Opti
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Post by Opti on Jun 10, 2015 12:57:52 GMT -5
I hadn't seen this thread before. Now, I wish it was still before ... You should have stopped at page 1.
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Lizard Queen
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Post by Lizard Queen on Jun 10, 2015 12:58:28 GMT -5
I'm really sorry. It was really awesome "meeting" so many YMers. You're actually real people! I don't know if group members can automatically see your profile. (I thought not?) There were group members, and then there were people who I friended...not necessarily the same thing. Oh Lizard, no need for you to be sorry. The is for FB, not you. You rock!
Did you happen to save the "mission statement" or anything else? I know I have a saved pic of the goat which gave me such fits of giggles and a few others, but not the awesome pinned post.
Thanks. I didn't save any of it. There was a copy of the mission statement in the thread that was deleted. I could try to reproduce it, if you want me to. I didn't write the pinned post. Perhaps Patti could rewrite that for you?
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Opti
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Post by Opti on Jun 10, 2015 13:03:51 GMT -5
Without scope, all numbers are meaningless. I'm not going to lose sleep over something like this when personally I'm in the red. It amazes me a Canadian cares so much actually.
If the US ever goes bankrupt, would it really matter how big or small the number is?
The size dictates losses incurred by US bondholders (i.e. pension funds, mutual funds, college endowments, municipalities, etc.). It's nearly always proportional to the size of deficits being incurred at the time of default, hence it dictates how much has to be hacked out of budgets due to the government's inability to borrow. And it influences probability of collapse due to the inability of world markets to absorb larger quantities of debt. So, in a sense, yes it does matter. In a sense it does matter, but nothing stays the same. Everyday currencies fluctuate. Countries over-borrow, get bailed out, collapse, regroup, etc.
If the country goes bankrupt aka Greece or Brazil/Argentina() barring most bondholders, their worries might be bigger than those bonds, i.e. 20% interest rates, being able to afford housing, groceries. Plus, at this moment in time, the US in some sense is too big too fail on the world stage. Perhaps we'd get bailed out from Canada, Germany, etc. Those whose fortunes are tied to our success. I'm concerned about today, not some future that may or may not happen.
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Abby Normal
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Post by Abby Normal on Jun 10, 2015 13:12:35 GMT -5
I made the mistake last night of asking a couple 15 year old boys what 5% of 5000 was. I thought they'd be able to rattle it off. Nope 10 minutes later I was still trying to explain to them how to figure it out. Neither could do it without a calculator.
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mollyanna58
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Post by mollyanna58 on Jun 10, 2015 13:27:06 GMT -5
I read a sci-fi short story years ago (I think by Isaac Asimov) about a future in which everyone always used calculators. Some unimportant person figured out how to do calculations on paper, amazing all the higher ups.
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Virgil Showlion
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Post by Virgil Showlion on Jun 10, 2015 13:33:35 GMT -5
I made the mistake last night of asking a couple 15 year old boys what 5% of 5000 was. I thought they'd be able to rattle it off. Nope 10 minutes later I was still trying to explain to them how to figure it out. Neither could do it without a calculator. Try asking them what the positive square root of 1 is. It's absurdly simple, and (in my experience) most people can even give the proper definition of a positive square root, but I've gotten every answer under the sun. The most common one is 1/2.
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ken a.k.a OMK
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Post by ken a.k.a OMK on Jun 10, 2015 14:24:08 GMT -5
i know what positive square roots are.
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Virgil Showlion
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Post by Virgil Showlion on Jun 10, 2015 14:26:05 GMT -5
i know what positive square roots are. Most people do, but they still can't calculate the positive square root of 1 when asked.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Jun 10, 2015 14:50:50 GMT -5
I'm not sure what a positive square root is, but I do know what a generic square root is. And I don't really care what one is. I haven't had to use it since HS. I've completely forgotten all the higher math concepts, and it hasn't hindered me in my job or life.
I am rolling my eyes at the math problem illustrated in the OP.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Jun 10, 2015 15:00:24 GMT -5
OK, I just googled what a positive vs. negative square root is.
Really, we're going to discuss that? That's one of those stupid math tricks that I didnt' realize had a name. Duh, of course -5 x -5 is the same as 5 x 5.
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Virgil Showlion
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Post by Virgil Showlion on Jun 10, 2015 15:21:55 GMT -5
OK, I just googled what a positive vs. negative square root is.
Really, we're going to discuss that? That's one of those stupid math tricks that I didnt' realize had a name. Duh, of course -5 x -5 is the same as 5 x 5. Well, "duh" is appropriate I suppose. But: - I'll bet you at least 30% of adults couldn't tell you what -5 x -5 is.
- Everybody should be able to compute the positive square root of 1 without thinking. There's absolutely no excuse for a wrong answer. And yet ~50% of people do get the problem wrong, in my experience.
