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Week 9 [10.12-16.12.18] Math in real life.


]When I was in the school, my favorite subject was physics, because only this subject was answering all my questions about life. What is lighting, what is electricity, how does TV work ?
Even though I always had troubles with mathematics. To be honest I still have.
The reason was simple, I didn’t understand what was the use of that subject. All this functions, integrals, matrices. How can it be helpful in real life? Later in the university I started realizing it.


  1. What did you think of math when you were at school ,what was your progress ?
  2. Do you agree with Eddie Woo that math is everywhere ?
  3. Have you ever thought of how all of those rules of life were made, or by whom ?

Comments

Math is everywhere. Although, you might think that at least not so sophisticated and advanced, it still is. Admit and embrace it. Why would one recent one of the fundamentals of living? It s like, nobody is forcing you to become an Einstein. In my opinion, at least the basics of maths should be comprehended by everyone.
I appreciate your answer. I totally agree that math is everywhere. I would say more, math is everything. It is possible to describe almost everything with math. Trajectory of a rocket, probability of being strike by a lighting. However, in my my post, I was not talking about basic. As for me, basic things can understand everyone, it's just a matter of how it is taught in the schools. I was considering deep understanding of all fundamental theories. Consider for instance game theory, it is an incredible field of math and yet not that easy if you want to understand it form mathematical point of view (using graph theory, matrices, and various probability distributions ).
Filip Sawicki said…
I love math, it’s intuitive, logical and everyone can learn it. At the same time it’s very sad that this subject in particular is so poorly understood and thought, especially in basic educational system. I agree with Eddie Woo that mathematics is everywhere. It is worth noting that there is a century lasting philosophical debate about how come mathematics is so great at representing our reality. Having such a tool at your disposal is very important and beneficial, everyone should learn how to use it!
Thank for your answer!
I also think that the biggest problem with learning math is the way of how it taught in school. Back then, I didn't understand why did we study so many things which didn't make any sense to me.

>What did you think of math when you were at school ,what was your progress ?
I always thought that math is cool. Especially when you compare to polish classes. What was my progress until now or what, because I do not understand?

>Do you agree with Eddie Woo that math is everywhere ?
Yes, because math is actually group of rules how humans see their world.

>Have you ever thought of how all of those rules of life were made, or by whom ?
I think that not "make" is not a suitable word - "find/discover" is better ;) f.e. Pitagoras rule was founded by Pitagoras :P
Unknown said…
Mathematics has never been my strength, so I was not a supporter of it, although I've never been the worst one.
I think, yes, mathematics is everywhere, especially in the times we live, or the world of electronics.
I have never thought about these rules but I am sure that amazingly wise people created them!
Vladlen Kyselov said…
Math always was the easiest subject at school for me and stopped studying it, but still I was among the best on the tests without cheating.
Math is everywhere simply because a lot of rules are build based on mathematics.
I have one opinion according to all foundations in any subject in science: all inventions come from nothing, people who found it out had "luck" to see those patterns that later on have become basic rules.
Andrzej, thanks for comment !
1. I was asking about school progress, because as a child it is a bit difficult to estimate the importance of mathematic.
2,3. I slightly disagree with you. We see what we see, what has been already "programmed" to be created in that way. And yes, I meant the word "made" because it is not that difficult to notice that patterns in our world. My question was kind of philosophical. What was the power that decided that the shape of a river, lighting, blood vessel, tree, all of them should have the similar patter.
Foodocado said…
I enjoy math lessons in school. It was one of my favorite subjects (of course just after P.E :D). I've never had problems with it - the matura exam only proved it.

I agree that math is everywhere. Everything is based on mathematical rules.

I've never thought about that, but I am sure whoever that was, must have been super smart.
Unknown said…
I really liked Math(and still like) when I was in high school. It was one of the subjects that made sense for me. I even noticed that I started adding all the digits(modulo 10) in the registration plates, then figuring out some patterns, ways of getting the answer faster, etc. I don’t know why but I was crazy about the Math and hated my History lessons at the same time. Even though there were lots of numbers in this subject, I couldn’t figure out how it would help me.

Yes, I agree with Eddie Woo, math, indeed, is everywhere. We may not even notice it but it is. I do believe that all those rules of life came from physics but I have no idea because I am bad at it.
Unknown said…
I really liked math when I was in primary school and high school, but I really loved it when I started studying when I realized how math is the most basic building block of every engineering discipline like electronics, telecommunication or computer science


I strongly agree with him, you actually cannot live in today’s world without at least basic knowledge of math.
I think all the rules come from experiences and observations made by people which were later proven with physics experiments as well as with mathematical rules and equations.
Math is everywhere, but its not important for us to understand everything to live and enjoy our life. So while it is everywhere is not as important as we make out it to be nowadays. I like math, i liked it evevn when i was in pre school, i understand its importance in my life and still "u will use it later in life" punchline i consider a lie.

