yeah, they could simplify math by just teaching useful stuff like ratios (cooking), how to measure stuff (1/4 inch, 1/2 inch), percentages (credit cards and the lies they tell you when something is “on sale” in the stores – “what does buy one get one 1/2 off” REALLY mean) – … and most importantly:
Estimating. Most math in life is just estimating. REALLY ROUGH estimating.
Like money: If you have $17, tell yourself you have $15.
BUT the thing you’re buying is $7. Tell yourself it costs $10.
Round down what you have.
Round up when you need.
The truth is somewhere in there and if you get good at estimating quickly the right way, you always end up with a few extra dollars in your pocket.
THAT’S real world math. Not… that… oldfashioned language on the speed sign. I hate that ancient math language.