When I graduated from high school, forty years ago, I had no idea that mathematics would play such a large role in my future. Like most people learning mathematics, I continue to learn until it became too hard, which made me lose interest. Failure or near failure is one way to put a stop to learning a subject, and leave a lasting impression not worth repeating. Mathematics courses, being compulsory, are designed to cover topics. One by one, the topics need not be important or of immediate use, but altogether or cumulatively, the topics provide or point to a skill, a mastery of mathematics.
Logic and mathematics starting with basic arithmetic showed me how to follow steps, one at a time and one after another, to arrive at the results, one step at a time and after another. I learned that an error in one step will make all the following steps and results wrong. Mathematics like any other rule and pattern based discipline may show through experience and trial or error, how to solve problems first by following given methods and later, if needed, by combining and exploring different methods.
In the paralegal field, I see the metric system, important to my daily work. Being able to do arithmetic by hand or with a calculator is needed in the calculating weights, measures and amounts (money included) that appear in daily life. I would be able to calculate estimates, costs, and my payroll hours. Tax forms give step by step instructions for calculating your taxes with arithmetic and a minimal use of formulas because government assumes no competence in algebra. Arithmetic and not algebra is required for computing your taxes.
The following are examples of the use of mathematics in the paralegal profession that I researched...
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...ematics all my life and during my federal government career. I had not noticed that my hand written calculations were part of the algebra and metric systems until now. I have always hated math and never felt the need to learn anything more than what I knew. This course has shown me that if you apply yourself and check your step by step process the end result will be worth it. I found it easy to do metrics. I had a very difficult time with Geometry and Probability; it took me days to understand the process. All of a sudden, it clicked and I was moving right along.
Works Cited
1. Agius, Margaret Lucas, How is math used in Paralegal Studies, April 2010 http://www.ehow.com/facts_5724566_math-used-paralegal-studies_.html
2. Selby, A., Ph.D. Tutoring, Appetizers and Lessons for Mathematics and Reason
http://whyslopes.com/freeAccess/whyMath.html
Math is everywhere when most people first think of math or the word “Algebra,” they don’t get too excited. Many people say “Math sucks” or , “When are we ever going to use it in our lives.” The fact is math will be used in our lives quite frequently. For example, if we go watch a softball game all it is, is one giant math problem. Softball math can be used in many
Write a paragraph or two on why it is important for mathematics teachers to have
I also learned that mathematics was more than merely an intellectual activity: it was a necessary tool for getting a grip on all sorts of problems in science and engineering. Without mathematics there is no progress. However, mathematics could also show its nasty face during periods in which problems that seemed so simple at first sight refused to be solved for a long time. Every math student will recognize these periods of frustration and helplessness.
This may surprise you but, there are many jobs dealing with algebra, three different types of jobs that use algebra are accounting, home health care providers, and credit manager. These different jobs all require knowledge of algebra to be able to solve the problems, and to do daily work that happens within the job. Accountants use algebra to make decisions and such, while health care providers use it on a daily basis to take care of their patient. And credit managers use it to help people with their financial deals and such as. Algebra is also used on a most daily basis with the most simplest things that are done daily. Tasks such as: getting gas, buying and paying for items at the store, sharing candy among siblings, and exercising.
Since I have gotten through the struggle of doing math, I now feel more confident in doing the work. If you ever get to where you don’t understand math, keep trying to understand it and don’t give up unlike I did. Because now I understand it and it comes to me so easy now. Just pay attention and try not to get behind. Because once you get behind it gets hard to
Mathematics is the core of our world. Mathematical skills are applied daily in a variety of personal, work and social contexts and often without knowing it. The Australian Curriculum: Mathematics offers students with vital numerical abilities and education under the six areas of the Australian Curriculum: Mathematics; Number and Algebra, Measurement and Geometry, and Statistics and Probability. The aim is to build the mathematical skills students require within their employment, community and personal lives. The proficiency strands are structured as Understanding, Fluency, Problem Solving, and Reasoning that define how content is developed and offer the language to assist in the developmental features of the education of mathematics.
