Most people are aware of America’s illiteracy problem, otherwise known as people’s inability to read or write. However, what they may not be aware of is a bigger problem called innumeracy. Innumeracy is a person’s inability to comprehend mathematical concepts and methods. According to a research study conducted by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics, “there are 55% more Americans who were unable to handle basic math than those that can’t handle basic word skills” (Sullivan, 2016).
In other words, in the United States, more people struggle with innumeracy than illiteracy. Knowing this one can’t help but wonder, why is it that so many people lack knowledge on basic math? One would assume that anyone can calculate their job pay or the total when grocery shopping, however, at least one-quarter of Americans cannot complete such actions due to ignorance, among other things (Sullivan, 2016). Nonetheless, there are solutions to America’s big innumeracy problem.
As mentioned before, the source of many people’s innumeracy is their ignorance of the subject or the fact that they are not aware of the consequences of not knowing basic math. As a matter of fact, most people tend to laugh and brush off their lack of knowledge and make claims such as, “I can’t even balance my checkbook. I’m a people person, not a number person’ as mentioned by John Paulos in his book Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences (Paulos, pg3).
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It is because of their attitude towards math that they lack knowledge of the basic skill and rely on others risking the possibility of getting taking advantage of. People struggling with innumeracy might fall prey to others and even themselves when seeking answers. An example would be falling for the weather forecast when the weather person announces 50% precipitation for the weekend when on Saturday there is a 30% chance of precipitation 20% on Sunday. If someone were to expect rain over the weekend they would be disappointed to find no rain because the announcer’s statement of 50% precipitation did not mean that there was a 50% chance of rain for Saturday and Sunday but that that was the two percentages combined. So, what can one do to not fall victim of innumeracy?
After having briefly touched on the subject of innumeracy, we are aware that innumeracy is a big problem in the United States that hasn’t yet been properly acknowledged. As a result, many people now struggle with innumeracy without having any knowledge of it. A solution to this problem would be to acknowledge it. In other words, be aware of one’s own innumeracy and get help if needed. By acknowledging it, one will be able to view the effects it has on their life. Finally, stop thinking with a fixed mindset and instead think with a growth mindset because, in the end, the only one who can truly get rid of one’s innumeracy is one’s self.
