Chapter 4 - Whence Innumeracy? Summary and Analysis

Innumeracy is not only widespread, it is accepted much more than it should be. While there are many common places people may notice innumeracy, the most prevalent scenario typically involves a cash register. It is assumed that a cashier should know how to calculate tax and count change. The truth is that a great number do not. The advancements in technology continue to help these people by providing the answers for them yet in reality, the advancements are anything but - in fact, they are encouraging ignorance.

Paulos states that the most obvious reasons for innumeracy are poor education, psychological blocks and romantic misconceptions about the science of mathematics. The author had a negative early childhood experience regarding mathematics that, instead of scarring him as it might most children, the incident encouraged Paulos to study...