This is what needed to be proven: scientists explain why modern man cannot do without mathematics. The role of mathematics in science Errors of airplanes and soldiers' feet

There is a point of view in society according to which all people in matters of intellectual knowledge have a tendency either to the mathematical pole or to the humanitarian pole. A child goes to school, gets A's in literature, but doesn't do well in math. “It’s okay,” the parents say, “he’s a humanitarian.” The opposite situation often occurs.

But how fair is this? Is mathematics objectively more difficult to master than the humanities? Are human abilities genetically determined or the result of upbringing?

During the study Mathematicians turned out to be smarter than humanists It turned out that if a student passes exams well in exact disciplines, in most cases he also copes well with humanities. And students in liberal arts schools fail not only in mathematics, but also in languages.

Does this mean that mathematical disciplines are more difficult? No.

If a person passes all exams well, this speaks of his responsibility, not his abilities. Many people can easily operate with abstract concepts and learn languages, but they find mathematics very difficult. In addition, other studies show that there is no connection between mastering mathematical and humanities disciplines at the level of brain activity. These are completely different cognitive abilities.

Physiological basis of intellectual abilities

As part of the study Origins of the brain networks for advanced mathematics in expert mathematicians Scientists recorded the brain activity of mathematicians and other people while performing various tasks. As a result, they came to the following conclusion.

When performing mathematical operations in a person, special areas of the brain are activated that are not associated with language abilities.

It turns out that the difference between mathematical and humanitarian knowledge lies at the physiological level. There are zones responsible for mathematical thinking, and others for linguistic thinking. It cannot be said that any of them is more perfect.

Nature and nurture

In the study mentioned above, scientists also concluded that children's ability to perform simple algebraic operations is the key to further mathematical success. Indeed, at an early age, even before any upbringing, parts of a person’s brain develop differently. Some people's mathematical areas are better developed, while others have them worse.

Since the same neural network is involved in both elementary and more complex tasks, it is possible to predict a child’s future talent even before it manifests itself. The kid quickly understood why 1 + 1 = 2? Then in the future it will be relatively easy for him to learn sines and cosines.

The same can be said about humanists. The speed at which a child masters a language and the ability to grasp the basic laws of grammar make it possible to assess how good he will be in comprehending the humanities, since early success in this area indicates the potential of the corresponding area of the brain.

It can be assumed that physiological characteristics predetermine our cognitive abilities. However, this is not the case and here's why:

Many other factors influencing the manifestation of talent are not taken into account. For example, a person may have the makings of a mathematician at the physiological level, but at the same time there is absolutely no interest in this discipline, which is why his natural talent will not develop.
What we talk about as a physiological tendency may actually be the result of the early educational activities of parents.

As Swiss psychologist and philosopher Jean Piaget notes: Cognition, the development of both language and mathematical cognitive abilities occurs during the preoperational period (2–7 years). It is then that the child’s physiological predisposition to certain activities may appear.

This period in brain development is the most important, since the creation of neural connections occurs according to the principle of the frequency of their use. About the features of brain development from conception to adolescence. That is, after 2–3 years, those zones that are most often involved begin to actively develop.

At this stage, brain development directly depends on human activity and the repetition of certain practices.

The study of twins also sheds light on the formation of human abilities. Their set of genes is approximately the same, and therefore differences in intellectual abilities are most likely due to external factors.

Such studies conducted by Russian scientists in the 90s Where do smart kids come from?, showed that from the age of two, the intelligence of twins actually becomes similar under relatively identical external conditions.

Scientists from the University of California at Santa Barbara came to approximately the same conclusion. The high heritability of educational achievement reflects many genetically influenced traits, not just intelligence. The external environment matters and plays the role of conditions for the implementation of the biological basis.

conclusions

Whether a person becomes a humanist or a mathematician depends on the biological factor and heredity that predetermine the development of his brain. However, the manifestation of this factor is strongly influenced by activity in childhood. We are talking about the period when a person has not yet directly begun to study the disciplines themselves, but in the process of playing and communicating with parents he somehow uses different areas of the brain, stimulating their development.

In practice, this means the following: parents should not force their child to do activities for which he has no particular attraction and in which he is not very successful. We must try to find talent and promote its development.

Achmizova Samira

If you look around carefully, the role of mathematics in human life becomes obvious. Computers, modern phones and other equipment accompany us every day, and their creation is impossible without the use of the laws and calculations of great science. However, the role of mathematics in the lives of people and society is not limited to such applications. Otherwise, for example, many artists could say with a clear conscience that the time devoted to solving problems and proving theorems in school was wasted. However, this is not the case. Let's try to figure out why mathematics is needed. the role of mathematics in human life

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on the topic: “The role of mathematics in human life.

