If you're weak at maths does that mean your thick?

fryup

Well does it?

i've heard it mentioned in conversations over the years

ohnonotgmail

I'm afraid so.

kerryked

how could da Vinci ever have painted that ceiling without knowing his 8 times tables?!?!

xabi

How many thick people do you know that are good at maths? Thought so, you have your answer.

Tefral

I've found that individuals with poor maths skills also have lower skills at deductive reasoning and I believe that's why people are called thick as a result.

BabyE

I don't know but our society overvalues maths because high aptitude at maths equals a high paying job

Winterlong

Depends on how you define thick. I can't spell for crap, have a terrible memory, bad pattern recognition - but am very good with numbers and logic.

If I worked in a newspaper they would think I was as thick as old porridge.
But if I work with numbers I do we very well.

Potatoeman

BabyE wrote: »

I don't know but our society overvalues maths because high aptitude at maths equals a high paying job

Do you not think it adds up?

Lu Tze

BabyE wrote: »

I don't know but our society overvalues maths because high aptitude at maths equals a high paying job

Those with low mathematical aptitude are happy, as they don't realise they are not in a high paid job.

Denis O'Brien failed leaving cert maths. Then he repeated the Leaving and failed maths again. Is he thick? Or in a low-paid job? He sure isn't.
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/the-man-who-makes-millionaires-26126345.html

Mathematical ability is a great skill to have. Some people don't have it, but a lot of people just don't have the confidence to engage, because this stigma exists.

I was blessed with having a very good maths teacher for the leaving cert, who had done pass maths for her leaving cert. She studied computer science in University, and then discovered a love for mathematics. She was evangelical about mathematics, I developed a love for maths because of her and it shaped my career. Half the students in a class of 12 Higher level students got an A grade.

A good maths teacher is a blessing, a bad teacher can probably wreck your confidence for life.

kerryked

Potatoeman wrote: »

Do you not think it adds up?

He clearly can't count :rolleyes:

xabi

I can do long division so good a math, but my england and gramar are way way gooder than mats, where do i fit in?

megaten

fryup wrote: »

Well does it?

i've heard it mentioned in conversations over the years

I dunno? It's hard to say. I was great at math's in school but I think I was just good at how math's was taught. A lot of it comes down to filling in the blanks of different formulas which I don't think takes a huge amount of intelligence.
I'm hopeless at applying maths to practical situations.

hatrickpatrick

I'm generally more likely to use knowing the difference between your and you're as a barometer of thickness :pac:

ohnonotgmail

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Denis O'Brien failed leaving cert maths. Then he repeated the Leaving and failed maths again. Is he thick? Or in a low-paid job? He sure isn't.
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/the-man-who-makes-millionaires-26126345.html

Mathematical ability is a great skill to have. Some people don't have it, but a lot of people just don't have the confidence to engage, because this stigma exists.

I was blessed with having a very good maths teacher for the leaving cert, who had done pass maths for her leaving cert. She studied computer science in University, and then discovered a love for mathematics. She was evangelical about mathematics, I developed a love for maths because of her and it shaped my career. Half the students in a class of 12 Higher level students got an A grade.

A good maths teacher is a blessing, a bad teacher can probably wreck your confidence for life.

his envelope stuffing skills more than compensate for any deficiency in his maths skills.

BabyE

The hard thing about maths is its so hard to know where to start to improve yourself. I did an Economics degree but avoided most of the maths based modules, bar the ones that were compulsory. I did foundation for the LC so how the **** I even got those exams I don't know. But yeah with a language you easily know the steps needed to become good at it, but with maths there isn't or doesn't seem to be a logical sequence to build upon, except for what the school system does, but the problem is with maths, all it takes is to miss a concept early on and then you will be forever stifled.

kerryked

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Denis O'Brien failed leaving cert maths. Then he repeated the Leaving and failed maths again. Is he thick? Or in a low-paid job? He sure isn't.
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/the-man-who-makes-millionaires-26126345.html

Mathematical ability is a great skill to have. Some people don't have it, but a lot of people just don't have the confidence to engage, because this stigma exists.

