Many find math a challenging and complex subject that exists only within the confines of a classroom. This sentiment makes studying math difficult: if the formulas, equations, and concepts taught are so far removed from our everyday lives, how can students be expected to understand—much less enjoy—the subject?
As such, it helps to translate math, which appears abstract, into an activity or profession that students care about, whether cooking or sports. Read on to learn about some common real-life math applications in everyday life.
Cooking
Math plays a significant role in the culinary world. Whether you are cooking or baking, it is critical to properly measure your ingredients, calculate proportions, and adjust cooking times to create a harmonious and irresistible dish.
Shopping
When shopping, you’ll have to research and determine which store offers the best deals. For example, you may be interested in buying a new laptop, but each brand has a different discount value, and each product has different functionalities.
You can calculate which store offers the best value for money by ranking your priorities and applying your math skills.
Finances
When managing your household finances, it is crucial that you can add and subtract correctly. Applying such basic math skills helps you balance your accounts, calculate monthly savings, and budget effectively.
Higher math, such as algebra, also has its place in financial management. For example, you would need a firm grasp on compound interests to determine the amount you need for your mortgage. Without a fundamental understanding of mathematical concepts, you could stand to lose a lot of money.
Home Improvement
If you want to embark on a home improvement project, you will need a comprehensive understanding of math.
For example, consider the floor tiling process—how many tiles should you purchase, and how should they be arranged? You must calculate the total floor area to determine the number of tiles required.
Health and Fitness
If you have tried managing your diet, you are likely familiar with math’s role in health and fitness. For one, you calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) using a standard formula. You might also be counting your calories to monitor your daily food intake.
Addition and multiplication skills are also essential in the gym; to determine how much weight you are lifting, you would need to calculate the amount you are loading onto a barbell.
Moreover, you might use geometry and trigonometry to hone your athletic prowess: these skills allow you to calculate the best way to run around the track or hit a shuttlecock.
Architecture
Every structure you pass by, whether a school or a mall, was created using mathematical concepts. Math helps architects plan blueprints, determine proportions and angles, and estimate the likelihood of potential problems.
Conclusion
Many students find math too abstract and have difficulty understanding various mathematical concepts. One way to facilitate their learning experience is to draw connections between math concepts or topics with real-world applications.
If your child continues to struggle with math concepts, it may be a sign to enrol them into math tuition classes. Miracle Math is a math tuition centre in Singapore providing secondary school tuition, including Sec 3 and Sec 4 A-Math tuition. We also offer Primary 5 and 6 math tuition.