Help - embarrassed to ask !

blissfulbabe

Point taken about that different types of maths are needed by different people:)

Adult numeracy tends to focus on the maths most people use in their everyday lives with core requirements eg handling money, being able to multiply and divide, calculate percentages etc but most numeracy teachers are more than happy to go beyond the curriculum - last week I taught one of learners Pythagorus's theorum as he wanted to work out the measurements for a gate he is building.

On a more extreme note I have spent a week delivering basic numeracy to a group of service men - we ended up covering some advanced algebra, using logarithms, all aspects of trig (they created a great dance & song routine to help one of the group remember how to select and use the correct formula - twas quite a sight to see!) and some quite complex formula. That's the beauty of having small groups - you can adapt to what the learner needs rather than just follow a syllabus.

Incisor

blissfulbabe wrote: »

Point taken about that different types of maths are needed by different people:)

Adult numeracy tends to focus on the maths most people use in their everyday lives with core requirements eg handling money, being able to multiply and divide, calculate percentages etc but most numeracy teachers are more than happy to go beyond the curriculum - last week I taught one of learners Pythagorus's theorum as he wanted to work out the measurements for a gate he is building.

On a more extreme note I have spent a week delivering basic numeracy to a group of service men - we ended up covering some advanced algebra, using logarithms, all aspects of trig (they created a great dance & song routine to help one of the group remember how to select and use the correct formula - twas quite a sight to see!) and some quite complex formula. That's the beauty of having small groups - you can adapt to what the learner needs rather than just follow a syllabus.

That sounds like fun! Must have been to go from basic numeracy to trig in a week! But it's 'needs must', like with the guy's gate.

newnhak

In answer to the original question - if you are ever confused about which way the numbers should be put in the calculator then try with an easy sum first that you know the answer to

e.g 10% of 100 is 10
on calculator you can check - 100/10=10

so then you know

54677/10 will give you 10% of 54677


K

mikki-b

Like blissfulbabe, I've taught basic maths skills for 10 years. According to the basic skills agency half the population can't understand percentages (so those of you who have admitted you struggle too are not in the minority. I've taught people with degrees who can't cope with basic maths skills, are completely reliant on calculators etc. Most have made a real improvement as adults. I think I've heard just about every reason is the book why people haven't learnt these basic skills as kids. As someone who is dyslexic myself, I'm sure that some of it could well be dyscalculia, and as dyslexics respond better to some ways of teaching than others, the same is probably true for those who struggle with maths.
I remember some years ago, that one student I taught had always felt a bit thick at work becuase he didn't understand percentages. SO for a few weeks I helped him learn. Then a revelation, he realised that the people at work around him didn't actually understand them either, they were making it up and talking cobblers.

tsstss7

chipmunk wrote: »

I've never been good at maths (understatement of the year!) and my boss has just asked to me help out with some accounts tasks. :eek:
He wants me to work out percentages of some figures, i.e. 30% of £54,677. I said to him "I'm not very good with figures" but he replied "it's nothing too complicated, don't worry". Thing is, that is complicated for me.

Can some kind soul please help and tell me how to work this out on a calculator and please don't make fun of me, you can't be good at everything can you ?;)

simply put stick the figure you are dealing with (in this case 54677) into calculator and times by 0.3 to find 30% 1.3 to find your amount plus 30%

35% would be 0.35
50% would be 0.5 etc

hope this helps.

blissfulbabe

mikki-b wrote: »

Then a revelation, he realised that the people at work around him didn't actually understand them either, they were making it up and talking cobblers.

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

GT60

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

That's the way I work out VAT too

Where is this online petition i cannt find it to sign up?

~Chameleon~

niall24 wrote: »

Where is this online petition i cannt find it to sign up?

My apologies for not updating my sig as the actual petition is now closed ... http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Children-Dying/

However, the link in my sig is still valid whereby you can read the latest progress updates and find information on how to support the charity if you so wish

chipmunk

wildmandy wrote: »

Several have spoon-fed you and told you how. But to be honest, I am horrified that you don't know what a percentage is. Worse that you didn't even know how to "dummy" it by using a calculator.
Anyway, your boss must be a total idiot to ask you to work out what look like important figures, seeing you have zero idea. What a recipie for disaster!

Mandy

Wow, thanks for that confidence booster there.:(

By the way, where in my post did I say that I didn't know what a percentage was:mad:

Oh, and just for your information (not that I need to justify myself to you) working with figures is not normally part of my job, I was just being asked to help out whilst someone was off sick.

Sorry if I sound harsh and I don't meant to be rude....but I just had to get this off my chest.

You do and you are! You post was utterly pointless other than as a way to make you feel good about yourself while putting someone else down who has asked for help. Hope your chest's feeling much better (unlike me).

chipmunk

MrsE wrote: »

Well it seems their boss didn't know how to do it either.
As it would have been just as quick for the boss to do it, as ask someone to do it:rolleyes:

Actually my boss is good with figures. He gave me an order we had received and asked me to produce an invoice for 30% of its value. I didn't know how to do this and was too ashamed to ask him, hence my post here.