• Tue. Nov 21st, 2023

Janeane's World: Published By James, Davis, and Associates

We train individuals and teams to work with confidence and competence. Call: 484 381 0532. Email: janeanedavis@janeanesworld.com.

I Like Numbers and I Cannot Lie

accountant and the words It is wonderful to sit down and examine the numbers behind our thoughts, ideas, and opinions.

It is wonderful to sit down and examine the numbers behind our thoughts, ideas, and opinions

accountant and the words It is wonderful to sit down and examine the numbers behind our thoughts, ideas, and opinions.

Numbers, numbers, numbers, I really like numbers. I am the kind of person who does calculus for fun at home when I am bored. (Though with four kids, a husband, a dog, and a cat, I don’t get bored often.) Often people are surprised to learn I like numbers because I like reading and writing so much.

Numbers are a big part of so many things that I do. As a business consultant, I look at the numbers for my clients’ businesses. As a writer, I count words, SEO rankings, advertising, and costs per click. As a knitting artist, I count stitches, yarn yardage, and sleeve lengths. When I cook I use ratio and proportion more than I use my spatula. Numbers are all around me and in everything I do.


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I know the expression is “love makes the world go around.” At the same time, I know that numbers help. Numbers tell us how much, when, and where. Numbers help us make the decisions we need to make. They are around us and surround us. No matter what we do, we cannot escape them. But then again, why would we want to?

Innumeracy is almost as dangerous as illiteracy.

Almost everyone knows the word “illiterate” which is the word used to describe a person who is unable to read or write. The word is commonly known because in most circles people are expected to be able to read and write. Fewer people know the word “innumerate” which is the word used to describe a person who does not have a basic knowledge of mathematics. It is interesting to talk with people who are illiterate and innumerate. In my circle and sphere of travel, people who are illiterate are ashamed and do not want people to know they are illiterate.


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Things are very different when I talk with people who are innumerate. People in my circle and sphere of travel laugh at their innumeracy. They feel no shame or embarrassment about not understanding numbers, mathematical concepts, and the use and manipulation of numbers. Innumeracy is often shaken off with a quick, “I have ever been good with numbers.” When this is said, no one thinks anything of it. It is almost as if it is okay not to understand numbers.

It is wonderful to sit down and examine the numbers behind our thoughts, ideas, and opinions. 

Numerical fluency and understanding of basic mathematical concepts are actually important. Numeracy is the difference between understanding the statistics that get thrown around and being fooled by them. When we understand numbers correctly, we do not get fooled by statistics. When we understand numbers we get a clearer picture of the information people are sharing with us. Just as it is important for us to learn to read and write, it is important to learn numbers. We need to know how they work. We need to know how they are manipulated.

I am not suggesting that everyone needs to do Calculus for entertainment. I do recognize that is weird and nerdy, but I like it. We all need to have some basic math knowledge in our tool belts. While I am never called upon to use what I learned in trigonometry, I use ratio and proportion almost every day of my life. I use it to figure out how many stitches I should use in knitting since the yarn I am using is different from what the pattern recommends. I use ratio and proportion to figure out how much water I should add when making grits when I make 3 servings instead of the 1,2,  or 4 servings that have instructions on the box. Ratio and proportion is my favorite thing from all my math classes.

Numbers are important and they are all around us all the time. If you are not as good at math as you would like them to be, go online or open a book and do the work to get your skills where you want them to be. Almost everyone can learn math and get comfortable with numbers. Numbers don’t have to be scary, you can learn to master them. Take time today to start working on your numeracy. A month from now, you will be glad you did!

[Tweet “I like ratio and proportion and I cannot lie. Fear of numbers has passed me by!”]

In conclusion, it is wonderful to sit down and examine the numbers behind our thoughts, ideas, and opinions. So, the question for you this wonderful day is, what do you do when confronted with the numbers in a situation?

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26 thoughts on “I Like Numbers and I Cannot Lie”
  1. It would help if everyone crunched the numbers before doing anything. The numbers don’t lie.

  2. I love Numbers. Maths was my favourite subject at school. I find that I understand numbers more than I do with literacy.

  3. I can’t say I have thought much about this, but it absolutely makes sense. I feel like a lot of people in this generation are behind in skills that are necessities in the real world.

  4. I didn’t give math love or the respect it deserved until I started seeing it as important in the what we do daily. From baking to metrics on a website.

  5. I appreciate the ideas that you have presented in this article. I think that numbers sometimes get a bad rep, but being able to do calculations is so empowering.

  6. Being able to understand numbers and especially even simple math is such an important life skill. I have never heard of innumeracy.

  7. I like the concept of Innumeracy. I have a real affinity for Algebra and Geometry, though not hard core numbers. But yes, numbers can be real fun.

  8. Numbers make our world go round literally but we cannot live without it. It’s part of our life. I never knew the word “innumerate” is really true, at first I thought it’s just an expression.

  9. I’m jealous with your love for numbers. Haha. It’s funny to say that I felt kinda when the subject is Math. Good for you. Nice article.

  10. I do not love numbers, but I don’t hate them. Many times I don’t understand numbers, that why I think that those who love numbers are very interesting persons and I can learn a lot from them!

  11. I too, didn’t know that there’s a word “innumerate”. Thanks for the knowledge.

  12. Numbers just aren’t my thing. They definitely make my brain hurt and I tend to avoid the use of numbers whenever possible, ha!

  13. I cringe when it comes to math lol. I just don’t have the brain for it. I can handle basic math but it was such a struggle for me in college. It is however important in everyday tasks like cooking, paying bills etc. Thanks for sharing!

  14. My husband works for a bank and tells me all the time about how innumerate people can be! I am still baffled that people PAY the bank to balance their checkbook. I learned how to do that in the 7th grade!

  15. This is my first time learning about this. I’m pretty good with numbers.

  16. I’m not a big Math fan or numbers fanatic, but I do understand the importance of knowing basic Math and accounting skills for my multiple businesses

  17. I love numbers too. They are so much fun and can certainly give you insight into so much.

  18. Basic math is super important! I never realized there were people out there who had problems with it, but I guess if there are people who can’t read, there are people who can’t do math. Thanks so much for shedding a light on this. It was eye-opening for me.

  19. I am the worst with numbers I was never good a school!! thank god for help and apps!!!

  20. Oh gosh, I am terrible with numbers. Math is not my friend. Thank goodness for apps to help.

  21. I know a few people who are innumerate. I struggle with complex math problems and doing simple math stresses me out if people are waiting for an answer. I never knew innumeracy was a thing.

  22. Oh wow! I have never heard of inumeracy before! I had no idea it was a thing. I can see that being just as huge a roadbloack for someone as illiteracy is.

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