How often do you, as a parent, hear that phrase when your son/daughter is doing their math homework?  My guess is fairly often. With time, we see more and more applications where math is useful, but it’s, understandably, more difficult for kids to see this.  Wouldn’t it be great if we could help make the usefulness of math more clear, helping to keep their interest in math and increase their desire to understand their homework on a deeper level?  This blog will help give some ideas in that regard.

I recall tutoring a student when this very question arose.  We were working on trigonometry, finding angles and distances of sides.  It then occurred to me that they were thinking of being an architect for their career.  At that point, it allowed me to show how this type of math is likely used on a very regular basis for architects.  I saw their eyes light up because they felt their efforts were worth the time. If we can notice the different parts of math that our students are working on and relate them to careers or interests they have, math will be looked at in a completely different light for so many students.  

Another favorite example is when I was working with a fifth grader and we were learning the metric system.  I could tell that they weren’t sure why we would be learning something like this when it’s not often seen in our stores or around us.  I recall hearing that their family was thinking of moving to Spain next year and that they’d be traveling there this coming summer. This was a great chance to let them know how the entire country was based on this system and that it’ll be so much easier to travel and live there having this knowledge.  Their desire to learn it at that point changed. 

It’s true that not all math topics are as easy to find examples of in regards to usefulness, but there are likely more than we realize, we just have to be involved and look for them.  For the more obscure topics, I like to remind students that most topics will show up in later courses, so learning them now will make those much easier. Also, if a student is interested in going into the science field, there’s a good chance there will be a practical application of the math they’re currently learning, it’s just not known exactly what it might be just yet.  If for nothing else, math is a great tool to help train the analytical part of our brain, that in turn helps with life!