THE ESSENTIAL
- The invention of mathematics is inseparable from the process of developing writing.
- This is why the Babylonians, then the Egyptians, appear as the first users of mathematics.
People who are good with numbers tend to have higher incomes and more satisfaction with their lives, according to a study.
additional $4,062
“We investigated the relationships between numeracy, satisfaction with income, and overall quality of life in a diverse sample of 5,525 American adults,” explain the researchers, published in Plos One. As a reminder, numeracy is defined as the ability to use, apply, interpret and communicate mathematical information and ideas, in order to lead and manage numerical problems in various situations of daily life.
First lesson of the survey: people who are more gifted in calculation had higher incomes. For each higher point scored on a math test proposed by the scientists, people taking part in the experiment reported an average of $4,062 more in their annual income. Observation 2: Higher income associated with greater numeracy has been linked to more positive ratings of overall quality of life.
Comparisons
Finally, “Research has also indicated that highly number-savvy people compare numbers more than literate people,” explain the researchers, “which means that the same income is valued differently by people who are more or less gifted in mathematics”, they add.