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Comment by MangoToupe

6 days ago

Why? I am honestly befuddled with this response. manually computing arithmetic is not necessary to reason about numbers.

> manually computing arithmetic is not necessary to reason about numbers

It absolutely is. If you can't add or subtract, what reasoning are you doing that is worthwhile?

  • You can grasp the concept without executing the mechanics. I don't see how that's difficult to grasp.

    • > I don't see how that's difficult to grasp.

      Maybe that's because you actually can do arithmetic, to the point where it's difficult for you to see how it would be if you couldn't?

      4 replies →

    • Try standing in line at a grocery store and listening to people get upset because the amount is much higher than they thought it would be. You will hear statements like "But how is it $43? I didn't buy anything that costs more than $5"

      People that failed to grasp arithmetic cannot reason about numbers to a useful degree.

      2 replies →