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Everyone is capable of, and can benefit from, mathematical thinking

(www.quantamagazine.org)
669 points sonabinu | 2 comments | 21 Nov 24 01:45 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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LoganDark ◴[21 Nov 24 09:36 UTC] No.42202563[source]▶
I have an autistic friend with dyscalculia. They see numeric digits as individual characters (as in a story), each with their own personalities. Each digit has its own color, its own feelings. But they are not quantities; they don't make up quantities. Numbers are very nearly opaque to them. I wonder how this theory would apply to them. Do they still perform mathematical thinking? They're still capable of nearly all the same logic that I am, and even some that I'm not (their synesthesia gives them some color/pattern/vibes logic that I don't have)... just not math.
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1. tartoran ◴[21 Nov 24 15:50 UTC] No.42205515[source]▶
I don't have dyscalculia but behind the numbers I have my own intuitive system(s) that I jump to sometimes when doing arithmetic. I think we all do since the early days arithmetic in school or what not, perhaps the dyscalculia folk missed making some connection at some point. I feel that arithmetic with numbers without that intuitive system is rote memory..
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2. LoganDark ◴[22 Nov 24 08:38 UTC] No.42212147[source]▶
Indeed, I do also have an intuitive system for this; that's what I mean by "make up a quantity". When something makes up a quantity for me, then I can perform math on it. I have to wonder if my friend with dyscalculia doesn't have a "quantity" system like I do. They can't really perform multiplication or division but can technically perform basic addition and subtraction, though it takes them a while. I think it may be the rote memory you mention doing that for them.