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Too Many Nines
I keep seeing those nines up there on the sign at gas stations. What is it with that last nine? How much are we really paying for our gallon of gas?
I'm sure it must be driving many a math teacher crazy when they see "3.999" for a gallon of gasoline. As one math teacher recently pointed out to me, "If you buy one gallon of gasoline, how much are you paying?"
"Four dollars," I figured. He agreed.
"And if you buy two gallons of gasoline, how much are you paying?" he continued.
"Eight dollars," I exclaimed.
He continued his litany over the next several gallons, but I got his point. Are math teachers and I the only ones who are waiting for truth in advertising? That "point-nine" at the end of the price on the sign really means you are paying the next cent. Yet not one local, or anywhere, for that matter, gas station owner dares just drop the "point-nine" and admit it.
Who will be the first to just put "$4.00" on that sign? Or "4.03" or "4.06" or wherever it goes. That old "point-nine" which seemed to matter way back when I was filling up my 1961 Mercury Comet at 31.9 cents a gallon, no longer matters. We just don't care. We just want somebody to step up and tell the truth.
As one longtime math teacher pointed out to me, "You don't see a pound of hamburger marked at $1.999 a pound."
That extra nine may be the most useless, ridiculous number in the world. You're talking one-tenth of a penny here. As proof, just a few days ago I brought my two-gallon container over to a nearby gas station to fill it up for my first lawnmowing job of 2008. I filled the container to the brim and checked the price. "$8.00" was what I paid! Even though, there was no "$4.00 a gallon" sign in sight.
After chewing on this issue for several minutes with this math teacher, I started getting a bit angry. Do gas station owners think we are stupid? Do they think we haven't figured this out?
Back in my days as an English teacher, I started a campaign to "Ban the Semi-colon," the most misused, misunderstood punctuation mark ever. I think it's time for us to "Ban the Nine!"
What local gas station owner will be the first to treat us like intelligent adults, drop that extra nine, and tell it like it is? That's the place where I'll swing my gas business.
Comments
On a somewhat related note, it drives me crazy when I see merchants offering .05 cents off when grade school math taught us that, if you don't use the $, you don't use the . It should be either 5 cents or $.05 There is a michigan shop that offers michigans for .99 cents each and I have been so tempted to order 4 and hand the merchant 5 cents, 4 cents for the order and a 1 cent tip, which would be 25%, just to see what his reaction would be.
(Foxy's note: Another one for those math teachers. Way to go, UPS Dave.)
Posted by: UPS Dave | May 21, 2008 9:55 PM
Current gas price is $1.20 a litre which translates into $4.55 a US gallon. ( 3.79 litres =1 US gallon).
Still over 10% cheaper in the USA. Considering the money is at par now.
Time for a Michigan Red Hot fix, it's been a couple of years. wlth or without? Buried?
(Foxy's note: Come on over to Plattsburgh this summer, Norm and I'll buy you a couple. We can hit a few places, one michigan at each!)
Posted by: Norm | May 20, 2008 8:19 PM
Foxy; I am leaving on Thursday for the Florida Elks State Convention at Disney in Orlando.
I have tried for the last four conventions to push that we get groups of 40 + and charter buses to Orlando! The tolls alone are about $18.00 dollars and it takes a tank of gas for the round trip! Roughly $85.00 to $100.00 + for gas and tolls depending what you are driving!
Plus the wear and tear on the car and the driver! Until we are ready to do things that will lessen our dependance on Gas the numbers will continue to climb! I would not complain if the gas was 50.9 Per Gallon!
I am more worred and comcerned about the Nines moving to 999.9! Lenny
(Foxy's note: You are right, Lenny! Have a safe trip.)
Posted by: Lenny Smallacombe | May 20, 2008 8:53 AM
I agree with you, Foxy, kinda like ny state sales tax of 7.25%... My suggestion would be doing away with the penny all together... think about it, round up round down, it will all work out in the long run, and save all the time and the effort of carrying 4 of them around with us at all times!
It costs about a penny and a half to even make a penny!
Would probably only effect "old timer" and "carr" as they save them up for tipping purposes at Meron's!
Posted by: The Carver | May 19, 2008 12:38 PM
Personally I don't even see the extra 9's, been around for so long my mind automataly rounds it up. Lets just hope the 9 doesn't get in front of the 4 (9.444)
Frank
(Foxy's note: If that happens, watch for the revival of the bicycle as a mode of transportation!)
Posted by: Franklin W Williams | May 19, 2008 8:51 AM