Mathematics has been simply defined as just simple calculations and formulas to many people. When I approach someone and explain to them I am a Math major they look at me with a blank stare and ask “what are you going to do with that major?” Math is so much more than just computing numbers. Math is used in everyday jobs as well as every day activates whether you notice it or not. When you buy a car, follow a baking recipe, or even just decorate your home you are using numerous different math principles. These math principles are the same throughout the world and the reason behind that is because we didn’t invent math principles we discovered them.
You may think these claims are farfetched. How can home decorating be math involved? All home decorators need to work with in a budget. However first you need to calculate how much of each item you will need. How many rolls of wallpaper will you need? How much tiles will you need for the bathroom? Understanding some simple geometry could help you with this. The word geometry means “to measure the Earth.” Geometry can help you calculate how much wallpaper you will need or how many tiles. You will need to measure the distance between objects and that is exactly what geometry is.
Geometry does not only deal with home decorating however. Geometry can help you decide how much water you will need to fill a pool as well as help your serve in tennis. In order to figure out how much water you will need in your pool you first have to find the volume and basic geometry can do that for you. In tennis you need to serve the ball at a certain angle to get the right speed and trajectory. To calculate that angle you could use geometry.
The basic math skills continue on to many other daily activates. In cooking you need to make sure you have the right amount of each ingredient. All the ingredients in a recipe have a relationship with each other. This is known as the basic math principle of ratios. If the recipe calls for one egg and two cups of flour the ratio of eggs to flour is 1:2. Without the basic knowledge of ratios you wouldn’t understand why you are placing what you are placing in the bowl. Sure you can read instructions and follow them but wouldn’t it be nice to know why you are doing what you are doing?
So, when I tell you that I am a math major I am telling you a lot more than just the fact that I enjoy working with numbers and problem solving. Being a math major is saying that I think differently than the average person when doing any job or daily activity. I can figure out answers and solutions to everyday problems that others could not simply because they are not gifted with the knowledge of mathematical principles that I have studied for years. Math has always been my passion and I knew early in my life I wanted to pursue math as my profession. Math has so much to offer in every field in the business world. Math can be used in accounting, finance, architecture, insurance, as well as sales. The list is endless and I can only hope employers know the advantages of having a math major in their business over another employee.
You may think these claims are farfetched. How can home decorating be math involved? All home decorators need to work with in a budget. However first you need to calculate how much of each item you will need. How many rolls of wallpaper will you need? How much tiles will you need for the bathroom? Understanding some simple geometry could help you with this. The word geometry means “to measure the Earth.” Geometry can help you calculate how much wallpaper you will need or how many tiles. You will need to measure the distance between objects and that is exactly what geometry is.
Geometry does not only deal with home decorating however. Geometry can help you decide how much water you will need to fill a pool as well as help your serve in tennis. In order to figure out how much water you will need in your pool you first have to find the volume and basic geometry can do that for you. In tennis you need to serve the ball at a certain angle to get the right speed and trajectory. To calculate that angle you could use geometry.
The basic math skills continue on to many other daily activates. In cooking you need to make sure you have the right amount of each ingredient. All the ingredients in a recipe have a relationship with each other. This is known as the basic math principle of ratios. If the recipe calls for one egg and two cups of flour the ratio of eggs to flour is 1:2. Without the basic knowledge of ratios you wouldn’t understand why you are placing what you are placing in the bowl. Sure you can read instructions and follow them but wouldn’t it be nice to know why you are doing what you are doing?
So, when I tell you that I am a math major I am telling you a lot more than just the fact that I enjoy working with numbers and problem solving. Being a math major is saying that I think differently than the average person when doing any job or daily activity. I can figure out answers and solutions to everyday problems that others could not simply because they are not gifted with the knowledge of mathematical principles that I have studied for years. Math has always been my passion and I knew early in my life I wanted to pursue math as my profession. Math has so much to offer in every field in the business world. Math can be used in accounting, finance, architecture, insurance, as well as sales. The list is endless and I can only hope employers know the advantages of having a math major in their business over another employee.