In this semester, I am taking ‘Business Math.’ People often ask me that what classes I am taking in this semester. When I answered ‘Business Math’ is one of my classes, some people acted like they are afraid of the subject ‘math.’ I did, too.
Actually, mathematics is part of our daily lives. Look at the following sentences, which we usually speak in our daily lives;
‘What time did you wake up this morning?’
‘Do you eat three meals per day?’
‘Mortgage rate is much higher now.’
‘Oh…it is minus 2 degrees today; such a cold day!’
‘I ate three apples already today.’
‘How many letters do you have to reply today?’
‘My inbox has 80 mails and 3 junk mails.’
‘This is December 12; I have an appointment at 2 pm.’
‘It is 4:00; I have to go now.’
Do you see in which role mathematic plays in our daily lives? It is part of our lives.
Any way, our text book in our business math is ‘Mathematics for Business’ by Salzman, Miller and Clendenen.
There are many interesting notes in this book and I would like to share with you here about four steps for solving application problems. Sometimes, it could not be wrong to use mathematical ways to solve the problems of our daily lives.
Here are the four steps to solve application problems;
Step 1. Read the problem carefully, and be certain that you understand what the problem is asking. It may be necessary to read the problem several times.
Step 2. Before doing any calculations, work out a plan and try to visualize the problem. Know which facts are given and which must be found. Use indicator words to help determine your plan.
Step 3. Estimate a reasonable answer using rounding.
Step 4. Solve the problem by using the facts given and your plan. Does the answer make sense? If the answer is reasonable, check your work. If the answer is not reasonable, begin again by rereading the problem.
Note: Be careful not to make the mistake that some students do – they begin to solve a problem before they understand what the problem is asking. Be certain that you know what the problem is asking before you try to solve it.
Finally, I would like to share the words that a comedian who graduated in math, once said in an interview, with you. How he took the math into his life perspective do you know? He said about one of the rules in math that ‘Without the Same Base, the Powers CANNOT plus or minus.’
Is that right?
Photo: http://www.rjcooper.com/talk-n-scan-calculator/talk-n-scan-calculator.jpg
Actually, mathematics is part of our daily lives. Look at the following sentences, which we usually speak in our daily lives;
‘What time did you wake up this morning?’
‘Do you eat three meals per day?’
‘Mortgage rate is much higher now.’
‘Oh…it is minus 2 degrees today; such a cold day!’
‘I ate three apples already today.’
‘How many letters do you have to reply today?’
‘My inbox has 80 mails and 3 junk mails.’
‘This is December 12; I have an appointment at 2 pm.’
‘It is 4:00; I have to go now.’
Do you see in which role mathematic plays in our daily lives? It is part of our lives.
Any way, our text book in our business math is ‘Mathematics for Business’ by Salzman, Miller and Clendenen.
There are many interesting notes in this book and I would like to share with you here about four steps for solving application problems. Sometimes, it could not be wrong to use mathematical ways to solve the problems of our daily lives.
Here are the four steps to solve application problems;
Step 1. Read the problem carefully, and be certain that you understand what the problem is asking. It may be necessary to read the problem several times.
Step 2. Before doing any calculations, work out a plan and try to visualize the problem. Know which facts are given and which must be found. Use indicator words to help determine your plan.
Step 3. Estimate a reasonable answer using rounding.
Step 4. Solve the problem by using the facts given and your plan. Does the answer make sense? If the answer is reasonable, check your work. If the answer is not reasonable, begin again by rereading the problem.
Note: Be careful not to make the mistake that some students do – they begin to solve a problem before they understand what the problem is asking. Be certain that you know what the problem is asking before you try to solve it.
Finally, I would like to share the words that a comedian who graduated in math, once said in an interview, with you. How he took the math into his life perspective do you know? He said about one of the rules in math that ‘Without the Same Base, the Powers CANNOT plus or minus.’
Is that right?
Photo: http://www.rjcooper.com/talk-n-scan-calculator/talk-n-scan-calculator.jpg
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