Pastafarianist comments on The Affect Heuristic - Less Wrong
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Comments (65)
Doing badly on written word problems can be explained by illiteracy. Why can't doing badly on math problems be explained by innumeracy (i.e. failure to comprehend mathematical concepts)?
When regression toward the mean is considered a moderate to advanced mathematical concept, I don't think innumeracy is an unreasonable label of the average person. Certainly it is a reasonable critique of the education system that it does not reliably generate numerate graduates (on parallel with the critique that some specific education systems do not reliably generate graduates who can read).
Doing badly on written word problems can be explained by failure to comprehend linguistic concepts. Doing badly on math problems can be explained by failure to comprehend mathematical concepts.
You see, this explanation makes perfect sense.