I like to tell people that I am numerically dyslexic. When I look at a page numbers, such as a spreadsheet, all I can see is a load of numbers lying around without saying anything to me. My eye just falls towards the bottom corner on the right, then, if she likes the number he finds it, he slowly worked his way to the sheet to see where the numbers came from. As it does, the figures seem to jump to attention and start talking. So I do not understand what they say when I ask my accountant what happens. Then I look confused and ask if we make money or lose money. I think this is caused by the lack of interest more than anything else. I'm pretty sure I have the mental capacity to be better at math (or "math" for Americans) I am, but I'm not interested. I prefer the words.
But I'm fascinated by what happens with numbers. There are conflicts of laws and absolute that seem impossible to the average idiot (like me). For example, what would you say if I told you that 0.9999 (recurring) equals one? Most people would say I'm proving mathematically challenged how I am. Let me try to explain the argument; what is "one-third" expressed as a decimal? Is 0.3333 (recurrent), right? And three "third" added form an "a". Multiply 0.3333 (recurring) by three in the same way and you get 0.9999 (recurring). So 0.9999 (recurring) is equal to one. If I cut a cake into three equal pieces and gave three one piece each they each 33.3333 (recurring) per cent of the pie. If the three people gave their new piece of cake for me, I still have 100% of the pie. No 99.9999 (recurring) percent. What's really fascinating is that the great mathematicians from around the world debate this question over and over again. How can there be a mathematical uncertainty (s)? At the root of this debate is the concept of infinity. It will keep you glued to your computer screen for a few more hours (and for once, it will not matter if someone catches you).
How about this: Imagine you are in a game and you said that one of the three doors before you has a prize of one million dollars behind it. The other two doors have nothing behind them. You must choose a door. After choosing your door (but not opened), the host will open another door, you show that there is nothing behind it and ask if you want to stick with your first choice of door or go to the other closed door. Either the door or you have chosen the last of the three is certainly a million dollars behind it. What would you do? Stay with your first choice or switch? If you're like me, you think it's a 50/50 choice, suppose there is a reason why they want you to go, and stick to your first choice. But we would probably wrong. The fact is, if you stick with your first choice you have about one in three (33.3333 percent) chance of being right, but if you go you have a nearly two in three (66 6666 percent) chance of being right. So, you are twice as likely to win the million dollars if you go. "Monty Hall problem" for an explanation. Incredible and completely against-intuitive.
If you know and understand everything already above, then you are a real smarty pants and you've probably been beaten up a lot in school. There is always .9999.