2 1/3 = 2.33

When I made the blog yesterday, I thought it would be a while before I'd have anything to add. I was wrong. This afternoon I went to the hardware store to buy two and one-third yards of vinyl fabric to cover the chicken coop gate. At the check-out the cashier could not figure out how to enter two and one-third yards. I suggested she enter the quantity at 2.33.  She said she wasn't sure that was right because she was never good at math. She called over another employee, who was also a bit baffled, but convinced herself I wasn't trying to trick them.  First employee then told me she could do basic math, but never understood the algebra.  I almost lost my mind. Somehow I bit my tongue, finished the transaction and left. I then stormed into a business a few doors down and asked EVERYONE in the store to PLEASE tell me how you would cover 2 1/3 to decimals. All four people in there answered correctly.  At least not everyone has lost their basic math skills!