this post was submitted on 01 Oct 2025
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[–] MML@sh.itjust.works 7 points 5 hours ago

Okay I know it's 15, simple math, after all 8+8 is 16, you would have to be an idiot not to know that, so it's just 1 less than that, anyways let me pull out my calculator just to check...

[–] swagmoney@lemmy.ca 5 points 5 hours ago

oh i know that one from my cribbage days

[–] pewgar_seemsimandroid@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 12 hours ago (1 children)
[–] The_Picard_Maneuver@piefed.world 2 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

i prefer Tallinna tehnikaülikool.

[–] Angelusz@lemmy.world 8 points 14 hours ago (2 children)

Why? Just take the time to do the work properly. You will get better at it, enjoy life more.

[–] Lazylazycat@lemmy.world 1 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

Some of us have aphantasia and can't do maths in our head.

[–] andxz@lemmy.world 2 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

What does not being able to see inner images have to do with math?

I'm asking because I can't see shit but I have no problems with doing math up to a certain point. Not in any way good at it but it doesn't impair my memory to the point it would be a hindrance either.

[–] Lazylazycat@lemmy.world 1 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago)

Because you can't hold two numbers in your mind simultaneously, or imagine one adding to another and the result of that. It's probably difficult to explain if you are able to visualise things.

I can do maths on paper when I can see it on front of me. But I don't have a mind's eye.

[–] glibg@lemmy.ca 4 points 13 hours ago

My thought exactly. I resonate with this meme but I also try to challenge myself to do math longhand on paper

[–] WhatGodIsMadeOf@feddit.org 3 points 14 hours ago

I just say I'm not good at math while i look at someone in the eyes for a little while until they do the math.

[–] RBWells@lemmy.world 28 points 23 hours ago (2 children)

I am an accountant, literally work all day with numbers. 8+7, fine, that's 16 minus one or 14 plus one.

8x7? Never managed to memorize the times tables so that is, well 4 7s is 14 +14, that's 28, so 8 7s is 28 + 28, which is 40 and 16 so that's 56.

[–] MeThisGuy@feddit.nl 9 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

interesting how mathes works differently for many people. because I do 8+2 to get 10. then 7-2=5, so 10+5 = 15.

[–] ThunderQueen@lemmy.world 1 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago)

Neat. I just remember that 8 is 2 less than 10 and 7 is 3 less than ten, so you can either do 8-3+10 or 7-2+10. Both are 15. Its similar to how you do it but for some reason its easier for me this way.

[–] adhocfungus@midwest.social 4 points 15 hours ago
[–] stinerman@midwest.social 31 points 1 day ago (3 children)

In high school calc, I would do all kinds of algebra, integration, etc. and then at the end add 8 and 7 and get 13. All the time.

[–] AI_toothbrush@lemmy.zip 11 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Its like when you do the whole logic and calculations part and then forget to square root the number at the end.

I'd always forgot to change signs after multiplying

[–] klugerama@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago

Must have been doing a lot of base-12 math?

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[–] Stillwater@sh.itjust.works 42 points 1 day ago (2 children)

For me it's 8+8-1 since the doubles are memorized

[–] MnemonicBump@lemmy.dbzer0.com 22 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

This is the same for me, but I did 7+7+1, basically

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[–] skisnow@lemmy.ca 21 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (3 children)

I don't know what to make of this comments section. This many people really don't have 8+7 down?

I don't even feel superior about it, just bewildered.

[–] Test_Tickles@lemmy.world 5 points 15 hours ago

For us older folk, and unfortunately, also for some younger folk that grew up in more "conservative" small towns, borrowing and fancy math trickery was the work of the devil.
We were required to memorize the addition tables as well as the multiplication tables. And even then, addition could be done on your fingers and toes so as long as you could add the big numbers like 8 & 7 together faster than the really slow kid could take off his shoes and work it the hard way, you were considered proficient at addition.
So ya, there's a wide swath of America that just sucks at basic math.

[–] snooggums@piefed.world 10 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Yeah, I thought there was something more to it and am disappointed.

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[–] notabot@piefed.social 21 points 1 day ago (3 children)

This is why learning binary is so important. In base two, the same equasion is 1000+0111=1111, now you just convert back to decimal with: 8+4+2+1= sweats and starts counting on fingers before reaching for calculator

[–] Chingzilla@lemmy.world 9 points 1 day ago

Easy, just convert to hex, 0x0F

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[–] BroBot9000@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

None of y’all have ever played cribbage I see.

[–] Vordimous@lemmy.ml 3 points 15 hours ago

Came here to say this. This is easier that 2+2 tbh.

[–] BombOmOm@lemmy.world 20 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Mental math tricks are important.

Take 2 from the 7 and give it to the 8. You now have 10 + 5. Much easier math.

Take 2 from the 7

Hold on, I just need to check something. Looks around nervously

[–] Shelena@feddit.nl 7 points 1 day ago

Yes, that seems easier to me as well! I was not allowed to do this according to the teacher when I was a child. They wanted me to do it in some weird counterintuitive way. But I was very stubborn and I am still doing calculations in this way. She is not the boss of the way I think!

[–] bacon_pdp@lemmy.world 16 points 1 day ago (1 children)

8+7 = 8 + ( 2 + 5) = ( 8 + 2 ) + 5 = 10 + 5

Then just do the column addition (1 + 0) =1 and (0+5)=5

Thus concat(1,5) = 15

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 1 points 14 hours ago (2 children)

Now do it where you turn all the numbers into ones via math fuckery

[–] LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world 2 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago) (1 children)
[–] bacon_pdp@lemmy.world 1 points 9 hours ago

That would require me to make a +1 and a -1 table and I would have a real hard time knowing if I made the tables display correctly.

[–] someguy3@lemmy.world 11 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I once typed in 1+1, though it was several term equation and I was mentally reducing each term before punching it in.

[–] Thorry@feddit.org 8 points 1 day ago (2 children)

When I'm doing woodworking and I need to add up some very simple measurements I always use a calculator. I could very easily do it in my head and often automatically do without even thinking about it. However I've learned the hard way it's very easy to make a simple error with even something as simple as 8+7 and chances are you won't find out till later when two parts don't fit together. That's 20 hours down the toilet, just because I didn't double check using the shop calculator.

[–] RedGreenBlue@lemmy.zip 7 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I'm alright when it comes to mathematics, but my memory is a swiss cheese. I'll do a calculation, context switch and 3 seconds later it's either gone or I remember incorrectly. Having things written down, on paper or in a calculator, gives peace of mind.

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[–] gaiussabinus@lemmy.world 9 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I am chronicly paranoid because I have had a low battery on an exam. I just type in simple math because it might be totally borked and you won't catch it on something complex

[–] NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io 8 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Wait, it gets things wrong on low battery?

[–] BombOmOm@lemmy.world 7 points 1 day ago

It...shouldn't. The 7-segment displays will have contrast issues, then the whole thing will stop working entirely when the battery gets too low.

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