Innumeracy

[eldar]

It appears the Chinese are a bit better at adding up than we are over here. Here are a couple of sample tests. I could answer the first one with a pencil, some paper, and a hour or so. I answered the second one in my head in a matter of seconds, whilst decrying how dumb some of our university students must be. Fer Son-of-the-Deity-of-Your-Choice's sake, that second question is pre-GCSE, let alone what a first-year undergrad in any subject ought to understand. And yet they deny that examination standards are slipping.

Comments

[fluffymormegil.livejournal.com]

2)a) Pythagoras's theorem, specifically one of the Pythagorean triples. Year 9.
2)b) Area of a triangle. Year 9.
2)c) S=O/H; C=A/H; T=O/A. Year 9.

[chick74.livejournal.com]

2)b) is primary school maths - year 6 if not before

[eldar.livejournal.com]

See I was right :-) Assuming of course that Year 9 = 3rd Form in Old Money which is before GCSE choices are made in most subjects.