You need to learn basic maths skills to perform the most basic tasks in society. Without the ability to read numbers you cannot know what items cost and whether you have the right amount of money to make a purchase. Being able to add and subtract will ensure that you always receive the right change when you are shopping. More complicated calculations such as multiplication, division and fractions will enable you to enter into credit agreements and understand how interest works. All these skills will help you have better control of your finances and prevent people from taking advantage of you.