Here are a few articles I’ve found that give us a glimpse into the (sad) state of consumer math in America, and what we can do about it.
This article on NBC News sums up a situation I’m sure we’ve all found ourselves in:
“Think about the last time you had lunch with four or more friends. What happened when the bill came? Everyone pulled out calculators, there was a lot of murmuring and head scratching and still some of your friends just ended up throwing down a $20 bill and hoping for the best. Now, imagine that crowd in a car dealership or with a mortgage broker. They wouldn’t stand a chance.”
Why are these situations always so difficult? This article from the Atlantic sums up some typical issues consumers have with math. The intro gives a great example:
