jenbrdsly Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 This might seem like a random question, but really it is not! What is the highest quantity you can recognize, by just looking at it for a few seconds? We are a family who uses Right Start Math for Afterschooling, and if you are familiar with that program then you know that Dr. Joan Cotter makes a big deal about teaching children to visualize quantities in addition to counting them. So right now with my two and a half year old year old, I've been experimenting to see if she can recognize the quantities 2, 3, and 4. (This is just for fun--I'm not going all Tiger-Mom on her or anything.) One of the commenters on my blog asked how high should adults be able to quantify, and I really have no idea what the answer is. If you only use one type of marker, I can only name up to 7 or 8, in three seconds or less. I'm really curious what other adults can do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 (edited) I am probably a bit off of the norm, because of my job. I am a pharmacy technician, so I count pills for a living. I can quickly pour out approximately 30 pills, out of a larger stock bottle, onto a tray fairly accurately. I can glance at it and know the approximate number on a tray. I may not know if it is 29 or 31, but I get very close. I can tell if a filled prescription bottle has approximately 60, 90 or 120 by glancing at it. I would guess that I could accurately guess up to 15 or so, in 2 seconds. Assuming it is just miscellaneous items on a flat surface. If it was in rows of 5 or another pattern, I assume I could go much, much higher, as we count in 5's, so my brain has 15 years of practice counting by 5's. Edited February 7, 2012 by Tap, tap, tap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenbrdsly Posted February 7, 2012 Author Share Posted February 7, 2012 Wow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zaichiki Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 A friend just recently told me that there have been some studies that prove adults can recognize exact quantities *that are not arranged in a pattern* up to 5. 5 or higher must be counted unless it is in a pattern (like on dice). I'll ask her for a citation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan in KY Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 It's called subitizing. Generally speaking, kids can learn to recognize objects to 10. I have heard that, with some training, many can recognize up to 15 objects. Singapore math makes it a priority in the early years. Over and over again, you will see five arranged as a row of two above a row of three, for example, and ten as two rows of five. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 I am probably a bit off of the norm, because of my job. I am a pharmacy technician, so I count pills for a living. I can quickly pour out approximately 30 pills, out of a larger stock bottle, onto a tray fairly accurately. I can glance at it and know the approximate number on a tray. I may not know if it is 29 or 31, but I get very close. I can tell if a filled prescription bottle has approximately 60, 90 or 120 by glancing at it. I would guess that I could accurately guess up to 15 or so, in 2 seconds. Assuming it is just miscellaneous items on a flat surface. If it was in rows of 5 or another pattern, I assume I could go much, much higher, as we count in 5's, so my brain has 15 years of practice counting by 5's. As a vet tech we were taught to identify and count by fives as well. So that is what I can identify quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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