What is mathematics for?

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MBOU secondary school No. 13

Achmizova S.A.

2018

The role of mathematics in human life.

What is mathematics for?

Base

First, it’s worth understanding what mathematics actually is. Translated from ancient Greek, its very name means “science”, “study”. Mathematics is based on the operations of counting, measuring and describing the shapes of objects. It is the basis upon which knowledge of structure, order, and relationships rests. They are the essence of science. The properties of real objects are idealized in it and written in a formal language. This is how they are converted into mathematical objects. Some idealized properties become axioms (statements that do not require proof). From these other true properties are then derived. This is how a mathematical model of a really existing object is formed.

Two sections

Mathematics can be divided into two complementary parts. Theoretical science deals with deep analysis of intra-mathematical structures. Applied science provides its models to other disciplines. Physics, chemistry and astronomy, engineering systems, forecasting and logic use the mathematical apparatus constantly. With its help, discoveries are made, patterns are discovered, and events are predicted. In this sense, the importance of mathematics in human life cannot be overestimated.

Basis of professional activity

Without knowledge of basic mathematical laws and the ability to use them, in the modern world it becomes very difficult to learn almost any profession. Not only financiers and accountants deal with numbers and operations with them. Without such knowledge, an astronomer will not be able to determine the distance to the star and the best time to observe it, and a molecular biologist will not be able to understand how to deal with gene mutation. An engineer will not design a working alarm or video surveillance system, and a programmer will not find an approach to the operating system. Many of these and other professions simply do not exist without mathematics. the importance of mathematics in human life

Humanities

However, the role of mathematics in the life of a person, for example, who has devoted himself to painting or literature, is not so obvious. And yet, traces of the queen of sciences are also present in the humanities. It would seem that poetry is pure romance and inspiration; there is no place for analysis and calculation in it. However, it is enough to remember the poetic metres (iambs, trochees, amphibrachs) to understand that mathematics had a hand in this too. Rhythm, verbal or musical, is also described and calculated using the knowledge of this science. mathematics in our lives For a writer or psychologist, such concepts as reliability of information, an isolated case, generalization, and so on are often important.

All of them are either directly mathematical, or are built on the basis of laws developed by the queen of sciences, and exist thanks to her and according to her rules. Psychology was born at the intersection of the humanities and natural sciences. All of its directions, even those that work exclusively with images, rely on observation, data analysis, their generalization and verification. Modeling, forecasting, and statistical methods are used here.

From school

Mathematics is present in our lives not only in the process of mastering a profession and implementing the acquired knowledge. One way or another, we use the queen of sciences at almost every moment of time. That is why mathematics begins to be taught quite early. By solving simple and complex problems, the child does not just learn to add, subtract and multiply. He slowly, from the basics, comprehends the structure of the modern world. And we are not talking about technical progress or the ability to check change in a store. Mathematics shapes certain features of thinking and influences our attitude towards the world. what is mathematics for?

The simplest, the most difficult, the most important

Probably everyone will remember at least one evening while doing homework, when they wanted to desperately howl: “I don’t understand what mathematics is for!”, throw aside the hated complex and tedious problems and run into the yard with friends. At school and even later, at college, the assurances of parents and teachers that “it will come in handy later” seem like annoying nonsense. However, it turns out they are right. mathematics in the life of society It is mathematics, and then physics, that teaches one to find cause-and-effect relationships, lays the habit of looking for the notorious “where the legs grow from.”

Attention, concentration, willpower - they also train in the process of solving those very hated problems. If we go further, the ability to draw consequences from facts, predict future events, as well as the habit of doing this are also laid during the study of mathematical theories. Modeling, abstraction, deduction and induction - all these are the methods of the queen of sciences and at the same time ways of the brain working with information.

And again psychology

Often it is mathematics that gives a child the revelation that adults are not omnipotent and do not know everything. This happens when mom or dad, when asked to help solve a problem, just shrug their shoulders and declare their inability to do it. And the child is forced to look for the answer himself, make mistakes and look again. It also happens that parents simply refuse to help. “You have to do it yourself,” they say. And they do it right. After many hours of attempts, the child will receive not just completed homework, but the ability to independently find solutions, detect and correct errors. And this also lies the role of mathematics in human life. mathematics in everyday life Of course, independence, the ability to make decisions, be responsible for them, and the absence of fear of mistakes are developed not only in algebra and geometry lessons. But these disciplines play a significant role in the process. Mathematics fosters qualities such as determination and activity. True, a lot depends on the teacher. Incorrect presentation of material, excessive rigor and pressure can, on the contrary, instill fear of difficulties and mistakes (first in the classroom, and then in life), reluctance to express one’s opinion, and passivity.

