Differences Between Numeracy And Mathematics

While numeracy and mathematics are often linked together in similar concepts, they are very different from one another. Mathematics is often the abstract use of numbers, letters in a functional way. While numeracy is basically the concept of applying mathematics in the real world and identifying when and where we are using mathematics. However, even though they do have differences there can be a similarity found, in the primary school mathematics curriculum (Siemon et al, 2015, p.172). Which are the skills we use to understand our number systems, and how numeracy includes the disposition think mathematically.

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,

‘Nature abounds with example of mathematical concepts’ (Pappas, 2011, .107). It is interesting how much we see this now we know, regarding the Fibonacci Sequence, which is number pattern where the first number added to itself creates a new number, then adding that previous number to the new number and so on. You will notice how in nature this sequence always adds up to a Fibonacci number, but alas this is no coincidence it is a way in which plants can pack in the most seeds in a small space creating the most efficient way to receive sunlight and catches the most