Mathematics: Essential in Life

Mathematics can make and unmake our lives. From waking up in the morning to preparing our bed for sleep, we do like calculating, organizing, analyzing, creating, planning, thinking or even in reasoning. Our days won’t pass without using math skills at home, in school, at work, in the community, or wherever you may go.

At home, we prepare food with measurement and time; we make budget for our necessities and activities; we understand timetables and apply them as we plan for our chores, celebrations or even trips; and, we organize our thoughts, reasons and perspectives. Numbers, symbols, expressions, statements or even patterns are used to describe these actions. Some of our activities may be in routines and we may say that these are not number-related but the skills in math like arranging, managing, assuming or even predicting are present and undeniable. Hence, confusion, misinterpretations and miscalculations can be avoided through practicing mathematical skills.

In school, Math does important roles in understanding the contents of other subject areas. Science can’t be explained without the concepts of Mathematics on numbers and patterns,; Social Studies can be blurry if the simple thought of time is denied; Music may turn to noise if pattern and harmony are not respected; Art is just a garbage without balance, proportion, lightness or thickness; Communication Arts can be so vague if mathematical concepts are ignored; and, Technical and Livelihood Education subject is of no sense without measurement. What is, then, our Values Education if equality gains no weight in our very own life?

At work, Mathematics guides us on how to solve problems soundly and meet the practical needs such as collecting, counting, and processing data. Moreover, it provides an effective way of building mental discipline and encourages logical reasoning, develops flexible thinking and creativity that lead to healthy work relationship and productivity.

In the community, Mathematics makes our existence orderly and harmonious. It is because certain qualities that are nurtured by mathematics are power of reasoning, creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving ability and even effective communication skills. Roy Hollands once said, “The aspect of man’s life and understanding deals with numbers and calculations”. Without mathematics we cannot reach this far, the advancement of the modern world and the comfort that technology brings.

Indeed, Mathematics is a tool in every set of tools, a subject in all subjects and a language of every tongue for at home, in school, at work, in community or wherever we may go for whoever we may meet in whatever we do whenever there is a chance.(