Mathematics in everyday life

After graduating from university or college, adults do not stop solving mathematical problems every day. How to catch the train? Can a kilogram of meat cook dinner for ten guests? How many calories are in the dish? How long will one light bulb last? These and many other questions are directly related to the Queen of Sciences and cannot be resolved without her. It turns out that mathematics is invisibly present in our lives almost constantly. And most often we don’t even notice it. the role of mathematics in the life of people and society Mathematics in the life of society and the individual touches on a huge number of areas.

Some professions are unthinkable without it, many appeared only thanks to the development of its individual areas. Modern technical progress is closely related to the complication and development of the mathematical apparatus. Computers and telephones, airplanes and spacecraft would never have appeared if people had not known the queen of sciences. However, the role of mathematics in human life does not end there. Science helps a child master the world, teaches him to interact with it more effectively, and shapes his thinking and individual character traits. However, mathematics alone would not cope with such tasks. As mentioned above, the presentation of the material and the personality traits of the one who introduces the child to the world play a huge role.

Mathematics in human life

Have you ever heard the following expression: mathematics is a country without borders? This phrase about mathematics has very good reasons. Mathematics occupies a special place in human life. We have become so close to it that we simply don’t notice it.

But our life begins with mathematics. The child has just been born, and the first numbers in his life are already heard: height, weight. The baby is growing up, cannot pronounce the word “mathematics”, but is already doing it, solving small problems of counting toys and cubes. And parents don’t forget about tasks. When preparing food for a child, weighing him, they have to use mathematics. After all, you need to solve a basic problem: how much food you need to prepare for your baby, taking into account his weight.

There are a lot of mathematical problems at school and their complexity increases every year. They don't just teach the child certain actions. Mathematical problems develop thinking, logic, and a set of skills: the ability to group objects, reveal patterns, determine connections between phenomena, and make decisions. Doing mathematics and solving mathematical problems develops a person, makes him more purposeful, active, and independent.

And after school, mathematics will be very useful. While studying at university, at work and at home, you need to constantly solve problems related to mathematics. What is the probability of passing the exam? How much money do you need to earn to buy an apartment? What is the surface area of the walls of your house, and how much brick do you need to buy to insulate your house? How to correctly calculate whether a girl or a boy will be born? And this is where mathematics comes to the rescue. It follows a person everywhere, helps him solve practical problems, and makes his life much more convenient.

The world and life itself are changing rapidly. It includes new technologies. Only mathematics and problem solving in the traditional sense remain true. Mathematical laws have been tested and systematized, so a person can rely on it at important moments and solve any problem. The math won't let you down.

What is the purpose of mathematics education?

Preparation for university.
Preparation for a future profession.
Intellectual development.
Formation of worldview.
Orientation in the surrounding world.
Exercise of the brain.

Here are some motivations regarding the importance of mathematics education for the individual.

Mathematics is encountered and used in everyday lifeTherefore, every person needs certain math skills. In life we have to count, for example, money. We constantly use, often without noticing it, knowledge about quantities characterizing lengths, areas, volumes, time intervals, speeds and much more. All this came to us in arithmetic and geometry lessons and was useful for orientation in the world around us.

Mathematical knowledge and skillsare necessary in almost all professions, primarily, of course, in those related to the natural sciences, technology and economics. But there is no doubt that a doctor, linguist, historian needs to use mathematical knowledge and mathematical thinking, and it is difficult to end this list, mathematical education is so important for professional activity in our time. Hence,mathematics and mathematical education are needed to prepare for a future profession. This requires knowledge of algebra, mathematical analysis, probability theory and statistics.

Philosophical comprehension of the world, its general laws and basic scientific concepts is also not possible without mathematics. And that's whymathematics is necessary for the formation of a worldview.

Mathematics should contribute to the development of ethical principles of human society. The study of it is designed to cultivate in a person intellectual honesty, objectivity, the desire to comprehend the truth,it also cultivates the ability for aesthetic perception of the world, the beauty of intellectual achievements.

“Mathematics must be taught later because it puts the mind in order,” M.V. Lomonosov. Not only arms, legs, body require training, but alsothe human brain needs exercise. Solving problems, puzzles, and mathematical puzzles develops logical thinking and reaction speed. It is not without reason that they say that mathematics is mental gymnastics.

Why is mathematics needed?