I was blessed with having a very good maths teacher for the leaving cert, who had done pass maths for her leaving cert. She studied computer science in University, and then discovered a love for mathematics. She was evangelical about mathematics, I developed a love for maths because of her and it shaped my career. Half the students in a class of 12 Higher level students got an A grade.

A good maths teacher is a blessing, a bad teacher can probably wreck your confidence for life.

Ah yes but...

Mr. CooL ICE

I'm great at maths but thick as sh1t. Your theories are invalid.

kerryked

kerryked wrote: »

Ah yes but...

Yeah but O'Brien failed Ordinary Level maths twice, not Math 55 at Harvard.

BabyE wrote: »

I did an Economics degree but avoided most of the maths based modules, bar the ones that were compulsory. I did foundation for the LC

Jaysus, that was brave. Even getting through the most rudimentary econometrics module with foundation maths must have been a challenge, well done for sticking with it.

redbel05

It would be more accurate to say that people with a high aptitude for maths are not thick.

Being strong at maths (which is quite a broad subject area btw) is just another skill that comes easily to some and harder to others, but I believe the majority of people can make good progress with it, given the right teacher and lots of practice. A bit like most things in life tbh.

That being said, you would want to have a good reason not to be able to do basic adding and subtracting without a calculator.

failinis

I have dyscalculia, assumed to be from being born very premature.
I was made to feel like a stupid **** all the way through education which severely impacted my self esteem.
It is certainly a common judgement that it makes you thick, but I feel people will find another area to excel in, for me it is art and english.
If you have a monkey and a fish and the test is to climb a tree, thats how it is.

Not at all.

Dyscalculia (dyslexia with Math) is an actual thing.

I struggle with the very basic of Maths sometimes. Always struggled with it in school and college and normally barely passed.

BabyE

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Yeah but O'Brien failed Ordinary Level maths twice, not Math 55 at Harvard.

Jaysus, that was brave. Even getting through the most rudimentary econometrics module with foundation maths must have been a challenge, well done for sticking with it.

Boy it was a struggle, I only did 'well' relatively speaking in one, a Microeconomics 2 module which I got a C- in, the rest were scraping by but it is what it is.

As you say the base I was coming in with made most of the econometics modules a real challenge, and my skills or lack of that make maths hard for me, made Statistics so so difficult, even though I 'understood'the concepts and studied, it just was so hard, but then something clicked and I got like a C plus in it, third time of asking haah.

kfallon

Can I have one from the Top please Carol and any other 5 please!

5rtytry56

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

I'm afraid so.

@ fryup : if you can't "add it up" then why not try "join the dots". going into the children's book section of Easons should help: look for one of these books where you "join the dots": such puzzles are also common in the childrens comics - look for peppa pig. good luck OP..:):)

ohnonotgmail

5rtytry56 wrote: »

@ fryup : if you can't "add it up" then why not try "join the dots". going into the children's book section of Easons should help: look for one of these books where you "join the dots": such puzzles are also common in the childrens comics - look for peppa pig. good luck OP..:):)

what has your little rant have to do with my post?

HensVassal

Potatoeman wrote: »

Do you not think it adds up?

Go figure.

Jawgap

kerryked wrote: »

how could da Vinci ever have painted that ceiling without knowing his 8 times tables?!?!

.....not sure if this is serious or not?

....is mathematical inability linked to deficiencies in appreciating history

kerryked

Jawgap wrote: »

.....not sure if this is serious or not?

