# Math memes - is the bar really that low? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 4, 2023, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-memes-is-the-bar-really-that-low/977659 "2023-01-04T15:23:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2023, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-memes-is-the-bar-really-that-low/977659/21 "2023-01-06T14:12:39Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > Look, by second grade I had _already_ received all of my instruction in mental math. I remember struggling in my Electronics major because it required a lot of applied algebra. My 9th grade algebra skills already had 4 years of rust. I spent most of 1st semester staying up late studying. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2023, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-memes-is-the-bar-really-that-low/977659/22 "2023-01-06T14:13:21Z")
Agree w @Peter_Morris; I’ve always seen the phrase in the triangle with the point at the top. So if we pretend it’s really a 3D pyramid, it’s right side up. As to this: > [@Riemann](#): > > I always thought that you were supposed to write it in a pyramid. I’ll get **codinghorror** to work right away on triangular quote tags. Although given some folks’ quoting habits around here, elliptical quote tags might be more useful. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2023, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-memes-is-the-bar-really-that-low/977659/23 "2023-01-06T14:44:14Z")
Sadly, I’ve seen plenty of people, supposedly functional adults, whose math skills really are that poor. Usually, they’re the same people who are constantly complaining about how math is taught “these days”, and why can’t we keep on teaching it the way they learned it? ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2023, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-memes-is-the-bar-really-that-low/977659/24 "2023-01-06T15:13:34Z")
The second one is a slightly different trick, and plays on your snap thinking that 70 + 30 = 100, and 7 + 3 = 10. So of course, 77 + 33 = 100, right? Except that you’re not mentally carrying the ten when you do that- it’s actually 110, because 7 + 3 = 10, _plus_ 70 + 30 = 100, but if you didn’t think, you didn’t carry that 10. My approach when I see things like that is to assume they’re wrong, and then work it out, because I tend to fall into _exactly_ those sorts of mental shortcuts. And I’ve got something like 18-21 hours of collegiate math courses, and a degree in computer science, so I know how to do basic arithmetic and think about things in a logical and structured way. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2023, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-memes-is-the-bar-really-that-low/977659/25 "2023-01-06T15:36:03Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > But really. Doesn’t a pyramid normally have the “point” at the top? So if it was upside-down with the “point” at the bottom, wouldn’t that be an inverted pyramid? Right, but that’s why I was messing with you - you said… “an inverted pyramid… with the point at the top”. I agree that the point should be at the top, and that’s a normal pyramid. Unless you are a very ambitious Pharoah. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2023, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-memes-is-the-bar-really-that-low/977659/26 "2023-01-06T16:30:39Z")
I know a very smart radiologist. Nice guy. I don’t know why he felt compelled to answer “order of operations” questions that used to be on Facebook far too often. “97% of people got this answer wrong! Quick! What is 5 + 12 \* 2 ^ 3 - 8 “? Hint: I don’t care. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2023, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-memes-is-the-bar-really-that-low/977659/27 "2023-01-06T19:08:04Z")
There was the failure of the one-third pounder burger, because so many people didn’t understand that it’s actually _larger_ than a quarter pounder. > **[The Truth About A&W's Third-Pound Burger and the Major Math Mix-Up |...](https://awrestaurants.com/blog/aw-third-pound-burger-fractions)** > > By now you've probably heard the story: once upon a time, A&W Restaurants released a third-pound burger that failed to catch on thanks to a misunderstanding of fractions. Just how accurate is this tale of math mistakes and fraction flubs? Read on for... ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2023, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-memes-is-the-bar-really-that-low/977659/28 "2023-01-06T19:26:05Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > Hint: I don’t care. Clickbait is premised on your order of operations being (1) read the post (2) not care ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2023, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-memes-is-the-bar-really-that-low/977659/29 "2023-01-06T19:33:46Z")
I seek out online quizzes and math problems. I buy puzzle books. I’m trying hard to keep my cognitive skills. Use it or Lose it applies equally to muscles and your brain as people age. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2023, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-memes-is-the-bar-really-that-low/977659/30 "2023-01-06T21:28:11Z")
Sure. But this means choosing puzzles that are actually challenging and not elementary homework assignments. I hadn’t heard the story about burger fractions. You’re probably better off in most respects just calling things huuuuuuge. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-memes-is-the-bar-really-that-low/977659.md?page=1)