Like any normal child, even in my school years, I was worried about the question: Why is mathematics needed? Then, I quickly found the answer to it, learning to correctly count change, count how much I had left to save up to the necessary beads and bracelets, at what angle to throw a stone across the water to make a “frog”.

Now, as a university student, I will try to once again ask myself the question about the meaning of mathematics in our lives and understand it more deeply.

To be honest, I thought that mathematics did not play such a great role in people’s lives, but when I started writing an essay and thinking about this topic, it turned out that I was wrong. I had no idea about such a great significance and importance of mathematics in people’s lives.

It’s hard to imagine, but once upon a time people couldn’t count at all!

Evidence strongly suggests that counting arose earlier than the names of numbers. The man used the same type of objects around him: fingers, pebbles, knots, lines drawn on the wall, notches on sticks and trees, piles of stones, etc. When language emerges, words are associated only with those concepts that already exist, that is, they are recognized. The words "one", "two" and possibly "three" appear regardless of the count. Notation (numbering) is a set of techniques for naming and designating numbers. When counting becomes common and commonplace, verbal designations also appear for the most frequently occurring (i.e., small) groups of standard objects.

With the increasing complexity of people's economic activities, it was necessary to keep count over a wider range, which required the creation of more complex counting devices. These are various abacus (abacus, soroban, suan-pan, etc.) and later in the Middle Ages mechanical abacus appeared.

Largely thanks to mathematics, civilization has become what it is now: developed, high-tech, educated and wealthy. Mathematical science has enabled the development of civilization in all its aspects.

The meaning of mathematics

The name "mathematics" comes from the Greek word "mathein" - to learn, to know. The ancient Greeks generally believed that the concepts of “mathematics” (mathematike) and “science”, “cognition” (mathema) are synonymous. They were characterized by such an understanding of the universalism of this branch of knowledge, which two thousand years later was expressed by Rene Descartes, who wrote: “The field of mathematics includes sciences in which either order or measure are considered, and it is not at all important whether these are numbers, figures, stars, sounds or something else...; thus, there must be some kind of general science that explains everything related to order and measure, without entering into the study of any particular subjects..."

Another explanation for the origin of the word "mathematics" is associated with the Greek word "mathema" (mathema), which means harvest, harvest. Marking out plots of land (geometry), determining the timing of field work (based on astronomical observations and calculations), preparing the required amount of seed and calculating the harvest required serious mathematical knowledge.

The role of mathematics in science

The role of mathematics in modern science is constantly increasing. This is due to the fact that, firstly, without a mathematical description of a number of phenomena of reality, it is difficult to hope for a deeper understanding and mastery of them, and, secondly, the development of physics, linguistics, technical and some other sciences presupposes the widespread use of mathematical apparatus. Moreover, without the development and use of the latter, it would have been, for example, impossible either to explore space or to create electronic computers that have found application in a wide variety of areas of human activity.

Thanks to mathematical knowledge and skills, we solve not only arithmetic problems. This science allows you to develop mental flexibility, which is necessary to make an objective solution to any problem. This is not only a mathematical problem, but also various life situations that require consideration “from different angles.” To understand and know the essence of a problem, you need to consider it from all sides, which is possible thanks to the imagination. math science language

Mathematics is an exact science that does not tolerate mistakes. It is thanks to this feature that mathematical laws form the basis of all inventions, from primitive ones in the form of levers and pendulums to supercomputers.

Mathematical language

The laws and regularities derived in mathematics are objective and applicable in all other areas of human knowledge. Physics, chemistry, geography, geology and many other areas of scientific knowledge are based on its laws, in which it is simply impossible to do without mathematics. Now we are accustomed to the fact that everything instantly becomes obsolete; for a computer, a year is already a death sentence. Can you imagine that everything that was laid down in mathematics two thousand years ago is still relevant, that all those mathematical laws and theorems that were formulated by famous mathematicians of those times are still true. Almost nothing has changed since then.

Mathematics is a country without borders

More than once I have heard the phrase that mathematics is a country without borders. Despite its banality, the phrase about mathematics has very good reasons. Mathematics occupies a special place in human life. We have become so integrated with it that we simply don’t notice it.

But everything begins with mathematics. The child has just been born, and the first numbers in his life are already heard: height, weight.

The baby is growing up, cannot pronounce the word “mathematics”, but is already doing it, solving small problems of counting toys and cubes. And parents don’t forget about mathematics and problems. When preparing food for a child, weighing him, they have to use mathematics. After all, you need to solve basic problems: how much food needs to be prepared for the baby, taking into account his weight.