Whether it’s basic math or something a little bit more complex like needing to use angles. X-rays uses math by having to angle the tube to get the best imaging possible. The mammography modality is very similar in that they use a lot of angles to get the best image for the study. From the sounds of it, CT used to use math quite a bit before computers came and programs came out to help the technologist calculate how much contrast to use or how much radiation is needed. With MRI, it sounds like to me they use basic math skills like rounding and addition or subtraction. Something that I found interesting when interviewing the mammography department was that when they are taking the images, specifically the MLO view, that the angle of the images are very important. If the technologist angles too steep or not steep enough, they could be cutting out some very important information on the images. Another thing that I thought was interesting was that if the technologist doesn’t get the best imaging possible then they get a slip called a QA, quality assurance, from the radiologist stating what the technologist could have done better. I would have to say that x-ray and mammography seems to still use the most math skills out of the modalities that I interviewed and it seems like computer programs are helping technologists make their job a little bit easier by having all the formulas and protocols ready to
Even after the difficulties of this course, I remained excited and became further curious regarding mathematics. Only then did I realize the potential and opportunities mathematics entails. Through interacting with professors and graduate students in the math department, I learned more concerning the roles and requirements of a professor. After hearing about teaching, service, and research, I developed an enthusiasm in a career as a math professor, as it entails these three components that I find pleasurable and stimulating. Math has been a pivotal subject to my intellectual growth and maturity, which inspired me to continue educating myself about graduate school in mathematics, as it prepares me to achieve this rigorous and challenging, yet self-rewarding career
To my surprise, by the end of the year I would receive advanced test scores on my end-of-instruction exams. However, I wanted to understand math as I was learning it. The sink or swim cycle that math had decided to take with me had left me exhausted and I longed to stay afloat for longer than one or two lessons. With Mr. Frank, my Algebra II teacher, I found myself asking questions—something I had been too scared to do in any of my previous math classes—and I would come in before school to ask for help on homework, quizzes, and tests. For the first time in what seemed like forever, I was able to keep my head above water and I felt like I could jump off the diving board into a pool of numbers.
Mathematics is everywhere we look, so many things we encounter in our everyday lives have some form of mathematics involved. Mathematics the language of understanding the natural world (Tony Chan, 2009) and is useful to understand the world around us. The Oxford Dictionary defines mathematics as ‘the science of space, number, quantity, and arrangement, whose methods, involve logical reasoning and use of symbolic notation, and which includes geometry, arithmetic, algebra, and analysis of mathematical operations or calculations (Soanes et al, Concise Oxford Dictionary,
My approach to math in the past years has always been following the steps and rules. All through high school I attended algebra classes. In algebra, all I had to do was follow the steps to complete the formula. To me it was a big puzzle in front of me. I lacked in the ability to accurately complete word problems. This is usually why I have low test state test results. I always wanted to learn how to solve word problems because I knew it would help me in real life situations. Another approach I had towards math was, I only used it if I had to. For example, I would estimate my math problems through real life situations. I did not have the drive to figure out the real answer in my head. The only time I would use math was when I had to, and sometimes I dreaded it. When I sew or cook is when I am forced to use math but, I always felt I was good at reading a ruler or following an ingredient. It is when I have to add and subtract fractions that made me want to take the easy way
Student attitudes toward mathematics— and their understanding of the relevance of the subject to their future aspirations—affect students' enthusiasm for studying math, and help determine whether they will continue on to more advanced studies in these fields.
I chose to explore the idea of bad math in court’ because ever since I was a child, my mother always said to me: “No matter what you choose to do in life, it’ll always require mathematics.” She said this as a way to encourage me to take my math classes more seriously (and it worked!) When watching an episode of criminal minds, my mom’s saying came into mind and I was left wondering if what my mom said was true. Once my teacher introduced this Math IA project, I took it as the perfect opportunity for me to explore an issue that had been bugging me for a while, which was: Math in Court. However, when I was doing a little but of background information...
As a secondary subject, society often views mathematics a critical subject for students to learn in order to be successful. Often times, mathematics serves as a gatekeeper for higher learning and certain specific careers. Since the times of Plato, “mathematics was virtually the first thing everyone has to learn…common to all arts, science, and forms of thought” (Stinson, 2004). Plato argued that all students should learn arithmetic; the advanced mathematics was reserved for those that would serve as the “philosopher guardians” of the city (Stinson, 2004). By the 1900s in the United States, mathematics found itself as a cornerstone of curriculum for students. National reports throughout the 20th Century solidified the importance of mathematics in the success of our nation and its students (Stinson, 2004). As a mathematics teacher, my role to educate all students in mathematics is an important one. My personal philosophy of mathematics education – including the optimal learning environment and best practices teaching strategies – motivates my teaching strategies in my personal classroom.
Devlin believes that mathematics has four faces 1) Mathematics is a way to improve thinking as problem solving. 2) Mathematics is a way of knowing. 3) Mathematics is a way to improve creative medium. 4) Mathematics is applications. (Mann, 2005). Because mathematics has very important role in our life, teaching math in basic education is as important as any other subjects. Students should study math to help them how to solve problems and meet the practical needs such as collect, count, and process the data. Mathematics, moreover, is required students to be capable of following and understanding the future. It also helps students to be able to think creativity, logically, and critically (Happy & Listyani, 2011,