Sometimes i do think about how did they found this and that out , or who named it this, who decided that and how. But in the end it does not matter so much.
Unknown said…
When I was at school, mathematics was never a problem for me, in fact I never had to learn it, what was in the lesson was completely enough for me.
As much as I agree with Eddie Woo that mathematics is everywhere. You can meet her every step of the way. Every field of science uses mathematics and it is essential to our lives. I am full of admiration for the people who invented all theorems or theories. practically all theories have in the name of their originators, so I never thought of who created them, because I did not have to
Iman Masjedi said…
I was very interested in mathematics when I was studying at a school, mathematics is one of the foundations of progress and human science, the basis of all technologies goes back to the math .
I totally agree with her, math is the basis of everything, all computer calculations are based on mathematics.
All laws of life are formed on the basis of conditional calculations and mathematics, the phenomenon of evolution and the chance of the next generation and the next race is based on mathematical calculus.
Unknown said…
1. I performed quite well during my math classes.

2. I agree with that statement. Many people believe that math is useful, but only to some extent. For example splitting a bill or calculating the price after a discount. Those are very simple mathematical problems that can be solved very quickly. They argue that nobody will ever use most of what we have learned in math classes and it is true to some extent. There are many fields that you can use your mathematical knowledge to your advantage. For example probability is not an easy subject in mathematics, yet it is very useful while playing card games.

3. No, I've thought about it before.
I've always liked math. Mostly I had good grades. I always went to a class with a mathematical profile.

Yes, I agree with Eddie Woo that mathematics is everywhere. Every day we have contact with it whether we like it or not. Using a computer, a math is also necessary, although we don't have direct contact with it. Not everyone is aware of how the computer works.

Yes, sometimes I thought about how all these rules of life were created and by whom. It is difficult to answer this question if the world was created by God or is the result of chance.
Thank you for the article. I really liked math at school. It seems to me that it is perfect. I totally agree with Eddie Woo, math is everywhere. It is in everything that surrounds us, especially in the objects created by human. But also math is present in nature, it gives harmony to space around. Although at first glance, everything may seem chaotic. I would like to believe that all mathematical dependence around us was originally conceived by someone.
Unknown said…
I didn’t like mathematics and I still don’t like it. I've never been good at mathematics but it's not from yesterday we know that all our knowledge is based on it. Of course I agree with Eddie Woo that mathematic is everywhere. As I have already mentioned, all our knowledge that people have gained is based on a mathematics. Absolutely everything is related to mathematics in one way or another. I have often wondered how it all came about and I tried to refer to mathematics. Everything merged with mathematics.
Mykhailo Reznyk said…
For me math was always just there. I didn’t consider it boring in a school, but I also couldn’t find a lot of excitement in solving mathematical problems. I had good grades in math, but I’ve never had an enthusiasm towards it. For me, as for most of the people in my opinion, such an attitude was a result of a poor educational system, which simply feeds you formulas and theories, makes you solve some abstract problems and that is all. It doesn’t even matter how excited and dedicated a teacher is with his or her own subject. If material is “raw” and boring, you can’t really make it appealing to all students. Now, when I am grown up person and I am genuinely interested in science, I see importance and beauty of math. And of course, I agree with Eddie Woo that math is everywhere. I also like to consider it as language of science. Unfortunately, as I said, no one instilled a love of math to me in early age. But now, I hope to make up leeway. I also don’t think these laws were made by someone or something. It is just the way our universe works. The real question is why it works like this and not some other way.
Mathematics that very interesting and exact science. It never left me. And it attracted with the magic. However, having received a formula it is possible to draw the beautiful schedule. It is magic. Of course, I agree with it. The mathematics is present at each step sew life, it everywhere. Even if to take the simplest, you know what is money? Do you consider them? Here to you and mathematics.
Marcin Górski said…
Math is my best subject in my whole student life. The most important is practice. I remember that I was always in classes where were the most hours for mathematics. Nowadays, I like to help younger friends when they don't understand something. Additionally, I'm programmer so I often have to write some code which includes some math operations.
Yes, of course I agree with Eddie Woo that math is everywhere especially in programming. When I am in the shop I like to calculate cost before payment. Math is everywhere, seriously everywhere.
Hmm, last question is very hard. Probably, I have thought about system for those rules of but it's not for my brain. We often know who made them by their names (e.x. Thales' theorem) but I can't imagine time what they spent on thinking, tests etc.
Aleksander Wiza said…
I've always had a decent progress in my math education, having attended many additional lessons offered by my schools. I've been taking part in math olympiads held on a national level.

2. Maths is everywhere if you're able to spot it. If you were to write a poem using only words that name items in the room you're sitting. You possibly could do it, so could you create a math problem by producing an equation or an expression to be evaluated? Pretty sure you can, math is a language and therefore it can express a situation as well as words could. Of course the math may not make sense, but it would still look like a valid statement. Or could look invalid but still make sense.