Builders make the layout of apartments, the optimal layout of apartments, the length and width of the corridor, the sizes of rooms help to find simple functions. You have the area, the main parameters of the house (length and width), the approximate size of the corridor, on the basis of this a system of elementary functions is compiled, in which only the parameters of the rooms that interest you remain unknown. Then this system is reduced to one equation, differentiated, examined for monotonicity, and its extremum points are found. It is the extremum points that are optimal, the theme that is most profitable to use. The values of the unknowns obtained at the extremum points are used by builders.

At the school of mathematical problemsMathematics in antiquity

The ancient Egyptians would never have built their Great Pyramids without the simple laws of mathematics. It seems that it could be easier than drawing a straight line?! But to make the side of the pyramid, you need a straight line several kilometers long! The Egyptians managed to figure out how to solve the problem. Many rules from school textbooks on arithmetic and geometry were known to the ancient Greeks more than two thousand years ago. Other ancient peoples - the Egyptians, Babylonians, Chinese, peoples of India - in the third millennium before our era had information on geometry and arithmetic, which some fifth or sixth grade students lack. After all, wherever you need to count, measure, compare something, you cannot do without mathematics. And the further it went, the more and more accurately it was necessary to count. With each passing decade, mathematics became more and more necessary for people. Now not only mathematicians themselves have to deal with calculations and calculations: engineers, sailors, and builders were faced with calculations at every step.

Who else does math help?

Mathematics also helps astronomers in determining the paths of distant stars. Engineers in the calculation of jet aircraft and ships. Physics reveals the laws of the atomic nucleus. The sailor is shown the path of the ship in the ocean.

Nowadays, more and more computers, complex machine tools, and various automatic machines are appearing, so mathematics is needed not only by engineers and physicists, but also by ordinary craftsmen and factory workers.

However, just a few decades ago there were many problems that were practically impossible to solve, although mathematicians knew how to solve them. It happened that dozens of people worked for several years to solve one single problem. The calculations were slow. The main “tools” of a mathematician were the same as in the days of the ancient Greeks - his own head and a blank sheet of paper with a pencil.

And now mathematics has a new powerful assistant, which is called an electronic computer.

With the invention of electronic computers, a new era began in mathematics and many other sciences.

We need to add a thousand large numbers. If you add up the numbers on paper in a column, it will probably take about four hours. An experienced accountant can add up a thousand numbers in about an hour. And an electronic computer will need for this work... a split second. In addition, it will perform the calculation several times to check. Existing high-speed computers work hundreds of thousands of times faster than humans.

Predicting tomorrow's weather required thousands of arithmetic operations. With manual calculation, two specialists would spend five years on these calculations, and the machine would complete the job in an hour.

For example, at many large airports, a computer instead of a human controller controls the takeoff and landing of aircraft. The machine turns out to be a much better dispatcher than a person: it “thinks” faster, never worries, never gets tired, and almost never makes mistakes. It turns out that “with the help” of an electronic computer, mathematics can control airplanes!

Computers control trains, subways, artificial earth satellites, factories, and even translate books from one language to another. Each such machine works according to the laws of mathematics.

Famous sayings about mathematics

*No wonder the brilliant scientist Carl Friedrich Gauss said that mathematics is the queen of sciences!

* “The only reason to study mathematics is that it puts the mind in order” - these are the words of our famous and brilliant M. Lomonosov.

* “Mathematics is mental gymnastics,” said the great commander Suvorov.

* “Science reaches perfection only when it begins to use mathematics,” said the world-famous politician and philosopher Marx.

*The Great Book of Nature is written in mathematical symbols - said G. Galileo.

*“A person who does not know mathematics is not capable of any other sciences,” said R. Bacon

Never before has mathematics been so comprehensive and such a necessary science for people as it is today. It is difficult to talk about what mathematics will be like tomorrow. It is now developing so rapidly, new discoveries are being made in it so often, that it is perhaps useless to guess what will happen. One thing is certain: tomorrow mathematics will become even more powerful, more important and more necessary for people than it is today.

If you look around carefully, the role of mathematics in human life becomes obvious. Computers, modern phones and other equipment accompany us every day, and their creation is impossible without the use of the laws and calculations of great science. However, the role of mathematics in society is not limited to such applications. Otherwise, for example, many artists could say with a clear conscience that the time devoted to solving problems and proving theorems in school was wasted. However, this is not the case. Let's try to figure out why mathematics is needed.

Base

First, it’s worth understanding what mathematics actually is. Translated from ancient Greek, its very name means “science”, “study”. Mathematics is based on the operations of counting, measuring and describing the shapes of objects. on which knowledge of structure, order and relationships is based. They are the essence of science. The properties of real objects are idealized in it and written in a formal language. This is how they are converted into mathematical objects. Some idealized properties become axioms (statements that do not require proof). From these other true properties are then derived. This is how a real existing object is formed.

