Mathematics is an essential and mandatory part of academic life for students. However, many students are uninformed when it comes to the purposes of math outside of the classroom. Math is not always about constructing angles, drawing transversals or solving for x. Love for math can be kindled consistently only if the school, teachers, parents, and tutors can demonstrate the real-life value of math, which is much more important than memorizing formulas to earn passing grades.

Applications of Math in real-life

Don’t teach mathematical concepts; get students to experiment with them. Ask students to budget or manage a program at school to show them the application of math not only in the confines of a classroom, but also in the real world. Fun with numbers can be brought about by designing creative worksheets and case studies, or creating competitions. At every grade level, you can find relevant and engaging activities that require the math skills being taught so make sure those are implemented.

Purposeful math activities are better than text-book problems

Repetitive text book problems can dampen students interest in solving problems. Word problems often are hypothetical and rhetorical, and they lose the real-life connections and applications. Use longer form case studies that require many steps and more complex problems to solve. Acting as managers and problem solvers while applying the knowledge they are acquiring will help that material be digested more thoroughly and will increase engagement of the students.

Math excellence can create responsible citizens, not just mathematicians

Academic success in math is often projected with charming visuals of high paying jobs or lucrative careers behind a computer. What can be transformative is the demonstration of the relevance of the subject in every walk of life and not specific to a professional career. To make a budget for the family, to plan your next vacation, to shop online competitively, you need the power of math. Living within your means and in harmony with natural resources are fundamental to creating good and responsible citizens. Showing how math can help bridge this gap can encourage students to truly understand its importance. By encouraging planning, budgeting and optimization, from elementary school and up, math education builds not only mathematicians but also capable communities.

Not every chapter in your math text-book will come of use every day. But the real purpose of learning math is to help you solve real-life problems in a scientific manner. Highlight the need for clarity and decisiveness in students and show them how quantification of real-life purposes strengthens them with more negotiating power. Numbers give them knowledge, empowers them and encourages them to question stereotypical decisions taken with subjectivity.