why do people say "do the math" when there is't even any math involved like it mite be a totaly differant subjuect
2006-06-29 09:24:37 · 23 answers · asked by Tay 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Other - Arts & Humanities
It's an idiom. Like "Stem the tide." Or in spanish when you say "hace frio" which means "its cold" when literally it means "to have cold" but you really can't HAVE cold, can you?
So when someone says "do the math" they're saying "its so obvious figure it out."
example: "So jones has been spending all his time at the office, only coming home once or twice a week to eat. Meanwhile, his wife is cheating on him and wants a divorce. Do the math."
you dig?
2006-06-29 09:31:36 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 12⤊ 0⤋
"Do the math" has evolved from the phrase "add it all together". Both referring to math in some cases, but in others it simply means if you put all the available information together your conclusion should be logical.
Why people say it is simply a matter of why people say anything in popular culture. One person said it, and it sounded cool enough to repeat.
2006-06-29 16:30:27 · answer #2 · answered by michelsa0276 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In math, things are done step by step to get the the end result or answer. In order to get from point A to point B, you have to do certain things(steps). The phrase "You do the math" is just a metaphor for "you figure it out".
2006-06-29 16:33:46 · answer #3 · answered by catxsimpleman 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually most things in life involve math. When people say do the math they refer to how you have to put things together and see how it adds up.
2006-06-29 16:30:45 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
People just say "do the math" because the want you to do it. Then you go and do it and give them the answer, and they got out of doing the math them self
2006-06-29 16:43:22 · answer #5 · answered by Mega 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is just a phrase to make you figure it out! Like your talking about something about your boyfriend or husband or kids wanting to take your car versus theirs but yours gets worse gas mileage and you say your mad about it because its your car and your friend says, I don't get why your so mad they want to take yours how is it diff" you say "you do the math", in reference to gas prices and you spending more to put gas back in it... make sense....but the conversation was not even about math! It was about cars...pertains to anything you have to figure up!
2006-06-29 16:37:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When they say "Do the Math" it really means get results from a question that has been put to you.
2006-06-29 16:32:01 · answer #7 · answered by yandebski 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shouldn't someone with a blond avatar be aking this question? it means that the answer is staring you in the face and all you have to do is figure it out.
2006-06-29 19:35:22 · answer #8 · answered by Terri 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That expression is you do the math....they are saying the answer is obvious if you think a little.
2006-06-29 16:28:29 · answer #9 · answered by lisanne6usa 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is an attempt to get people to look at a question after appropriate thought and contemplation.
2006-06-29 16:28:05 · answer #10 · answered by aboukir200 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