Why Learn Math?
Students (and some parents) ask me this every year...why is it important to learn math? I'd like to share with you 6 reasons I think it is important to learn math:
1) Math is a major part of many careers - A number of careers are highly mathematical, and learning about math is required if you want to work in one of these careers. Some examples of people whose jobs frequently require math include:
- Architects, who use geometry, algebra and trigonometry to design cost-effective, beautiful structures in which to live and work.
- Biologists, who use algebra, statistics and calculus to analyze the behavior of animal and plant life, leading to understanding of ecosystems.
- Chemists, who use algebra in solving chemical reaction equations allowing them to explore the chemical properties of new medicines and new energy source materials.
- Computer Programmers, who use modulo arithmetic, base-2 and base-16 number systems to represent information within a computer and use geometry, trigonometry and algebra to design programs such as computer animation tools used to create Hollywood movies.
- Economists, who use algebra and calculus to model human behavior patterns to explain buying and selling, recessions and depressions, and monetary policy, to help us create vibrant economies.
- Engineers, who use trigonometry, geometry, algebra and calculus to design mechanical and electrical systems.
- Scientists, who use algebra and calculus to help create models to explain observations of our universe which lead to new discoveries, and new solutions to old problems.
...any many more! Math plays a very large role in a large number of careers. By studying math, you are 'keeping the door open' so that these career options remain available to you. Even if you believe now that you will not be entering any of these kinds of careers, are you absolutely certain that you will never change your mind? What if, in 10 years, you decide you'd like to work in a career like this? If you have stopped studying math, you may be behind, and need to work harder to catch up. A better option is to continue to study math throughout high school (where it is free!) to keep all of your options open to you.
2) Math is the language of research in all careers - Even in those careers not usually thought of as requiring math, the people doing the most advanced work, and those conducting research, nearly always use mathematics.
Don't believe me? Take a look at the following slideshow of sections taken from research papers in some 'non-math' careers:
Research papers in non-math careers
(slideshow - click in right half of image to advance, left half of image to go back a slide)
People at the top of nearly every career are using mathematics!
3) Math can help you make better, informed, decisions - By helping you learn to evaluate information, math gives you the knowledge needed to make good decisions on your own, so you are not at the mercy of other's opinions on important issues.
Consider the following two graphs:
Each of these graphs plots the same data, but each is trying to make you believe something about the data. Without a firm understanding of mathematics, it is easier for others to convince you of things that may or may not be correct. Mathematics gives you the ability to understand information so that you can come to your own conclusions.
4) Math teaches problem solving skills - There are certain kinds of problems that people commonly need to solve, and mathematicians have kept track of the most efficient ways people have found to solve these problems so that all generations can benefit from this knowledge. Part of what we teach in mathematics are these specific problems and their solutions. By learning math, you equip yourself to solve these kinds of problems when you encounter them later in life.
In addition, we try to find patterns in the ways people go about solving problems and to develop general ways of thinking about problem solving. Tactics such as...
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...are useful for solving many different kinds of problems in many different areas of life. When you learn about these general ways of thinking about problem solving, you are getting practice which helps you become good at solving problems in general. This helps you solve future problems of any kind, including problems that no one has encountered before.
5) Math gives us precision needed to take action - There are 4 subjects all students are required to take in school because these subjects each provide something that helps us be successful in the world. Math is one of these subjects:
- Science...helps us understand the physical environment in which we live.
- Social Studies...helps us understand how people have dealt with our environment, and with each other, past and present.
- Language Arts...gives us the ability to communicate our ideas to other people so we each can learn about what previous generations have already discovered, and can combine our efforts by working together on things within our lifetimes.
- Mathematics...gives us the ability to precisely describe situations, as well as the ability to solve problems and create models to interpret our observations of the physical and social world.
Consider this situation: you've just purchased a used house and you determine that you'll need to paint the inside walls. Science has given us things like houses and paint, and language arts gives you the ability to comment to your friend that you need to paint the house or to make comments like, 'There is a lot of wall space in my new house...I'm going to need a lot of paint.'
But once you want to understand the situation more precisely; once you want to take your general observations and turn them into specific action to solve a problem (cover the walls with paint), you need mathematics. Language Arts provides the ability to describe how much paint you need as 'a lot', but to take action, you need to know about: surface area and how to calculate it for the walls, the ratio of volume of paint required per amount of wall surface area, how many cans of paint you need, and how much this paint will cost (including tax). This is mathematics' unique role: providing ways to describe situations more precisely than you can with general language, and providing methods for solving problems.
6) Math can be beautiful - Have you ever noticed how things become more interesting when you understand more about them? If you are an average American, are you more likely to enjoy watching a game of basketball or a game of cricket? When you know the teams involved and when you understand the rules of the game, watching the game becomes more enjoyable, because you understand what is going on. Another example: is it more fun to go to the concert of a band whose songs you know, or a band that you've never heard before? The fact that you know the songs helps you enjoy the experience.
This is true for most things in the world: the more you know about something, the more you understand and can appreciate that thing. Mathematics can reveal patterns and insights into things in the real-world, and into things completely imagined! The more you understand about mathematics, the more you can appreciate the world around you!
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