It really is no excuse that "I learned this a long time ago, and I never used it". These are utterly fundamental concepts--the most basic of the basic--and forgetting them is like forgetting that France is a country or that molecules are made up of atoms. True, you probably won't ever need this information in your lifetime, but given the amount of time devoted to these subjects in grade school, you've got serious memory problems if you've forgotten.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Jun 10, 2015 15:25:04 GMT -5
why don't we just call it a square root? Throwing in "positive" square root is just one of those nerdy math dork things were you make it sound harder than it is.
And the square root of 1 is 1.
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Chocolate Lover
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Post by Chocolate Lover on Jun 10, 2015 15:25:39 GMT -5
OK, I just googled what a positive vs. negative square root is.
Really, we're going to discuss that? That's one of those stupid math tricks that I didnt' realize had a name. Duh, of course -5 x -5 is the same as 5 x 5. Well, "duh" is appropriate I suppose. But: - I'll bet you at least 30% of adults couldn't tell you what -5 x -5 is.
- Everybody should be able to compute the positive square root of 1 without thinking. There's absolutely no excuse for a wrong answer. And yet ~50% of people do get the problem wrong, in my experience.
It really is no excuse that "I learned this a long time ago, and I never used it". These are utterly fundamental concepts--the most basic of the basic--and forgetting them is like forgetting that France is a country or that molecules are made up of atoms. True, you probably won't ever need this information in your lifetime, but given the amount of time devoted to these subjects in grade school, you've got serious memory problems if you've forgotten. Or I have better use for the space it takes up in my brain. Why on earth would I seriously care what the positive square root of one was if I wasn't a mathematician of some sort?
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CarolinaKat
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Post by CarolinaKat on Jun 10, 2015 15:25:53 GMT -5
OK, I just googled what a positive vs. negative square root is.
Really, we're going to discuss that? That's one of those stupid math tricks that I didnt' realize had a name. Duh, of course -5 x -5 is the same as 5 x 5. Well, "duh" is appropriate I suppose. But: - I'll bet you at least 30% of adults couldn't tell you what -5 x -5 is.
- Everybody should be able to compute the positive square root of 1 without thinking. There's absolutely no excuse for a wrong answer. And yet ~50% of people do get the problem wrong, in my experience.
It really is no excuse that "I learned this a long time ago, and I never used it". These are utterly fundamental concepts--the most basic of the basic--and forgetting them is like forgetting that France is a country or that molecules are made up of atoms. True, you probably won't ever need this information in your lifetime, but given the amount of time devoted to these subjects in grade school, you've got serious memory problems if you've forgotten. Some people will state "Africa" is a country and that whales are fish. You need to REALLY lower your bar, people aren't that smart.
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ken a.k.a OMK
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Post by ken a.k.a OMK on Jun 10, 2015 15:28:06 GMT -5
why don't we just call it a square root? Throwing in "positive" square root is just one of those nerdy math dork things were you make it sound harder than it is.
And the square root of 1 is 1. But......what's the square root of -1?
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Angel!
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Post by Angel! on Jun 10, 2015 15:28:35 GMT -5
OK, I just googled what a positive vs. negative square root is.
Really, we're going to discuss that? That's one of those stupid math tricks that I didnt' realize had a name. Duh, of course -5 x -5 is the same as 5 x 5. I think the bigger problem is adults can't name the square root of 1. That is kind of sad.
Although I wonder if it is who you hang out with. I work with a bunch of engineers, so I can't imagine any of them would get that answer wrong. The other day we had an argument over whether it was easier to use Pythagorean theorem or use trig to calculate a distance.
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Angel!
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Post by Angel! on Jun 10, 2015 15:29:42 GMT -5
why don't we just call it a square root? Throwing in "positive" square root is just one of those nerdy math dork things were you make it sound harder than it is.
And the square root of 1 is 1. I wonder if it was a Canadian school thing. I don't even remember using the term "positive square root". I just kind of assumed what he meant. But, maybe that alone confuses people & they think it is something completely different than square root.
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Angel!
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Post by Angel! on Jun 10, 2015 15:30:28 GMT -5
why don't we just call it a square root? Throwing in "positive" square root is just one of those nerdy math dork things were you make it sound harder than it is.
And the square root of 1 is 1. But......what's the square root of -1? i
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ArchietheDragon
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Post by ArchietheDragon on Jun 10, 2015 15:30:40 GMT -5
OK, I just googled what a positive vs. negative square root is.
Really, we're going to discuss that? That's one of those stupid math tricks that I didnt' realize had a name. Duh, of course -5 x -5 is the same as 5 x 5. I think the bigger problem is adults can't name the square root of 1. That is kind of sad.
Although I wonder if it is who you hang out with. I work with a bunch of engineers, so I can't imagine any of them would get that answer wrong. The other day we had an argument over whether it was easier to use Pythagorean theorem or use trig to calculate a distance.
