this post was submitted on 16 Jun 2024
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[–] RagnarokOnline@programming.dev 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

YOU’RE DOING QUADRATICS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL?’

[–] RunAroundDesertYou@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Yes, that's standard at least in Germany

[–] Zerush@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

In Spain too, it's also needed in vocational training (FP1, FP2) for carpenters, electricians, plumbers, etc., because it involves necessary calculations in their work, such as trigonometry, spheronometry, vector forces, flow calculations, among others. For office workers, naturally, percentage calculations are not overcome, but even there second degree equations can arise.

[–] Psythik@lemmy.world 0 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

That's nuts. In the US the only high school math I was taught was algebra and geometry. Anything more advanced than that was for students in the "gifted" program. No wonder why Americans are so stupid.

[–] agressivelyPassive@feddit.de 0 points 3 months ago

Maybe you were just at a bad school? Quadratic equations are mandatory in Germany even for the lowest level of graduation.

Until my Abitur (12th grade) I learned about equations, stochastics, integrals and derivatives, vector stuff, etc.

[–] 58008@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago (5 children)

I was denied a mathematics education, for real. I can't even do long division, nevermind that squiggly F shit. I thought that stuff was only for astrophysicists.

I want to learn basic maths, but I'm in a 'learned helplessness' mindset where I can't even get through basic sums and equations intended for children (I'm old as fuck now).

I was diagnosed with autism a few years back, which kinda made no sense. I would have expected rainman powers, but numbers just don't jive with my cunt of a brain. Maths is as inscrutable to me as people's faces or social cues.

[–] shapis@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 months ago

Just go on Khan academy and do a lesson a day. It will take time(years) but you'll learn.

[–] wizzor@sopuli.xyz 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Khan academy can solve this for you, if you want.

[–] Frog@lemmy.ca 1 points 3 months ago

+1

I was going to suggest Khan Academy. You can start at any grade level and work your way up.

OP take your time and sit down with pencil and paper.

[–] Liz@midwest.social 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

You might also have discalcula, which is a real but somewhat uncommon thing where you're absolutely shit at math. I have no idea how to get tested for it though.

[–] JPAKx4@lemmy.blahaj.zone 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)
[–] meowMix2525@lemm.ee 1 points 3 months ago

Close. Cousin of dyslexia.

[–] agressivelyPassive@feddit.de 0 points 3 months ago

If you actually want to learn maths (that is, if you're not just venting), you could try to ask for help in dedicated math or teaching communities.

The problem with teaching stuff you know, is to put yourself in a position of actually not knowing anything. I'm a software developer and had to teach some apprentices a few years ago, and it was really eye opening to me to see how much assumptions about the apprentice's knowledge I made even though I thought I made my explanation "basic".

It's quite possible that all the tutorials you've read are either for literal children, so they just don't work for your adult brain, or they're intended for adults and assume too much.

On a personal note: how did you get into that situation? Were you home schooled?

[–] Ethanol@pawb.social 0 points 3 months ago

don't let yourself get discouraged, math isn't everything ^^

[–] ExtraMedicated@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago

I kinda miss doing those relatively simple physics probems like finding how far something goes based on velocity and shit.

[–] saltesc@lemmy.world 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I did advanced mathematics and chose physics as one of my elective subjects in school. Nowadays, I do a lot of work based around analytics and forecasting.

"We need to find the average of this."

"That's easy. I'll do some more advanced stuff to really dial in the accuracy."

"Awesome. What's the timeframe?"

looks at million row dataset "To find the average? Like a month. Some of these numbers are mispelled words... Why are all these blank?"

"Oh, you'll have to read this 45 page document that outlines the default values."

And that's how roffice maths works. Lots and lots of if conditions, query merges, and meetings with other teams trying to understand why they entered in the thing they entered. By the time the data wrangling phase is complete, you give zero fucks about doing more than supplying the average.

[–] agressivelyPassive@feddit.de 0 points 3 months ago

That's software development for you. Why is that weird value there? Because some guy, at some point, had checked for that and somehow it's still relevant.

I know of a system that churns through literally millions of transactions representing millions of Euros every day, and their interface has load bearing typos (because Germans in the 90s were really bad at the Englishs).

[–] Un4@lemm.ee 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)

As an engineer i literally use all of it daily.

[–] Skanky@lemmy.world 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)
[–] Un4@lemm.ee 1 points 3 months ago

I guess depends on engineer

[–] Got_Bent@lemmy.world 0 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Most of the math I do at work is related to compound interest. Of all the math I believe the general public should understand, the concept of how paying interest to others is a total screw would get my top vote.

I have a co-worker who took out a car loan last week at, wait for it, FIFTY THREE PERCENT INTEREST! No concept of what that was costing her. She could only see, "I can afford the monthly payment."

(1 + r)^n and its friend 1/(1 + r)^n have been the two most important concepts in work and personal life that I've ever learned and applied.

[–] barsquid@lemmy.world 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)

That is usury. That cannot be legal? Oh, no, I just checked, wow, usury laws are weak af.

[–] Got_Bent@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago

Usury was indeed the term that immediately came to mind.

[–] ScrotusMaximus@lemm.ee 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Sounds like predatory lending

[–] Got_Bent@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago

I would agree, but it's not my life, not my money. You can't really go around telling people they fucked up every time you see it.