The Importance Of Mathematical Knowledge For Me
Danica Mckellar once said, “Math is like going to the gym for your brain. It sharpens your mind.” Math started out quite easy, 1+1=2, 2+2=4, how hard could that be, right? Wrong. Math went from just numbers and simple equations to numbers with letters and complex theories. I was actually good at math and I believe I still am, it just has gotten more complicated than before and it only gets more complicated as you move up.
In Elementary School, younger students begin to consider the available tools, including estimation, when solving a math problem and decide when certain tools might be helpful. For example, when I was a kindergartener, I used my blocks and fingers to make sure I was adding and subtracting well. In first grade, I decided it might be best to use colored chips to model an addition problem. In second grade, I decided to solve a problem by drawing a picture rather than writing an equation. In third grade, I used graph paper to find all the possible rectangles that have a given perimeter. I would compile the possibilities into an organized list or a table, and determine whether they have all the possible rectangles.
In fourth grade, I used graph paper or a number line to represent and compare decimals and protractors to measure angles. In fifth grade, I would use unit cubes to fill a rectangular prism and then use a ruler to measure the dimensions. I would also use graph paper to accurately create graphs and solve problems or make predictions from real world data. In sixth grade, we would have to represent similar data sets using dot plots with the same scale to visually compare the center and variability of the data.
In seventh grade, we would use physical objects or applets to generate probability data and use graphing calculators or spreadsheets to manage and represent data in different forms. In eighth grade, we had to translate a set of data given in tabular form to a graphical representation to compare it to another data set. As you can see, it got very complex and math was not just about addition and subtracting anymore. However, I always had the tools and help I needed to understand the material.
In high school, we would consider the available tools when solving a mathematical problem. These tools might include pencil and paper, concrete models, a ruler, a protractor, a calculator, a spreadsheet, or a computer algebra system. By high school, I was quite familiar with the tools I needed in order to solve a problem. I would analyze graphs of functions and solutions generated using a graphing calculator. I could detect possible errors by strategically using estimation and other mathematical knowledge. I was able to identify relevant external mathematical resources, such as digital content located on a website, and use them to pose or solve problems. Also, I am able to use technological tools to explore and deepen my understanding of concepts.
Technology advances have made it easier for my generation to understand math. I could not imagine a world without a calculator or smartphone. All the problems I find complex would be a hundred times worse if I didn’t have technology to help guide me to the answer. My teachers always built me up with confidence and helped me understand how all the theories worked. However, there were one or two teachers that I learned absolutely nothing from. I just couldn’t understand their way of teaching and they gave me such a hard time. I believe I was able to succeed in math with the help of the caring adults that guided me. Without them, I would not have been able to teach myself.
