While an overwhelming majority of U.S. adults (96%) recognize math skills as important in their personal lives, they have varying emotions when it comes to the subject, a survey by Gallup revealed.
“Challenged” (60%) is the most common word Americans use to describe their experience with math, followed by “interested” (48%).
Nearly half (47%) have exclusively positive feelings (interested, excited or happy) about math, while about one in three (37%) has exclusively negative feelings (such as confused or bored).
These emotions toward math are linked to Americans’ views on its importance: those with exclusively positive feelings toward the subject are much more likely to say math should be prioritized in school (73%) than those with only negative feelings (46%).
They’re also more confident in their ability to help their children with math homework — 73% of parents with positive feelings express confidence, compared with just 38% of parents with negative feelings.
It’s also worth noting that people’s views differ by age: 75% of adults aged 65 and older say math is “very important” in their personal life, compared with just 37% of 18- to 24-year-olds.
Older adults are also more likely to have positive feelings toward math — 61% of those 65 and older have exclusively positive feelings toward math compared with 32% of 18- to 24-year-olds.
Another proof that numbers follow us in life even if we don’t like them is regret. A majority of Americans (62%) believe math should be prioritized more highly than other subjects in K-12 schools, but only a small share (14%) says it should receive the very highest priority.
Four-in-ten (43%) U.S. adults wish they had learned more math skills in middle or high school, especially financial math — by far the most-desired skill, cited by 29% of adults.
Looking at skills they need for work, 61% of Americans say math is “very important,” ranking it below reading (90%), language (68%), and technology skills (68%), but about on par with writing and collaboration.
From a managerial perspective, most managers (85%) wish their direct reports had stronger math skills. Financial (41%) and foundational (41%) math top their list of most-desired capabilities among employees, followed by data science skills (37%).