Two sections

Basis of professional activity

Humanities

It would seem that poetry is pure romance and inspiration, there is no place for analysis and calculation. However, it is enough to remember the poetic sizes of amphibrachs), and one comes to the understanding that mathematics had a hand in this too. Rhythm, verbal or musical, is also described and calculated using the knowledge of this science.

For a writer or psychologist, such concepts as reliability of information, an isolated incident, generalization, and so on are often important. All of them are either directly mathematical, or are built on the basis of laws developed by the queen of sciences, and exist thanks to her and according to her rules.

Psychology was born at the intersection of the humanities and natural sciences. All of its directions, even those that work exclusively with images, rely on observation, data analysis, their generalization and verification. Modeling, forecasting, and statistical methods are used here.

From school

The simplest, the most difficult, the most important

It is mathematics, and then physics, that teaches you to find cause-and-effect relationships, lays the habit of looking for the notorious “where the legs grow.” Attention, concentration, willpower - they also train in the process of solving those very hated problems. If we go further, the ability to draw consequences from facts, predict future events, and also do the same is laid down during the study of mathematical theories. Modeling, abstraction, deduction and induction are all sciences and at the same time ways of the brain working with information.

And again psychology

Of course, independence, the ability to make decisions and be responsible for them, and the absence of fear of mistakes are developed not only in algebra and geometry lessons. But these disciplines play a significant role in the process. Mathematics fosters qualities such as determination and activity. True, a lot depends on the teacher. Incorrect presentation of material, excessive rigor and pressure can, on the contrary, instill fear of difficulties and mistakes (first in the classroom, and then in life), reluctance to express one’s opinion, and passivity.

Mathematics in everyday life

Mathematics in the life of society and the individual affects a huge number of areas. Some professions are unthinkable without it, many appeared only thanks to the development of its individual areas. Modern technical progress is closely related to the complication and development of the mathematical apparatus. Computers and telephones, airplanes and spacecraft would never have appeared if people had not known the queen of sciences. However, the role of mathematics in human life does not end there. Science helps a child master the world, teaches him to interact with it more effectively, and shapes his thinking and individual character traits. However, mathematics alone would not cope with such tasks. As mentioned above, the presentation of the material and the personality traits of the one who introduces the child to the world play a huge role.

Many people often wonder “ ZWhy is mathematics needed?” . Often the very fact that this discipline is included in the compulsory curriculum of universities and schools confuses people. This bewilderment is expressed in the following: Like, why should I, a person whose future (or current) profession will not be related to calculations and the use of mathematical methods, know mathematics? How can this be useful to me in life?

Thus, a large number of people do not see any sense for themselves in mastering this science, even on an elementary basis. However, mathematics, or more precisely mathematical thinking skills, are needed by everyone, and this article explains why.

The place of mathematics in the system of sciences

Mathematics is a fundamental science, the methods of which are actively used in many natural disciplines, such as physics, chemistry and even biology. In itself, this area of knowledge operates with abstract relationships and interconnections, that is, with entities that in themselves are not something material.

But, nevertheless, as soon as mathematics enters the field of any science about the world, it immediately translates into the description, modeling and prediction of very specific and real natural processes. Here she acquires flesh and blood, emerging from under the veil of idealized formulas and calculations divorced from life.

Mathematics is a tool for understanding the world

Mathematics is an exact science that does not tolerate arbitrariness in interpretation and various speculations. This is the embodiment of order and rigid logic. It helps to understand the world around us, to learn more about its laws, since these laws are subject to the same order that reigns in mathematics!

We can successfully translate the language that nature speaks into the language of mathematics and understand the structure of the relationships of any phenomenon. And, after we formalize these connections, we can build models, predict the future states of the phenomena that these models describe, only on paper or inside the memory of computers!

Einstein, in response to the question of where his laboratory was located, smiled and pointed to a pencil and a piece of paper.

His formulas for the theory of relativity became an important step on the path to understanding the Universe in which we live. And this happened before man began to explore space and only then did he experimentally confirm the correctness of the great scientist’s equations!

Applications in modeling and forecasting

Thanks to the application of mathematics, we do not need to conduct expensive and life-threatening experiments before implementing some complex project, for example, in space exploration. We can calculate in advance the orbital parameters of a spacecraft launched from the ground to deliver astronauts to the orbital station. Mathematical calculations will allow you not to risk people’s lives, but to estimate in advance all the parameters necessary for launching a rocket, ensuring a safe flight.

