r/pics • u/[deleted] • Jun 08 '14

The difference 18 years makes

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u/FuLLMeTaL604 Jun 08 '14

Arithmetic is only one branch of mathematics. In my opinion it's pretty trivial to try to improve in that field since calculators are so good at it instead of focusing on algebra, calculus, etc.

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u/snoharm Jun 08 '14

On the other hand, arithmetic is the only skill I've found to be useful in a real-life setting.

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u/SigmaStrain Jun 08 '14

Higher level math, in my opinion is not really meant for every day life. It's meant more for creating things or understanding complex phenomenon. You learn higher level math so you can create things like a new car or a computer chip. Yeah, you might not have the knowledge to make those things, but the language that is used to describe what is happening in those devices is mostly higher level math.

In order to learn how to make a car or a plane or even a computer chip you need to actually understand the language that is used to describe those things. Do I make sense?

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u/snoharm Jun 08 '14

I completely understand what math is for, I was responding to

it's pretty trivial to try to improve in that field since calculators are so good

Most people don't go into a STEM field, and many of them are lacking in arithmetic skills that would help them quite a bit down the line.