Math Counts

I hear they crowned the wrong winner in the Miss California pageant due to a math error by the accountants (5 of them). Fortunately the error was discovered and the tiara transfer went without incident. The lessons from this are worth noting.

First, math skills matter. I know a lot of people have anxiety about math but it's really simple when you think about it. Math in many ways is like sports and most people like sports. You learn the rules of the game and then you practice, practice, practice.

Second, check your work and show your work. You've heard your teacher and perhaps your parents mention this and it is very true. In California they clearly were in a hurry (or distracted) and did not check their figures. Fortunately, they did show their work so the error was discovered.

Finally, it is nice to hear the former accountants from ENRON found work.