The importance of mathematics in our daily life.

 

The importance of mathematics in the daily life of children – and not so children.

 

Understanding the different disciplines that are grouped within the field of mathematics can be complicated. It is one of the most difficult and hated school subjects and has brought students of many generations upside down. Added to this difficulty is the fact that we currently have devices capable of performing mathematical calculations easily, quickly and efficiently. This makes students wonder (and ask us) why they should learn to perform these operations manually when there are machines that do it for us.

 

Understanding the practical applications that mathematics has in our daily lives is essential to understand and learn them in a much easier and more intuitive way. In addition, upon discovering their great practical utility, interest in them grows and, as a consequence, they are learned much better. And it is that mathematics is much more than numbers and operations. Thanks to them, we develop skills that go far beyond the classroom, such as logical reasoning, mental agility or the ability to solve problems. In addition, they help us to have our minds prepared for thought, criticism and abstraction, and they give us security in the procedures we follow and confidence in the results obtained.

 

 

 

Beyond the individual skills that they develop in us, mathematics also allows us to have a much more in-depth knowledge of reality and the environment that surrounds us. And the best way to begin to know them is to know exactly what they consist of.We can define mathematics as the science that, through logical reasoning, studies the properties and relationships between abstract entities: numbers, symbols, geometric figures etc.  and is made up of different branches.

 

 

On the one hand, we have arithmetic, which studies real numbers and basic mathematical operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, etc.), algebra, which studies quantity in a general way through formulas made up of numbers and letters, and calculus.  Which includes concepts such as derivatives and integrals and is used to study changes. On the other hand, we have geometry, which studies the dimensions and shapes of objects. And we also have statistics, which is responsible for the collection, organization and analysis of data, and probability, which helps us to determine the chances that an event may occur.

 

All branches of mathematics have practical applications in everyday life beyond the profession we decide to pursue.

 

 

Everyday applications of mathematics

 

The best known example is related to finances. Mathematics is essential to making purchase-sale transactions, managing our money correctly, or understanding the conditions of a savings account and a loan.

 

Our home is also a place where we use mathematics daily. In the kitchen, for example, mathematics helps us calculate amounts, divide portions, prepare various dishes. And when we carry out any small project or reform, we will need mathematics to mix paint, make measurements to cut a piece of wood, drive a nail or fix any object.

 

Mathematics is also essential for us to be able to solve the problems that arise in everyday life, being able to help us answer frequently asked questions such as:

 · What time do I leave to be on time for an appointment?

· How long will it take?

· What itinerary should I follow?

· How much is it going to cost me?

· How much will I save with a discount?

· Have they applied it correctly?

· Will it fit or won't it?

 

And, although it is true that many times these questions are usually answered through the trial and error system, we can use mathematics to easily calculate an exact answer that minimizes the chances of being wrong.