I’m 70 and got through my whole life without needing to know algebra, geometry (I cheated in class) or any of the other maths beyond grade school. And I still do math in my head better than with a calculator – no typos!
I’m convinced that lots of people go through life never needing history, geography, sex ed, or biology in general. But for some reason it’s always math that people go on about.
My grade 11 math teacher told me (when I asked why I needed trig) that “they calculated the height of Mt. Everest with trigonometry”.
My 16 year old self, pretty much knowing my future, answered in my 16 year old way “How the hell will calculating the height of a mountain help me at the grocery store?”
That was my last year for math and went on to have much more success in home economics.
Never needed trig.
That being said I may have hired some people who needed math to do their jobs……..
High school, as well as all school before that, is preparing people for pretty much anything they may do in the future. Some people you went to school with are carpenters today, while others are plumbers, electricians, chemists, biophysicists, computer engeneers or anything else you can imagine. That means that some of the use trigonometry and geometry on a daily basis, but never use biology or chemestry, but others use biology or chemestry in their job every day, but never use trigonometry.
Oh, and as for those of you who say they never use geometry, I don’t believe you. If you can tell me how many square feet/meters your home (or any part thereof) is, or the dimensions of any room or closet in your house, then you’ve used geometry. And how bit is the screen you’re looking at right now. Mine is 22" with a resolution of 1920×1080, which is a ratio of 16:9 – geometry strikes again. You can’t get away from it. Math is everywhere.
For all of you who’ve “done just fine without math”:
I have had a 35 year career where I enjoyed my job, I enjoyed the challenges that each day brought. I used Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, and even some Calculus on a regular basis. If you “did just fine” complaining and moaning about how awful it was to go to work each day, then you missed the point.
I don’t think calculus is a required class for high school. The upper level math classes are there for those of us who are going into careers that use it.
Pure math is just a game until some physicist figures how to use some arcane form of math to describe something that exists in the observed universe. Then an engineer uses the physicists finding to use to build a solid item for use. Therefore, don’t knock advanced math.
Lucy Rudy almost 5 years ago
I’m 70 and got through my whole life without needing to know algebra, geometry (I cheated in class) or any of the other maths beyond grade school. And I still do math in my head better than with a calculator – no typos!
nefa almost 5 years ago
I’m convinced that lots of people go through life never needing history, geography, sex ed, or biology in general. But for some reason it’s always math that people go on about.
Pet almost 5 years ago
My grade 11 math teacher told me (when I asked why I needed trig) that “they calculated the height of Mt. Everest with trigonometry”.
My 16 year old self, pretty much knowing my future, answered in my 16 year old way “How the hell will calculating the height of a mountain help me at the grocery store?”
That was my last year for math and went on to have much more success in home economics.
Never needed trig.
That being said I may have hired some people who needed math to do their jobs……..
chickenbutt almost 5 years ago
I never got past geometry and I’ve been doing just fine these 60+ years, thank you.
e.groves almost 5 years ago
I agree with all of you.
Purple People Eater almost 5 years ago
High school, as well as all school before that, is preparing people for pretty much anything they may do in the future. Some people you went to school with are carpenters today, while others are plumbers, electricians, chemists, biophysicists, computer engeneers or anything else you can imagine. That means that some of the use trigonometry and geometry on a daily basis, but never use biology or chemestry, but others use biology or chemestry in their job every day, but never use trigonometry.
Oh, and as for those of you who say they never use geometry, I don’t believe you. If you can tell me how many square feet/meters your home (or any part thereof) is, or the dimensions of any room or closet in your house, then you’ve used geometry. And how bit is the screen you’re looking at right now. Mine is 22" with a resolution of 1920×1080, which is a ratio of 16:9 – geometry strikes again. You can’t get away from it. Math is everywhere.
P51Strega almost 5 years ago
For all of you who’ve “done just fine without math”:
I have had a 35 year career where I enjoyed my job, I enjoyed the challenges that each day brought. I used Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, and even some Calculus on a regular basis. If you “did just fine” complaining and moaning about how awful it was to go to work each day, then you missed the point.
Bob. almost 5 years ago
I quit at differential equations.
tabby almost 5 years ago
I don’t think calculus is a required class for high school. The upper level math classes are there for those of us who are going into careers that use it.
banjinshiju almost 5 years ago
Pure math is just a game until some physicist figures how to use some arcane form of math to describe something that exists in the observed universe. Then an engineer uses the physicists finding to use to build a solid item for use. Therefore, don’t knock advanced math.
Nicole ♫ ⊱✿ ◕‿◕✿⊰♫ Premium Member almost 5 years ago
I stopped at Algebra and never had to go further.