I don't know that I could have answered the square root of one question. If I really thought about what a square root means I probably could have come up with it, but not something that just would roll off the top of my head.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Jun 10, 2015 15:31:11 GMT -5
OK, I just googled what a positive vs. negative square root is.
Really, we're going to discuss that? That's one of those stupid math tricks that I didnt' realize had a name. Duh, of course -5 x -5 is the same as 5 x 5. I think the bigger problem is adults can't name the square root of 1. That is kind of sad.
Although I wonder if it is who you hang out with. I work with a bunch of engineers, so I can't imagine any of them would get that answer wrong. The other day we had an argument over whether it was easier to use Pythagorean theorem or use trig to calculate a distance.
Pythagorean theorem. Because I dont' remember anything from Trig.
And yes, I have actually used the Pytagorean theorem in my law practice to calculate the area of a piece of land.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Jun 10, 2015 15:32:05 GMT -5
why don't we just call it a square root? Throwing in "positive" square root is just one of those nerdy math dork things were you make it sound harder than it is.
And the square root of 1 is 1. I wonder if it was a Canadian school thing. I don't even remember using the term "positive square root". I just kind of assumed what he meant. But, maybe that alone confuses people & they think it is something completely different than square root. Thank you.
I'm generally pretty well educated, but I thought a positive square root was some special concept I never heard of. It's just a square root all nerded up.
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Angel!
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Post by Angel! on Jun 10, 2015 15:35:07 GMT -5
I think the bigger problem is adults can't name the square root of 1. That is kind of sad.
Although I wonder if it is who you hang out with. I work with a bunch of engineers, so I can't imagine any of them would get that answer wrong. The other day we had an argument over whether it was easier to use Pythagorean theorem or use trig to calculate a distance.
Pythagorean theorem. Because I dont' remember anything from Trig.
And yes, I have actually used the Pytagorean theorem in my law practice to calculate the area of a piece of land.
Totally agree. I can do trig, but Pythagorean is way easier.
Thinking back, I may have started the argument because I asked someone why they were doing it the hard way when they pulled out a calculator to solve a SIN equation.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Jun 10, 2015 15:37:52 GMT -5
I think the bigger problem is adults can't name the square root of 1. That is kind of sad.
Although I wonder if it is who you hang out with. I work with a bunch of engineers, so I can't imagine any of them would get that answer wrong. The other day we had an argument over whether it was easier to use Pythagorean theorem or use trig to calculate a distance.
I don't know that I could have answered the square root of one question. If I really thought about what a square root means I probably could have come up with it, but not something that just would roll off the top of my head. It's a good thing you're pretty.
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ArchietheDragon
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Post by ArchietheDragon on Jun 10, 2015 15:39:18 GMT -5
I don't know that I could have answered the square root of one question. If I really thought about what a square root means I probably could have come up with it, but not something that just would roll off the top of my head. It's a good thing you're pretty. I need to work on my square root tables.
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Virgil Showlion
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Post by Virgil Showlion on Jun 10, 2015 15:52:57 GMT -5
why don't we just call it a square root? Throwing in "positive" square root is just one of those nerdy math dork things were you make it sound harder than it is.
And the square root of 1 is 1. It's needed for rigor. Asking "What is the square root of 1?" is like asking "What is the country in South America?" Yes, people can make a reasonable guess at which country or which square root we're referring to, but the question is technically ill-posed. And it's not as if "positive square root" is a real stumper. It's the square root that's positive. No math nerdiness required. You got the answer correct, at any rate. Congratulations. You're smarter than at least half of North America.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2015 15:53:58 GMT -5
Where do you ever even see square root one written? I mean, the kid didn't hesitate with the answer when I asked him, but I can't ever remember it being used in a problem. In what context would it come up? <br>
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2015 15:55:04 GMT -5
No one I know calls it a positive square root here. Sorry.
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Virgil Showlion
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Post by Virgil Showlion on Jun 10, 2015 15:59:29 GMT -5
Where do you ever even see square root one written? I mean, the kid didn't hesitate with the answer when I asked him, but I can't ever remember it being used in a problem. In what context would it come up? It's just a painfully fundamental thing that people can't answer. I'd say about 50% of the time, people will look at you like you're stupid and say "1". 25% of the time, people will categorically refuse to answer the question. 25% of the time, people will say "I don't know" or give an incorrect answer. When you ask, "Do you know what a square root is?", they'll nearly always give the correct definition. Then if you ask, "So what number times itself equals 1?", roughly half will laugh and say "1", and half will give up and refuse to answer the question.
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Virgil Showlion
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Post by Virgil Showlion on Jun 10, 2015 16:02:24 GMT -5
No one I know calls it a positive square root here. Sorry. Nobody calls it that here either, except in technical writing or on quizzes, etc. I'm asking the question in a "quiz" context here.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2015 16:02:38 GMT -5
What is your definition of a 'square root' if you don't mind my asking...?
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