Number Numbness, or Why Innumeracy May Be Just as Dangerous as Illiteracy.

Hofstadter, Douglas R.

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ERIC Number: EJ262339

Record Type: CIJE

Publication Date: 1982-May

Pages: N/A

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ISBN: N/A

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Number Numbness, or Why Innumeracy May Be Just as Dangerous as Illiteracy.

Hofstadter, Douglas R.

Scientific American, v246 n5 p20-34 May 1982

Presents examples which give large numbers (such as two billion) a common-sense meaning related to daily life. Argues that people's inability to comprehend the reality of large numbers (number numbness) has serious implications for humankind, not unlike illiteracy. (DC)

Descriptors: Elementary School Mathematics, Elementary Secondary Education, Mathematics, Mathematics Education, Number Concepts, Numbers, Secondary School Mathematics

Publication Type: Reports - Descriptive; Journal Articles

Education Level: N/A

Audience: N/A

Language: English

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