I think the world is yet to be discovered better and dwelling on unprovable things is a waste of time, counter revolutionary - I know - but as long as I'm not conducting research I'd rather enjoy the cake before dissecting it in an electro mass spectrometer.
s18716 said…
It's very hard to disagree with Eddie Wu. I love this topic. I believe that Mathematics is the most common language in the World, which is owned by absolutely everyone, but at different levels. Wherever we look, numbers are everywhere. A person does not even need to delve into science to understand the various mathematical rules. Mathematics is naturally embedded in man, I would even say, as instinct.
Unknown said…
1. I have to admit that when I was in a secondary school and in a high school the math was hard for me. I had to spend a lot of hours learning it because low grades weren't enought for me. I think that I didn't have luck and I had not best math's teachers because in my primary school I was one of best math's student in my school. Also during my studies I finished all of math's subjects with best grades and I have to say that I really like math. :)

2. Of course, that math is everywhere. Everything technicall can be described using math but we should remember that it's not only important thing in our life because e.g. it's hard to desribe feelings using math. ;)

3. I can agree with one of previous comments that it is hard to say that somebody 'made' this rules and 'find/discover' are better words. ;)
Bartosz Barnat said…
I hated math in school but I was always good at it. I never struggled to pass exams, had decent grades but really hated learning by doing almost same exercises all the time that only one thing changed to make it work. But because of math I went to studies and I really love what I'm doing right now so now I could say that math is not that bad.

Yes I agree that math is everywhere because everything in some piece is connected to math, you can solve many things with it. It's everything from beginning of the world. There was a guy that was almost killed by few guys that attacked him and something happend with his brain and he was seeing patterns everywhere, math patterns and because of them he could see how some things work. It was increadible video but I don't know where to find it right now.


No I have never thought of them and who made them.
Szymon Gibalski said…
1. What did you think of math when you were at school, what was your progress ?
- I liked math a lot while I was in High School because I was good at it.
2. Do you agree with Eddie Woo that math is everywhere ?
- Yes, we use math and rely on it every day.
3. Have you ever thought of how all of those rules of life were made, or by whom?
- No, I've never thought about it. But I would like to watch or read about the process of discovering the most important rules.
I remember how I always hated math in school and never saw a real purpose in studying it. Mainly I was too lazy to learn it and had a hard time sometimes during my school career. But it was a long time ago and today my opinion about it is completely different. I totally agree with Mr. Eddie Woo that math is everywhere because it’s simply true. We can see math it self at almost every moment of our lives. The easiest way to show it that I can think of is gravity. It affects every object in our world and can be mathematically (and physically but math is also part of physics) explained. Sometimes I wonder how something works or who invented it. But actually, everything was designed by nature and people just learned how to manage it correctly and use it for their own purpose.
I like math as it is logical and easy to understand and I can not understand people who finds math really hard to learn. I mean basic math for example in high school where every year the worst scores from "Matura Exam" are from math.
I agree with Eddie Woo that math is everywhere, even when you consider fibonacci sequence in nature. It is a great example that math is actually even there where you werent suppose to find it.
Ahmed Elsawi said…
I love math, I agree with Eddie Woo about math is everywhere exactly after he said 137.5 degrees and displayed the same comparability between shape and flower, about how all of those rules of life were made......
Unknown said…
For me, math was quite difficult to understand because most of the knowledge I received from it I just couldn't apply to some real problem. Nobody had explained to me how logarithms are used and why derivatives are important. And that's why so many people think of math as something mystical and hard to understand.
Everything in our world can be described by math. In fact, that's why we created this "language" in the first place - to make it easier for us to describe things around us.
Well, mathematical rules were made by mathematicians obviously but if you're asking who created rules which exist in our universe than it's a very philosophical question, but I guess we will never know. They simply exist and that's all we know about them.
Illia Lukisha said…
What did you think of math when you were at school ,what was your progress ?

I was obsessed with math in school. I took a part in many competitions between schools. But when I started studying in university, on faculty of applied mathematics I understood that math is not that simple and is really complex but in the same time really beautiful.

Do you agree with Eddie Woo that math is everywhere ?

I couldn't agree more because everything a did in my life had mathematical patterns, I saw them on music classes, or in other disciplines.

Have you ever thought of how all of those rules of life were made, or by whom ?

Of coarse I thought but question is still open :)

My favorite subject at school was always mathematics. When I was getting older, I saw how much mathematics is used in our daily lives. So I agree with Eddie Who's statement that mathematics is everywhere. We need mathematics in banking, machine manufacture, and trade in many other aspects of our daily lives. The rules we know were formulated by exceptionally gifted people, they probably discovered some principles by accident, I never figured out how they came to that.

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