....is mathematical inability linked to deficiencies in appreciating history

Thoie

Dyscalculia, dyslexia and the occasional typo aside, I don't expect everyone to be able to do differential calculus, or write novels. If you leave school without the following skills I'll think you're of below average intelligence:

• Realise that if it takes 3 people 3 hours to paint a wall, it won't take 6 people 6 hours to paint the same wall.
• Understand that "could of" is incorrect.
• Be aware of common homophones, and use the correct word in the correct place.
• Figure out how to adapt a recipe that serves 4 people to cater for a different number of diners.
• Work out how many tins of paint you'll need if that wall is 10m x 5m, and a tin of paint covers 30 square meters.
• Be able to check if you were given the correct change in a shop.
• If I say I'll meet you back here in an hour, that you can work out when that will be.

failinis

Jawgap wrote: »

.....not sure if this is serious or not?

....is mathematical inability linked to deficiencies in appreciating history

It's not about appreciating history, it is saying does an artist need maths to be able to paint - no.

However Da Vinci is a bad example as he excelled in many fields including maths
The whole Renaissance included introducing these "rules" of math to art

Course you can argue there are many examples of maths in arts, but not in terms that would help in a math exam!

bmwguy

Da Vinci along with being a famous artist was also a very accomplished engineer and mathematician in case anyone just thought he was a ceiling painter.

Designed things that were centuries ahead of their time, like a helicopter.

Didn't go into production for obvious reasons but he thought of the concepts

Jawgap

kerryked wrote: »

......I assume you know it was Michelangelo that did the ceiling - at the time daVinci was in Florence and Milan.

Claw Hammer

Thoie wrote: »

[*]If I say I'll meet you back here in an hour, that you can work out when that will be.
[/LIST]

If that is the case all Irish people are thick. As sean Lemass said, the man who is on time in Ireland wastes an awful lot of it.

OldGoat

2 out of 4 times the ratios of the probabilities of statistics are totally inappropriate by a margin of .6 which infers inferior maths skills.
QED

Jawgap

failinis wrote: »

It's not about appreciating history, it is saying does an artist need maths to be able to paint - no.

However Da Vinci is a bad example as he excelled in many fields including maths
The whole Renaissance included introducing these "rules" of math to art

Course you can argue there are many examples of maths in arts, but not in terms that would help in a math exam!

No, it's saying I don't know the difference between renaissance artists and turtles

As for artists not needing maths.....

Michelangelo likely used mathematics when painting the Creation of Adam

Also in his work as an architect wouldn't Michelangelo have had to understand maths? Pretty difficult to make a building stand up if you don't.....

kerryked

Jawgap wrote: »

......I assume you know it was Michelangelo that did the ceiling - at the time daVinci was in Florence and Milan.

Thread title asks if youre not good at maths does it mean youre thick, well we've just proven that you don't have to be bad at maths to still be thick.

Congratulations you win. :pac:

BabyE

Claw Hammer wrote: »

If that is the case all Irish people are thick. As sean Lemass said, the man who is on time in Ireland wastes an awful lot of it.

Apparently in France it is rude to be on time, so if you say you will be there at 6 you should probably arrive a little later. Probably bull**** but it's what I've heard.

SEPT 23 1989

Einstein was unable to tie his own shoe laces

Thoie

Claw Hammer wrote: »

If that is the case all Irish people are thick. As sean Lemass said, the man who is on time in Ireland wastes an awful lot of it.

BabyE wrote: »

Apparently in France it is rude to be on time, so if you say you will be there at 6 you should probably arrive a little later. Probably bull**** but it's what I've heard.

It doesn't mean you'll actually be there at that time, but at least you should be able to work out exactly how late you are

Steve F

fryup wrote: »

Well does it?

i've heard it mentioned in conversations over the years

Life is for living OP not thinking about stuff like this.;)

You'll come to realize that as you get older

We've learned how to make a living but not a life

I have yet to hear of someone on their death bed say they regretted not being better at Maths,earning more money,or spending more time working.

Live for today!

failinis

Jawgap wrote: »

As for artists not needing maths.....

Did I say they never used maths?
I said it is possible to not understand maths and still be able to create, but many, including Da Vinci (or Mic) were involved in a movement that was all about introducing mathematic formula's to art.
I can barely do any basic maths, yet I understand the rules of art.

