The Benefits of Learning Mathematics

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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

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