Maths in Everyday life

As students, a lot of us struggled with maths. This is mainly because numbers and numerals are fundamentally abstract concepts and they are introduced at a very early age. A 4 or 5 year-old simply does not have enough cognitive abilities to understand the concept of numbers. The basics of arithmetic are essentially imaginary as no one can ‘see’ number 5 but we can see 5 apples for example. However, as we begin to grow old and use numbers in everyday life, we begin to appreciate the beauty of numbers and the role that math plays in our everyday life.

The extent to which math plays a role in one’s life is largely determined by one’s profession. A farmer may not need sophisticated math concepts such as permutations and combinations that a genetics specialist might find useful. However, in today’s modern world, most of us have to use some level of advanced math. Whether it’s about doing our taxes or calculating the premium of insurance, various concepts of the subject have become an integral part of our lives.

The types of numbers we use also differ from one person to another. A lot of us don’t have the need to use complex numbers which is the realm of scientists and engineers. Many of us can spend our entire lives by just using integers. And then there are people who come somewhere between the two categories and they may have to use real numbers to deal with decimals and fractions.

Regardless of the extent to which the subject affects our daily lives, mathematical concepts continue to have an impact directly or indirectly. Consider the usage of cell phones and GPS without which a lot of us would struggle to pass a single day. These technological marvels were invented by applying some of the most advanced concepts. And that’s the difference maths can make to our lives.

Get a better understanding of the concepts and topics in maths. Visit BYJU’S YouTube channel to watch concepts with interesting videos.