12 // NUMERACY

You might often hear people describe themselves as not being a "math person." You might know some intellectuals who struggle with long division or recognizing algebraic equations. You might even relate to both of the qualities just described. This is not a display of poor education or failing intelligence; no, this is most likely a struggle with numeracy.

According to the U.S. Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), numeracy is categorized into two types: "subjective" and "objective" numeracy. "Subjective numeracy is a person’s reported confidence in understanding mathematical data. Objective numeracy measures a person’s actual math skills."

(Image from Freepik)

Numeracy is an invaluable skill, applicable even outside of an academic setting. Like the National Numeracy Charity states, numeracy can be used to interpret data, statistics, charts, and diagrams; manage and solve fiscal problems; and overall improve one's confidence in their mathematical abilities.

Numeracy can include any of the following:

• Geometry and Trigonometry
• Probability and Statistics
• Calculus and Algebra
• Elementary Math

And of course, most other fields/types of mathematics. But most importantly, a deftness in numeracy can be greatly beneficial in terms of how we navigate life.

In an American Psychological Association interview with Dr. Ellen Peters (a professor at the University of Oregon's Department of Psychology and the School of Journalism and Communication), Peters estimates that approximately one-third of American adults operate at what is considered the lowest level of proficiency regarding numeracy. Furthermore, people become less numerate as they age. Peters states:

"We actually tend to become less numerate as we age. So as our minds slow down our abilities with numeric processes that we haven’t memorized, because if you’ve memorized them, you’ve stored them in long-term memory [sic]. But if it’s a new information that you have to actually process, that’s the kind of numeracy that tends to decline as we age. Less numerate people are also more likely to be lower in income, to have minority status, and of course to have lower education."

(Chart from the National Center of Education Statistics)

Obviously, numeracy plays a role into how one views the news as well. Peters highlights how people tend to "latch onto the negative" in terms of statistics; many would feel distress at 25% chance of failure than ease at 75% of success, despite the two essentially conveying the same information. Outlets can either capitalize on or mitigate this habit depending on the message or intent they want to express.

To improve one's numeracy, Peters claims that overcoming a lack of numerical confidence is actually the most crucial step. Only then can one feel assured enough to improve, often taking math classes or practicing worksheets. With a solution so rudimentary, it's no wonder that our present world is much more numerate than it was with each antecedent century.

The National Center of Education Statistics' Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies Map of America's literacy and numeracy can be viewed here, showing where each state stands in regard to one another.

- C. Thomas Bailey