Why Do We Take So Many Math Classes

Why Do We Take So Many Math Classes

To whoever is reading this illustrious essay, along to your academic journey, or better yet your life, it is mandatory, to learn the basics principals of mathematics in order to be aware of your surroundings better! Some of you start this journey in the first grade and find yourself using mathematics in order to graduate with a bachelor’s degree, to even a graduate and post-graduate degree, regardless of your field of study. You might ask yourself, “But why do we need to know this concept called math, and why it follows us along our journey, regardless or field of study?” Galileo Galilei answers this question in a perfect way:

Philosophy is written in that great book whichever is before our eyes -- I mean the universe -- but we cannot understand it if we do not first learn the language and grasp the symbols in which it is written. The book is written in mathematical language, and the symbols are triangles, circles and other geometrical figures, without whose help it is impossible to comprehend a single word of it; without which one wanders in vain through a dark labyrinth.

That being said, everything that you see right now can be represented with a mathematical axiom; for instance, the speed of light that is reaching your pupils at this moment it is represented, by dint of the trustworthy formula from physics c = X f (c = the speed of light,  = the wavelength of light, f = the frequency at which light waves pass), thus, mathematics is an indispensable of mother nature, and it is needed in one’s work field, and also a plethora of activities in your daily life.

 First of all, in all colleges in the United States of America, in order to get a degree it is mandatory to take at least one math course regardless of the field that you are majoring in such as Art, Criminal Justice, Dance, Digital Art, Liberal Arts, Mexican-American Studies and several others provided at prestigious colleges. In consequence to this, a large number of college students believe that there are too many math classes in college. That is a valuable claim to have; however, this type of assumption is utterly incorrect, because math is used unconsciously in all work fields. Case in point, for instance, an English professor uses mathematics unconsciously to grade her students, or a delivery man by checking the zip codes of the locations where he delivers mail. “Mathematics courses emphasize organization, critical thinking and the application of models to real world problems” (“Mathematics, San Antonio College”). Math is used every day by all categories of people regardless of social standings and status, from a homeless person to the president of the United States.

Although math is necessary and is a part of everyone’s lives, students are still scared of it. Where does students’ fear of math start? Students begin math at an early age, and depending on the type of instructor (good or bad) that they have at that period, will shape their future like or dislike of math. So why should students learn math? Math is everywhere. “When you start getting deeper into algebra is when you’re going to start abstracting things, and we are going to start getting to core ideas that start to explain really how the universe is structured […] These ideas can be applied to economics, chemistry, and physics, but at their core they are the same idea” (Khan Academy). Math exists all over the place from simply telling time, to your physiology (weight, height), to regulating the proper temperature; it is all over the earth just as oxygen is; however, math is not only in the earth it; is universal, hence the saying men and women lie but numbers don’t, if one really desires to be honest with another, the best manner of being truthful will be in mathematical terms.

In summary, math is part not only of one’s academic journey, but also it is the common denominator in the universe. Nonetheless, many people fear math, due to past experiences, but this fear of math is not rational because it will not kill you. Students use math in everyday life, and this use will likely increase in the work field. Therefore, it is best to face the beast straight forward, especially when we know that we will not be killed, but in reality will become multi-lingual because we speak the language of the universe; math.