If they did, math phobia wouldn't be rampant today. The cry is loud and the call is reasonable. Children must be helped to learn mathematics in a better way than we did, so that mathematical limits do notshut them out of certain life choices and career options. Most of our real-life arithmetic problems involve numbers that are uncertain or variable. Exchange rates change.
Budgets require a contingency plan for surprises.
We need to allow for the width of the blade when we measure where to cut a piece of wood. When we figure the tip in a restaurant, we round off the amount and factor in our judgment about the quality of the service. Define the problem to be solved and identify the number and operations to be used. Evaluate the reasonableness of an answer to make a decision about what action to take. The standards promote a classroom culture in which the correct answer is glued to an explanation of the answer and an understanding of the operation so that a child can be consistently proficient and confident beyond the scope of the classroom.