maths was far and away my least favourite subject. Only by working with figures have they ever made any sense to me. I was "number blind", all that I saw was a series of numbers that were pretty much meaningless to me. I am actually quite ashamed of that fact. People almost boast about not being able yo do maths. But you never hear someone say that they cannot understand English - despite the fact that English grammar is not that well understood by many.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
29 Nov 11
You've only got to see the responses under a Sky News article to know that this country, especially, is in a bad way as no-one, it seems can string a sentence together and often they don't even start with a capital letter or have any full-stops and commas in there at all...and I bet you they got an A in that marvellous exam we call English Language GCSE, not my GCE "O" Level.
@elitess (5070)
• Ipswich, England
29 Nov 11
Hello Janey dear.
I must say I am rather good with numbers but what I do is use the simple forms for calculating various things.
Like if I have multiply 14 with 17 I will first multiply 17 with 10, then add 17 x 4 and thus get it somewhat faster :)
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
29 Nov 11
Does it? I'll take your word for it. Looks way complicated to me I'm afraid.
@Gram13000 (443)
• United States
29 Nov 11
I have been very good with numbers since childhood. I just enjoyed counting so i am good at it. I know what you mean about being more motivated by money though. I like math but I care a whole lot much for it when the numbers are actually going into my pocket. I know exactly what you mean.
@sijabatnaburjut (2171)
• Indonesia
29 Nov 11
I am so weak doing thing with numbers. I am not kind of people who have special ability to make conclusiosn with number. I didn't even know how to make financial report. I hate algebra, math and other thing that has to do with numbers. I never gave up liking those subject, but I think my brain volume is too small to get what they tried to teach me and I have a hard time to get them.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
29 Nov 11
Awww! At least you're brilliant with English and this is a great place to learn it even more.
@menzis00 (273)
•
29 Nov 11
I'm not anything special, I can sum some maybe harder numbers but other than that I'm pretty regular, nothing special. I have a friend that is great with summing up, we go out and when we're buying booze he automatically calculates it in his head to see how much will it cost us. He's great at that.
