this post was submitted on 20 Nov 2025
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Are you being ripped off? Good luck! (media.piefed.world)
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[–] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 22 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (3 children)

https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/27/magazine/why-do-americans-stink-at-math.html

One of the most vivid arithmetic failings displayed by Americans occurred in the early 1980s, when the A&W restaurant chain released a new hamburger to rival the McDonald's Quarter Pounder. With a third-pound of beef, the A&W burger had more meat than the Quarter Pounder; in taste tests, customers preferred A&W's burger. And it was less expensive. A lavish A&W television and radio marketing campaign cited these benefits. Yet instead of leaping at the great value, customers snubbed it.

Only when the company held customer focus groups did it become clear why. The Third Pounder presented the American public with a test in fractions. And we failed. Misunderstanding the value of one-third, customers believed they were being overcharged. Why, they asked the researchers, should they pay the same amount for a third of a pound of meat as they did for a quarter-pound of meat at McDonald's. The "4" in "¼," larger than the "3" in "⅓," led them astray.

America: Failing 2nd grade math since the 1980s.

[–] starman2112@sh.itjust.works 11 points 2 days ago (2 children)

In fairness, the people they surveyed grew up breathing lead. I wonder if a modern audience would handle that test better

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

Nope. Failure rate would be the same.

[–] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I would think worse actually, fairly sure our literacy and numeracy scores are worse now than in the 80s.

Ah, ok, they peaked in 2012, been declining since, almost back down to 70s/80s levels.

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This graoh only goes to 2022... and other sources have those scores continuing to fall.

And we also have TikTok destroying everyone's attention spans and capacity to self regulate today.

[–] titanicx@lemmy.zip -1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

The modern consumer would understand the a&w restaurant is probably run much more city than the McDonald's restaurant unfortunately. It's always interesting to me when I go to the McDonald's near my house that shares a parking lot with KFC / a&w and unfortunately that a&w and KFC restaurant is literally one of the worst run restaurants in my area. Only rivaled by the Wendy's three blocks away. Where is that McDonald's the worst they've done is late night they're shake machine and ice cream machine always seems to be broken and they get my order wrong probably one out of every five times. But not blatantly wrong every single order.

[–] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

The modern consumer would understand the a&w restaurant is probably run much more city than the McDonald's restaurant unfortunately.

... What does 'run much more city' mean?

Were you trying to type 'shittily'?

[–] titanicx@lemmy.zip 1 points 1 day ago

Yeah I was supposed to be shitty but when you do voice to text and don't look at what's typed out it kind of messes up sometimes not a big deal you got the idea

[–] Blackmist@feddit.uk 2 points 1 day ago

Should have called it the 2/6 pounder.

[–] 5in1k@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

No one goes to A&W for their burgers, especially in the 80’s. Hot dogs and root beer.

[–] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

... Which is greater, 1/3, or 1/4?

[–] 5in1k@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Duh, obviously it’s the one that makes me look stupid. Foot long hotdog is my answer.