Of course, a model is just a model because it cannot take into account all possible variables, which is why disasters happen, but it still provides fairly reliable forecasts.

You can see the embodiment of mathematical calculation everywhere: in the car you drive, in the computer or portable device from which you are now reading this article. All buildings do not collapse under their own weight due to the fact that all the data necessary for construction was calculated in advance using formulas.

Medicine and healthcare also exist thanks to mathematics, which is used, firstly, in the design of medical devices, and secondly, in analyzing data on the effectiveness of a particular treatment.

Even weather forecasting is not complete without the use of mathematical models.

In short, thanks to mathematics we have all the technologies available to us today, we do not expose our lives to pointless danger, we build cities, explore space and develop culture! Without her, the world would be completely different.

Why does a person need mathematics? What abilities does she develop?

So, we found out that mathematics is one of the most important achievements of culture and civilization. Without it, the development of technology and knowledge of nature would be unthinkable things! Well, you say, let’s say this exact science is really extremely important for humanity as a whole, but why do I need it personally? What will she give me?

Mathematics develops mental abilities

Mathematics allows you to develop some important mental qualities - analytical, deductive (the ability to generalize), critical, predictive (the ability to predict, think several steps ahead) abilities.

This discipline also improves the capabilities of abstract thinking (after all, this is an abstract science), the ability to concentrate, trains memory and enhances the speed of thinking. That's how much you get! But at the same time, you or your children may lose a lot if you do not pay due attention to this subject.

Speaking in more detail and using specific skills, mathematics will help a person develop the following intellectual abilities

Ability to generalize. Consider a particular event as a manifestation of a general order. The ability to find the role of the particular in the general.
Ability to analyze difficult life situations, the ability to make the right solutions to problems and make decisions in the face of difficult choices.
Ability to find patterns.
Ability to think logically and reason, formulate thoughts competently and clearly, and draw correct logical conclusions.
Ability to think quickly and make decisions.
Planning ahead skill, the ability to keep several successive steps in mind.
Conceptual and abstract thinking skills: The ability to organize complex concepts or operations in a coherent and logical manner and to hold them in mind.

Important point: I have already received a number of questions from readers, so I want to clarify something right here. The above-mentioned qualities are developed not only by solving problems from various fields of mathematics: trigonometry, probability theory, etc. You don't have to find dusty school textbooks on these subjects if you want to improve these abilities.

Here I am talking not only about mathematics as a specific science, but rather about all those areas of knowledge where the mathematical method is applied and precision, order and logic prevail. So, to develop some qualities of intelligence, studying the exact sciences, solving logical puzzles, and even some intellectual games are suitable. Take what is closer and more interesting to you, there is no need to force yourself to study boring textbooks, the main thing is that your head works, so that the tasks require you to find non-trivial solutions and analyze accurately.

Mathematics is essential for a child's development!

Mathematics is especially important for a child’s development! She sets the standards for correct, rational thinking for the rest of her life! Gives a huge boost to mental development.

I don’t even know what other school subject is capable of so raising the mental level of a growing individual and serving as such a good aid for intellectual development later, already in adulthood. I don’t mean mathematics only as a subject, algebra or arithmetic, I’m talking about the application of mathematical methods in general, including in physics, geometry, computer science, etc.

Mathematics organizes, streamlines and optimizes your thinking

I will begin this point with the famous saying of Lomonosov, a great scientist who achieved success both in the natural sciences and in the field of humanities - a rare case of a universal mind. He said: “Mathematics should be taught only because it puts the mind in order.”

Mathematics trains such mental qualities that form the framework and skeleton of all your thinking! This is, first of all, logical abilities. This is all that organizes all your thoughts into a connected system of concepts and ideas and connections between them.

Mathematics itself is the embodiment of natural order, and it is not surprising that it brings order to your mind. And without this notorious logic in the head, a person is not able to draw correct logical conclusions, compare concepts of different kinds, he loses the ability for sound analysis and reasoning. What may cause the phenomenon "porridge in the head", confusion in thoughts and reasoning, unclear argumentation.

Such a person is easily misled, which is what usually happens, since he is not able to identify a clear violation of logic in the statements of all sorts of schemers and charlatans (This is the second lamentable experience with financial pyramids in our country, which suggests that a huge part of people believe that they don't need math). Knowledge of mathematics does not allow you to be deceived!

So it’s not just calculations and formulas, it’s primarily logic and orderliness! It is a set of rules and functions that make your thinking consistent and logical. This affects your ability to reason, formulate thoughts, hold complex concepts in your head, and build intricate relationships.

