One of the things I do at work is process work orders. I have noticed that one of the people who fill them out seems to follow a different set of math rules than the rest of us. Consider the following equation:

My Math
$29.42
+ $29.42
---------
$58.84


His Math
$29.42
+ $29.42
---------
$58.41


This isn't the first time I've seen this, and each time the MO is the same: if a number has to be "carried" from the ones column, then the number to the right of the decimal point remains unchanged, and the second number to the right of the decimal point is reduced by one. I've come up with an equation for this:

X.Y
+X.Y
------
2X.(Y-.01)

Thoughts? Theories?

nvm.

ic.

You made my head hurt. That makes no sense to me.

It's because they are stupid?

Some people learn different little math tricks to do things quicker. Maybe he is doing some kind of trick in his head that he is messing up...

I don't think that's a math anoMALy, I think it's just an error.

Either way, the guy can't add.

I can't comment on the method he's using, but it'd be interesting if you could ask him.


BTW, while we're at it. Who adds from right to left, vs left to right?


I'm a L-R guy, but Mrs. Boomshank does all addition R-L.

R to L

I'm pretty sure more people are going to say R-L.

L - R. Anyone gotta problem with that?!

I think maybe your looking too deeply into this leeh, the guy obviously just can't do math properly :D

R--->L... and while your hypothesis is admirable, I agree with the mistake theory.

Of course it's a mistake, but that in and of itself wouldn't be very entertaining, would it?

for some reason and i've seen teachers who do math from left to right, and then others do right to left which is the way i learned.

I think the generally accepted way of getting taught in school is R-L because it's easier to wrap your head around carry forwards.

IMO, doing it L-R is easier for the head though because that's the way we read.

Just for giggles, anyone that's used to adding R-L, give it a go adding up two four digit numbers in your head, but do it L-R.

I'm with you on this one. Just one mistake and it's just a mistake. But multiple mistakes with the same method and he's using some kind of alien addition theory.

Maybe you could slip a calculator into the person's next order and moot the point entirely.

hey!! whoever said it was a guy? huh? lol.. some girls suck at math too..