Do you use your fingers to count?

simonsays1

Hi,

Generally I do sums 0-100(0) mentally. That's grand (mostly).
Sometimes at random moments, I'll use my fingers for some seriously obvious sums. (0-10)
This seldom occurs and when it does, it is in privacy of my kitchen in a trance-y way for e.g when I'm baking bread or buns. I think it might be a comfort thing or possibly because I was taught that way as a child and it has stuck. I know the answer but I am doing it anyway.

During a general discussion about it, one person actually said 'You're a teacher, you shouldn't have to do that!!' '(My thought were 'WOW! Our brains work in mysterious ways!')

I do not do it in school as I know it's encouraged to wean the students off the habit/tool and I appreciate the importance of mental maths development.
I do realise what an influential role model I am.

But as well as that, I use my fingers for counting out the months Jan/Feb/Mar/April etc (among other things) to find out the numerical order for filling out forms.

Q Do people automatically know the numerical order off the top of their heads???

My trainer looked at me in a funny way when I counted out the months I was training with him. (V quickly using my thumb to count out the other fingers)
Along with that he made a smart comment but quickly regretted it probably because he saw the hurt/confusion on my face.
I never had an issue with this before and I always accepted that brains operate differently. I'm only human.
The responses made me feel like a fool.

Any thoughts would be appreciated?

Thanks,

S

MadsL

Only if simonsays...

Frosty McSnowballs

Yep, all 12 of them.

.....take a number ladies.

simonsays1

Ha......................thanks for the giggle!

MADs
not Senor Fancy Pants

Frosty McSnowballs

simonsays1 wrote: »

Ha......................thanks for the giggle!

MADs
not Senor Fancy Pants

Yeah well so is your face!

jmcgirl

Sometimes I do, if I'm counting exercises or something monotonous I'll use my fingers so I don't lose track as easily. I have a habit of using the binary method though (counts to 31 on one hand, 1024 with two), but I can't read the binary method, so I have to shake the hand out and start again.

I would look ridiculous if anyone seen me

Peregrine

Sometimes I do..I don't know why or when but I'm immediately aware of it when I do it and try to pass it off as normal.

KeithM89

I cant count past 2 since the accident.

Wacker The Attacker

I use numbers

peewee_44

I use my fingers to press the buttons on my calculator.

The Backwards Man

I use my willy.

BillyMitchel

Your name should be SimpleSimon. :P

Lando Griffin

Your probably counting the hours of paid supervision you do with one hand and the total months you have holidays with the other.

canadianwoman

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I use my willy.

Just banging it on the table as you're counting outloud eh?

Victor

jmcgirl wrote: »

I have a habit of using the binary method though (counts to 31 on one hand, 1024 with two), but I can't read the binary method, so I have to shake the hand out and start again.

Pfff!!! Noob!

Go the full hog and use your toes as well and you can go to 1048575.

Peregrine

Lando Griffin wrote: »

Your probably counting the hours of paid supervision you do with one hand and the total months you have holidays with the other.

Can we not have a thread involving a teacher without bringing their salary and holidays into it?

MadsL

Keith wrote: »

I cant count past 2 since the accident.

How long ago was that Keith?

Keith: Errm...two months. It's always been two months.

spank_inferno

Next question:

Can you read without moving your lips?

If not.... God help you.

131spanner

I don't do it often but some times it can be.... handy.

Ba-dum-tsss

Frito

Only upto 8.

biko

I do aye, just a habit from childhood I suppose.

Elbaston

I can count to potato.

Turpentine

Keith wrote: »

I cant count past 2 since the accident.

Was it a number 2?

pajor

'Please enter the 9th character of your password.'

Gotta use my fingers to count those little buggers out.

salacious crumb

pajor wrote: »

'Please enter the 9th character of your password.'

Gotta use my fingers to count those little buggers out.

Indeed, that's the only occassion I need to use my fingers to count :pac:

FizzleSticks

This post has been deleted.

pickarooney

I use them as placeholders if I have to switch back and forth between reading something and counting off incrementally.

Did you ever notice how people in different countries count differently on their fingers? Some start with the index, some with the thumb and others with the little finger.

Legs.Eleven

I do yeah. Like a big spa.

Menas

No, I am good at them numbers. Can do a suduko without writing in the boxes.

Meanaspie

If I'm doing Maths no and it drives me crazy when people do especially for small addition or subtraction (though being an accountant I'm pretty good with numbers)

But I do occasionally do it if I'm listing off x number of things, so as to keep track of how many I've listed

jmcgirl

I tried that, the toes aren't so flexible, yano yerself. I copped how to count my fingers a few minutes after posting

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

http://lifehacker.com/5942037/quickly-multiply-single+digit-numbers-with-your-hands

you can also use your fingers to do multiplication

there's a better way that works for double digit numbers too irrc, but i cant remember it and i only saw it in a book that I can't be bothered reading again to find out for you

marshbaboon

I always count with my fingers, but only because I'm a massive retard.

Also maths is hard!