Why do humanities students need mathematics?

Which will certainly be useful to you, even if you are going to succeed in some humanities discipline, since logic, systems thinking skills and the ability to formulate complex theories are very necessary there too. Without this, it will not become science, but verbiage.

I have heard about brilliant lawyers who, in addition to a legal education, also received a degree in physics and mathematics. This helped them, like good chess players, build complex combinations of defense options in court, or invent clever ways to interact with the legislative framework and come up with all sorts of clever and non-trivial solutions.

Of course, it is not at all necessary to receive a specially specialized education in mathematics, even, in my opinion, redundant, if you do not intend to work in this field. But I believe everyone should and is capable of mastering this discipline at the basic level of school education and initial university courses.

You should not think that this is not given to you by nature, that your calling is the humanities and that you are not able to teach exact subjects. When someone says that he has humanitarian mindset and, therefore, in principle he cannot count, read formulas and solve problems, no matter how much he wants, then know that this is such an elegant attempt to justify the fact of the lack of development of mathematical abilities. Not their absence! But only that these skills, for some reason, were not properly developed.

The human mind is a universal thing, designed to solve a variety of problems. Of course, this statement has its limits: everyone, due to the characteristics of their innate and acquired properties of thinking, has certain inclinations to master various sciences. In addition, specialization most often requires knowledge of one thing: it is difficult to be an excellent mathematician, chemist, lawyer, teacher in one thing (we are not all Lomonosovs). You will always have to choose from something.

But Everyone can master basic mathematical thinking skills! For some it will simply be more difficult, for others it will be easier. But everyone can do it. And as I already said, this is necessary for balanced development of your mind. Just because you are interested in, for example, literature or psychology, it does not follow that you don’t need mathematics and that you are simply not naturally capable of somehow mastering it!

One does not exclude the other, but, on the contrary, harmoniously complements the other. A “humanitarian mindset” in the context of the impossibility of mastering the exact sciences is simply one huge nonsense and an attempt to justify the reluctance to master those skills that are obtained with more difficulty than others.

Why do you need mathematics in life and work?

Mathematics is useful in business. But maybe the profession that you are considering as your future vocation will not be related to calculations, formulas, computer science or analytics. Or you don't use it in your current job.

But still, this does not mean that it will always be like this. Perhaps you want to change your profession. Or you will get so tired of hired work that you decide to organize your own business (and this happens quite often). Organizing an independent enterprise always requires calculations, forecasting and analysis. You, as the head of a new business, will need to possess the appropriate skills; not everything can be delegated to hired employees; their work in any case needs supervision.

Without support in the form of mathematical methods of forecasting, modeling and analysis (at least at a primitive level, depending on what kind of business you have), it is difficult to achieve success in organizing your own business. Based on personal statistics, I can say that, as a rule, graduates of technical and mathematical universities achieve the greatest success in business.

It’s not just a matter of knowing some special calculation methods, because it’s never too late to master this if necessary. The key is a certain organization of the mind. Business is a highly ordered system, the construction of which requires its creator to have certain intellectual skills, structured thinking, and the ability to generalize and derive relationships. The study of exact sciences, as is known, develops these skills.

Conclusion

Mathematics and other exact sciences are very important both for the development of humanity as a whole and for the intellectual improvement of a particular individual. Of course, balanced mental development of an individual implies mastering not only exact subjects, but also humanities. Reading quality literature, for example, is also necessary for you if you want to develop.

But this alone is not enough. I would like to supplement the wording of the well-known statement: “if you want to become smart, you need to read a lot”, adding to this: “- and do mathematics.” Otherwise, the effect of just reading books will be similar to a body without a skeleton or a building without a frame. It’s difficult for one without the other.

That is why many humanities scholars, no matter how well they understand their subject area, suffer from confusion of thinking and lack of sober judgment, and many avid mathematicians and technicians become isolated in the world of abstract formulas and calculations, losing touch with the real world.

The golden rule is that everything is good in moderation, the destiny of a harmoniously developed mind, universality at the most basic level! All together, books and mathematics! This is not a sermon in praise of amateurism, no, in your specialization you must be a professional and a narrow specialist, an expert in your particular field. But as far as your basic erudition and knowledge is concerned, there should be a little bit of everything.

I believe that the idea of school education and teaching in the initial courses of universities meets this principle of universality (just the idea, I do not presume to discuss how this is implemented in practice). I would have an extremely negative attitude towards strengthening the specialization of primary and secondary education, believing that a growing individual should be given as much as possible from different areas, and when he receives this, let him choose what is closest to him!

Source - http://nperov.ru