How come regular math rules don't apply?

Rich'sToys · May 19, 2015

I was always taught when rounding off numbers with fractions, that anything 1/2 and over got rounded up to the next whole no., while anything under 1/2 got rounded down.
However, when talking about gas prices the extra 9/10ths of a cent always gets dropped. If gas is $2.429 we always say 2.42 instead of 2.43. Why is that? Is it clever marketing, or are we just too lazy to it the right way?
Just food for thought.

Fatjay · May 19, 2015

It started as clever marketing, but has become the norm. The stations around here don't even have the .9 on the sign anymore, it just says 2.49, but when you swipe your card at the pump the readout shows 2.499. I think it's just the way it is, and is going to be.

ObsoElitist · May 19, 2015

(quoted from post at 11:17:59 05/19/15) It started as clever marketing, but has become the norm. The stations around here don't even have the .9 on the sign anymore, it just says 2.49, but when you swipe your card at the pump the readout shows 2.499. I think it's just the way it is, and is going to be.

That is deceptive advertising and should be reported

Anonymous-0 · May 19, 2015

Obso elitist
I agree that is deceptive advertising.
Who do you suppose we would report them to?
After all that goes on at every gas station in the country.

55 50 Ron · May 19, 2015

I think it would be 9/100ths of a cent because it falls in the 3rd place from the decimal. Not sure, but it's definiteley "food for thought"

If it really is 9/100ths of a cent, think of how much money we are "saving" [

], 9/100ths of a cent times the millions of gallons sold!!!

Athol Carr · May 19, 2015

Computers generally truncate the number rather than round.

dgasper · May 19, 2015

Do you mean 9 hundredths of a Dollar perhaps?

CKain(MI) · May 19, 2015

and in most cases it is not just $2.499 but $2.4999. even my LP is priced that
way.

Rich_WI · May 19, 2015

(quoted from post at 16:30:57 05/19/15) Obso elitist
I agree that is deceptive advertising.
Who do you suppose we would report them to?
After all that goes on at every gas station in the country.

Harvey, I dont know about your state but here in WI, your would report that to DATCP. http://datcp.wi.gov/Consumer/Weights_and_Measures/ Im sure your state has a similar department. If you still cant find where to report it, call your state attorney general's office, they will direct your call, if they dont outright help you.

dpendzic · May 19, 2015

yep--9/10 of a cent or 9/100 of a dollar

dpendzic · May 19, 2015

my family and friends usually say--two forty two nine or three thirty one nine

centash · May 19, 2015

9/100 of a dollar is nine cents----you're missing a zero.

Ben

John B. · May 19, 2015

It's not so much math rules as it is what we see and how it stimulates our brain.
I very seldom look at the 9ths at the end. One tenth of a cent more makes it the next number higher.

dpendzic · May 19, 2015

your right!! 9/1000 of a dollar--

55 50 Ron · May 19, 2015

Rich'sToys is correct - my misteak

, mistake

Frenchy305 · May 20, 2015

The 9 in $2.429 is 9/10 of a cent or 9/1000 of a dollar.

Frenchy305 · May 20, 2015

9/10 of a cent is 9/1000 of a dollar, as the 9 in $2.429 is in the 3rd decimal place. The 2 is in the hundreths decimal place.

mj · May 20, 2015

(quoted from post at 16:02:49 05/19/15) Computers generally [b:b286283899]truncate[/b:b286283899] the number rather than round.

ad to look that one up :roll: as regards to the topic at hand:

Now - I need a nap :shock:

How come regular math rules don't apply?

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