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In a message dated 02/28/2003 11:49:40 AM Central Standard Time,
rubyprincesstsg@... writes:


> I just thought that I might not even know the ways that higher math is
> incorporated into daily lives and was asking if there are ways that others
> do
> this.
>
> You know how sometimes we don't even realize we are using math or science
> as
> we go around our daily routine, but really it is? Kinda like you cannot
> hardly do cooking without fractions and baking is all about science really.
>
>
>

It occurs to me that getting some textbooks (for yourself) and looking over
the word problems might be helpful in that. Then, as situations naturally
arise, and if your dc ask about mathematical approaches, you'll have
something backing you up.

Frankly, I mostly tend to just approximate solutions. Not very mathematic,
but it works for me. <g>

I haven't taken trig or calc myself, so I can't speak to these advanced math
disciplines, but I'm thinking of two real-life situations where we did use
geometric and algebraic equations: planning out a garden and hanging a
complex grid of photographs on a wall. Please don't ask me to explain :-) --
dh and a friend helped with it and it was a couple of years ago. I'd have to
try to work it out all over again, but it was fun (for a change of pace. <VBG>
)

Peace,
Laura B.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Pamela Sorooshian

On Saturday, March 1, 2003, at 12:12 AM, LauraBourdo@... wrote:

> Frankly, I mostly tend to just approximate solutions. Not very
> mathematic,
> but it works for me. <g>

Most people who appear to be "quick" in mathematics are really very
good estimators. It is a really important part of math - but in school,
they make the kids estimate when there is no reason to do so, just to
try to make them learn to do it. It doesn't work.

-pam