Numeracy

Numeracy refers to the mathematical skills needed to function in the modern world, that is, to do well in the modern workforce and to understand day-to-day quantitative information. These routine quantitative activities range from understanding compound interest on bank deposits or mortgages to understanding the risks and benefits of medical treatments. One does not need to know calculus to be numerate, but a solid understanding of arithmetic (including fractions and other rational numbers as well as word problems) and the basics of algebra and geometry are critical. Competence in these areas is not only the foundation for learning higher order mathematics, but it has been shown to predict employability, wages, and on-the-job productivity in the modern workplace, independent of other factors including reading skills and ...