How much mathematics do we need today?

You are always going to end up in the paradoxical situation of arguing you don't need advanced maths, whilst using advanced maths, to make that argument (computer science, programming, hand-eye co-ordination); even if its largely an unconscious algorithm you are using.
 
Corsair 115 said:
Can't I just let Excel handle the math? :D
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This just got me thinking.... pretty soon we will have an app for everything, so yes, most people wouldn't need to know any higher level math if they trust their iPhone.

In school they will just teach you how to call up the program on your phone and punch in the numbers. You won't even need to worry about which equation goes with what. Want to find the speed of a ball going down an incline plane starting at 0 mps? Open the ball down an incline plane app. When it asks you starting speed put 0, and when it asks you the degree of incline, take a picture of the ramp with your camera phone and it will measure it for you.

Physics gets a whole lot easier too! Open the Free Body Diagram App, take a picture of any contraption you like, and touch the screen at the locations of the known variables. You may need to actually call out any lines and solid beams in the Beta version of the app.
 
There's a handful of concepts that I find useful and recurring in mundane life activities. Gas laws; solid geometry; and the ratio of surface area to volume.

Beyond that, there is the fun stuff, for the layman, and the deeper understanding, for the professional.
Being able to read a label, or see through slanted statistics can be handy in shopping.
People are often preyed upon due to their complete disconnect from simple maths, and that's a pity.
 
"Maths" ? Gosh, you sure talk purty. You a English fella?

But seriously. My trouble bought a tool shed online and it needs a base, not included. I drew a diagram and measured out what dimensions of the lumber were needed, taking into account that 6X2 really means 5.5X1.5 and took it to Home Despot, the only place around that will cut PT lumber for you.
A number of college students, in my experience, do not know how to do that. And boy, do they hate Stats.
 
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I need somewhere between a smidgeon and a bit. It gets confusing when people start using different units of math, though. I mean, what the hell is a tad?
 
Corsair 115 said:
Can't I just let Excel handle the math? :D
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I would actually consider the ability to use a spreadsheet a pretty important skill nowadays. I find it strange that schools will teach a kid to rely on calculators but won't teach them anything useful in Excel (at least, not in a maths class anyway).
 
For most people, they never use any mathematics that they didn't already learn at primary school (by 5th grade).

It is true that they get better at it but arithmetic, percentages and basic shape and space properties get most people through an entire life.
 
The most common "maths" people ask me to do is conversions. It isn't that they couldn't convert 1.13 cups into something easier ( a cup and a tablespoonful) but that when they try it, they just don't have any confidence in their answer.

So the level of math I think people need is, "enough to know when it either sounds right or when you've really screwed up the calculation."
 
Ladewig said:
But if everyone knew that much math there would be no casinos and lotteries.
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I don't think that's true. People like the little thrill of thinking they just might be about to win something. They're paying for adrenaline. How many casino customers actually expect to come out ahead?
 
As I mentioned in the other thread, statistics, statistics and more statistics. I think a basic understanding of statistics is necessary for understanding the world today. Right or wrong, a lot of decisions are being made on the basis of statistics, ie. health care.
 
I find I use trigonometry, exponential functions, and logarithms on a fairly regular basis. But then again, some of my pursuits are unusual (although others aren't).

- Home improvements. Sooner or later, in any project, something is likely to need to be measured or cut at some crazy angle for some reason or other. (Experienced carpenters know tricks for working these out physically using a framing square, but I don't know them all, so I have to reach for my calculator instead.)

- Graphics programming. Try to write the simplest routine (say, "draw an arrow at coordinates x1, y1 that points toward coordinates x2, y2") without a thorough command of the trig functions.

- Basic circuit design.

- Game design. (Ask me about my alternate d20 success table based on exponential functions, that doesn't go haywire when you stack situational modifiers).

- Explaining phenomena at unfamiliar scales (read: addressing the physics arguments of 9/11 Truthers).

I think the first example, regarding the framing square, is telling, and analogies apply to most of the other examples as well. Math knowledge is often a substitute for more specific professional practice or "rule of thumb" knowledge. The real pros have found ways to eliminate the direct use of math (and thereby gain speed and reduce errors as well), but for an amateur trying to apply knowledge of one area to other less familiar areas -- and any critical thinker is likely to be in that role at times -- math is indispensable.

Respectfully,
Myriad
 
Ask the presidential candidates how much math they know.

There is your answer. Sadly.
 
quarky said:
There's a handful of concepts that I find useful and recurring in mundane life activities. Gas laws...
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Exactly what "mundane life activities" would require you to know any of the Gas Laws or even consider standard temperature and pressure?
 
Baloney said:
Exactly what "mundane life activities" would require you to know any of the Gas Laws or even consider standard temperature and pressure?
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Well, just last week I blew up my son's new inflatable pool, as much as I could so that it held the water in better. After an hour in the sun the top ring deflated due to too much pressure against the valve. Keeping Boyle's Law in mind would have prevented this.

ETA: not saying that the formulas would help, but they teach you beyond the basics so that the basics themselves will stick.
 
Careyp74 said:
Well, just last week I blew up my son's new inflatable pool, as much as I could so that it held the water in better. After an hour in the sun the top ring deflated due to too much pressure against the valve. Keeping Boyle's Law in mind would have prevented this.

ETA: not saying that the formulas would help, but they teach you beyond the basics so that the basics themselves will stick.
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Actually, that works well enough as an example. Thanks!
 
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