Quantitative Literacy

Quantitative literacy has a particular significance and interpretation in our fast-changing, information-dense, high-technology global society. In this context, quantitative literacy encompasses the ability to estimate and judge precision of numbers (e.g., the size of the national debt), the ability to quantitatively understand and make decisions through voting and elections (e.g., the merits of preferential voting to fairly decide elections, as opposed to common but flawed voting methods), and an understanding of the basic mathematics needed for informed Internet use (e.g., searching strategies, secure e-commerce transactions, online privacy, and efficient downloads). The essential topics listed and described below should be emphasized.

Technology should be used appropriately throughout the teaching and learning of quantitative literacy. This may include use of graphing calculators, specialty software, and resources on the Internet.

Essential Topics in Quantitative Literacy:

  1. Understands and applies number operations and properties | Details | Example
  2. Understands and applies mathematics of democratic decision making | Details | Example
  3. Understands and applies the mathematics of information processing | Details | Example
  4. Understands and applies systematic counting | Details | Example