Essential life skill
MATHEMATICS, the science of numbers, quantities and space, is introduced to children in kindergarten and persists all the way to secondary school and university. While it is glorified in its purpose to support rocket science, engineering, architecture and other STEM careers, many students and adults seldom see the importance of algebra, trigonometry, calculus and other mathematical sub-disciplines in their lives.
However, this perception could not be further from the truth. Mathematical applications are highly relevant and beneficial to daily life and, at this point, most of us use them subconsciously. Below are a few benefits.
Maths is good for your brain –
A 2015 study titled Brain Structural Integrity and Intrinsic Functional Connectivity Forecast 6 Year Longitudinal Growth in Children’s Numerical Abilities indicates that children with better proficiency in maths are able to recruit certain brain regions more reliably and have greater volumes of grey matter in those regions. The regions involved are associated with various cognitive tasks involving visual attention and decision-making.
Maths teaches you to handle your finances – Ever wondered at the end of the month where all your allowance has gone? Maths helps you determine your budget through the understanding of cost and income. This skill can be brought into adulthood, when you are in charge of your own finances in the working world. A good grasp of maths will help people better control their finances and reduce their likelihood of falling into debt because they know how much money they have and how much they should be spending.
Maths makes you a better cook – Malaysian cooking prides itself with its agak-agak or “guesstimation” method, but baking and western cooking require precise amounts of each ingredient. With a knowledge of maths, you can quickly deduce different kinds of measurements without using multiple measuring devices while also ensuring everyone at your table has enough to eat.
Maths hones your problemsolving skills – As it helps us think analytically and form good reasoning abilities, it can be applied to any problem in life. These skills help us identify the knowns and unknowns and take appropriate steps to solve problems.
Maths is crucial for any career in the real world – While scientific careers famously involve maths, they are not the only careers to do so. From interpreting your paycheck and balancing your budget, to operating a cash register at a supermarket, to sectioning written content to adhere to the word count of an article, every job requires at least a little maths knowledge.