Keane2baMused

My son (7) who has autism struggles with maths.

Ask him what 2+7 = and he gives you a blank look.

Ask him what day of the week a given date falls on and he can tell you in 2 seconds flat.

Smart is relative as is thick!

Claw Hammer

failinis wrote: »

Did I say they never used maths?
I said it is possible to not understand maths and still be able to create, but many, including Da Vinci (or Mic) were involved in a movement that was all about introducing mathematic formula's to art.
I can barely do any basic maths, yet I understand the rules of art.

Could you calculate a price for the job of painting the ceiling?
Could you calculate how much paint would be required?
Could you calculate the price of the paint?
Could you calculate how long the job will take?

Dravokivich

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

Einstein was unable to tie his own shoe laces

But sure he could of looked it up in a book anytime he needed find out how.

Jawgap

failinis wrote: »

Did I say they never used maths?
I said it is possible to not understand maths and still be able to create, but many, including Da Vinci (or Mic) were involved in a movement that was all about introducing mathematic formula's to art.
I can barely do any basic maths, yet I understand the rules of art.

Intuitively I don't don't doubt that you do, but not understanding maths probably closes off an even deeper appreciation again......

Why the history of maths is also the history of art

Yet many artworks also express the mathematics and technology of their times. To research Math and Art I had to learn maths concepts like calculus, group theory and predicate logic. As a novice struggling to understand these ideas, I was struck with the poor quality and confusing content of illustrations in most educational books. So I vowed to create for my book a set of cogent math diagrams that are crystal-clear visualizations of the abstract concepts.

In answer to the OP's question, I'd say not understanding maths doesn't mean someone is thick - it probably means that they didn't have a good enough teacher, plus the maths syllabus in Ireland is not exactly grippingly imaginative!

Claw Hammer

Dravokivich wrote: »

But sure he could of looked it up in a book anytime he needed find out how.

What book? I have never seen any book with a set of instructions on how to tie shoe laces. In any case I know a man who can't tie his own shoe laces. reason- he always wears slip-ons and has no shoes with eyelets.

The Backwards Man

I have big problems with clockwise and anticlockwise. Not ideal for someone who spends half their day screwing.

failinis

Claw Hammer wrote: »

Could you calculate a price for the job of painting the ceiling?
Could you calculate how much paint would be required?
Could you calculate the price of the paint?
Could you calculate how long the job will take?

I would need to sit down with a calculator and pencil/paper to work out any of that - but within 15mins I could work out all the above, just not mentally as that is how dyscalculia effects me.

Jawgap wrote: »

Intuitively I don't don't doubt that you do, but not understanding maths probably closes off an even deeper appreciation again......

Why the history of maths is also the history of art

Well that is amazing as I have studied art history for a year and also an artist, but not being able to multiply must mean I am totally blind to appreciating it at all :pac:

fergal.b

failinis wrote: »

I have dyscalculia, assumed to be from being born very premature.
I was made to feel like a stupid **** all the way through education which severely impacted my self esteem.
It is certainly a common judgement that it makes you thick, but I feel people will find another area to excel in, for me it is art and english.
If you have a monkey and a fish and the test is to climb a tree, thats how it is.

Same here I still can't do my tables as they just come out a mixed up mess even though they were drummed into me all my school life, however I can build just about anything from an engine to a house and know how most things work just by looking at them so I don't think that if you are weak at maths you are thick you are just better at something else that someone who is good at maths is crap at.:)




.

Claw Hammer

failinis wrote: »

I would need to sit down with a calculator and pencil/paper to work out any of that - but within 15mins I could work out all the above, just not mentally as that is how dyscalculia effects me.



Well that is amazing as I have studied art history for a year and also an artist, but not being able to multiply must mean I am totally blind to appreciating it at all :pac:

How do you know it would take you 15 minutes to work it out?