As the world of technology turns more and more toward mathematical equations, there is one thing that cannot be denied. Math is important to daily life whether we realize it or not. We may not think of a math problem when we are balancing our checkbook, but what about when we are talking to the bank about our account or buying a home? How about when we are shopping with a coupon or filling out forms for work.
This goes without saying that these overwhelming numbers of students struggling with math are not simply because of a short attention span. From learning difficulties, anxiety to lacking basic concepts, there are many reasons why students are not drawn to math as a subject. Before we jump into the methods to help students overcome math problems, let us first discuss the common causes due to which students struggle to learn math:
Ten Reasons Why Math is Important to Life
1. Math is everywhere
Math is all around us so it only makes sense that we use math in our daily lives. As a matter of fact, when someone says “Life is not a spectator sport,” they should also say “Neither is math.” Why? Because you can’t get through life without doing at least some simple math along the way. One example would be balancing your checkbook or cooking a recipe that includes measurements in ounces or grams.
2. You need math to communicate
You may have heard the saying “It’s not what you’re saying, but how you’re saying it.” This could just as easily apply to mathematics because there are many different types of mathematical communications including graphs and charts, equations and written proofs. We use math every day when we calculate our tip at a restaurant or add up how much money we spent on purchases.
3. Math helps you think logically
When faced with a problem, it is human nature to want to find an immediate solution. But doing this could lead you to a faulty mathematical conclusion in some cases because one of the best ways to solve problems in mathematics involves logic and reasoning. When using logical thinking, you can often come up with alternative solutions that may not have been obvious at first glance. This also makes math a good exercise for your brain which will help keep it sharp as you age!
4. You must plan ahead when solving equations
In order to solve an equation, there are several steps that include simplifying the equation and then solving for what you are looking for. This might be as simple as finding a common denominator or as complicated as factorizing trinomials. Whatever the case, this is often where people make mistakes because they do not plan ahead when using these techniques. If you want to solve an equation correctly, you MUST look at it very closely and ask yourself “How can I simplify this before I try to find my solution?”
5. Math has its own language
Mathematical symbols tell you exactly how and where things need to be done in order to solve a problem without any ambiguity. That means that you have to learn these special symbols and know what type of operation they refer to such as addition, subtraction, multiplication or division. You also need to know which symbols are equal to one another depending on the type of problem you are solving. Learning this language takes time and practice, but it will come in handy when trying to solve word problems in school.
6. Math requires attention to detail
The reason for this is that there are often several ways you can do the same problem even though they may give an answer that appears correct at first glance. But careful examination often reveals how some small changes in your approach can yield much different results than before which means you must check over your work carefully before submitting it as complete. This may sound tedious, but it will pay off when you graduate from high school because people who cannot pay attention to detail don’t usually do as well as those who can.
7. You need to be able to estimate in order to solve problems
In math you often have to make quick decisions about what the answer should look like even though it might not be your final answer. For example, you might know that a problem is asking for a specific number but you cannot find this value anywhere in the information given, so instead of giving up or wasting time trying to figure it out, you estimate an answer that makes logical sense and then refine your final result from there. If you do not pay attention to this step, then your results may not match what your teacher expects!
8. Math calculates how much money we use every day
How much money do you bring with you each time you go shopping? How much do you spend on the bus or subway each week? When calculating these costs, do you include sales tax in your total expenditure? These are all questions that involve math because they require an understanding of how numbers work together to make up our daily lives. You cannot live without using math at least once a day!
9. Math helps us with complex problem-solving skills
Some problems in mathematics can be solved by memorizing formulas and doing exactly what it says regardless of whether or not it makes sense. But when faced with word problems which involve real life events, then the only way to solve them is by thinking critically about them and applying advanced problem solving techniques which includes working backwards, drawing pictures or using formulas in creative ways. The more you practice, the better you will get at complex problem-solving which is not only important for high school but also for college and even work!
10. You can keep your brain sharp by doing math puzzles
Although it might seem like a chore at times, doing math problems is actually good for you because it keeps your brain active and working efficiently. This is especially true if you are trying to solve them faster than before or figure out how to do something without any hints given ahead of time. If you’re interested in improving your critical thinking skills then try using these tips to become a master at solving word problems in mathematics!