math-education
Original: math-education on Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal
Transcript
Panel 1:
Woman (red hair, glasses): The only math we should teach children is arithmetic.
Panel 2:
Woman: But if we taught them differential equations, they could calculate interest and make investments! If we taught them probability, they'd understand polls and predictions. If we taught them logic, they wouldn't be fooled by scams.
Panel 3:
Man: You're making my point for me.
Panel 4:
Woman: If they understood differential equations, they wouldn't max out their credit cards. If they understood probability, they'd never buy lottery tickets. If we taught them logic, they wouldn't buy products that do nothing.
Panel 5:
Woman: In short: if people understood math, the economy would tank immediately.
Panel 6:
Man: My god...
Panel 7:
Woman: I never realized innumeracy was the major driver of economic growth.
Panel 8:
Man: Try to explain America any other way.
Votey:
Man (close-up of his face): That reminds me — we shouldn't teach history either.
Woman (red hair, glasses): The only math we should teach children is arithmetic.
Panel 2:
Woman: But if we taught them differential equations, they could calculate interest and make investments! If we taught them probability, they'd understand polls and predictions. If we taught them logic, they wouldn't be fooled by scams.
Panel 3:
Man: You're making my point for me.
Panel 4:
Woman: If they understood differential equations, they wouldn't max out their credit cards. If they understood probability, they'd never buy lottery tickets. If we taught them logic, they wouldn't buy products that do nothing.
Panel 5:
Woman: In short: if people understood math, the economy would tank immediately.
Panel 6:
Man: My god...
Panel 7:
Woman: I never realized innumeracy was the major driver of economic growth.
Panel 8:
Man: Try to explain America any other way.
Votey:
Man (close-up of his face): That reminds me — we shouldn't teach history either.
Alt text
An eight-panel comic. A red-haired woman in glasses and a brown-haired man debate education. She says the only math children should be taught is arithmetic, then argues that teaching differential equations, probability, and logic would let people calculate interest, understand polls, and avoid scams. The man says she is making his point for him. She continues: with real math knowledge, people wouldn't max out credit cards, buy lottery tickets, or buy useless products — so 'if people understood math, the economy would tank immediately.' The man, stunned, says 'My god...' She concludes, 'I never realized innumeracy was the major driver of economic growth.' He replies, 'Try to explain America any other way.' Votey (aftercomic): a close-up of the man's face as he adds, 'That reminds me — we shouldn't teach history either.'
Transcribed by Claude Opus 4.8.