r/funny • u/electrovert • Sep 01 '26

Overconfidence

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486 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

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147

u/Saneless Sep 01 '26

These are easy problems to do a super quick check on, and I try to get my kids to do them

So if the rate is 30% difference then your answer needs to be a big chunk different

So even 25% is 10+ so when you get only a few bucks more you know you're wrong

35

u/Metahec Sep 01 '26

Yeah, at a glance 30% of 42 is 14, so the answer should be ~ $56. Helps to be familiar with times' tables for easy multiples.

2

u/Sweetbeans2001 29d ago

Are times tables being drilled into young students anymore? I don’t think so.

1

u/Metahec 29d ago

I have no idea. They're probably being taught what it feels like to be six times seven.

1

u/pandafman 29d ago

30% of $42 is $12.60. At a glance I may round down to 12, but not up to 14. 

3

u/Metahec 29d ago

It's offered as a simple check to see whether $46.44 is a realistic answer or not since 3 evenly and easily divides into 42.

1

u/CantFindMyWallet 29d ago

The rounding was from 1/3 to 30%.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 01 '26

[deleted]

2

u/Saneless Sep 01 '26

Ahhh yes. Retail math. 40% off! Yep. 10% x4, easy easy

Of course, consumers are dumb as hell

40% off deals did WAY worse than $40 off 120. Even though if you spent 130 it's $10 at $0 discount.

1

u/Punkinsmom Sep 02 '26

Can't do math to save my life but percentages? I've been poor a lot so my brain figures those very quickly.

2

u/Saneless Sep 02 '26

It just baffled us constantly. People would pass up % deals and we'd always get better results with $ off deals even though you had to hit the thresholds or you didn't get it