Math is not an easy topic. Many people are intimidated by it and avoid it at all costs. However, the truth is that understanding math can give you many opportunities to succeed in life.

Most people believe that math is purely about numbers and formulas. Although these are essential parts of calculus and geometry, they don’t give you the entire picture. It’s necessary to develop an understanding of how math works logically. It will help you internalize math to make sense and is easier for you to learn and remember.

Math Education

In the past, teachers used to teach math in a cartoonish and boring way. We learned how to do math most of the time without really understanding why we were doing it. It is an example of rote learning and is not very effective.

The most important thing you can do as an adult is learning math correctly the first time you encounter it. Math concepts such as fractions, exponents, logarithms, permutations, combinations, etc., are much easier to learn now by seeing the method behind the madness instead of relearning the topics later.

Math Evolves Over Time

With advancements in technology, new ways of explaining math are coming to light. It used to be that you had to memorize long formulas, whereas now it’s much easier to explain math through animations or other methods. Now students can learn how to work with numbers (quantities) and solve equations (limits) by understanding the meaning behind the formulas.

Unary system: Before computers and calculators, we learned math by using tokens or counters. We refer to them as the “unary system.” They are still applicable in some areas. Note that you may not have ever used this system for your early math education, depending on where you grew up.

Roman Numerals: We learned how to do math by writing numbers in roman numerals. It is like the base ten systems that we use today. Today, most people learn how to do simple calculations, but they also learn to read and write numbers in roman numerals (not likely in your early years, though it may be relatively new for you).

Double Exponential System: We learned how to do math by using raised figures (e.g. 5 x 12) or using diagrams (e.g. 6 = 6 + 6).

Decimals: We learned math by using decimals (e.g., 1/2 or 2/3) instead of fractions.

Binary: We learned how to do math by using base 2 for binary numbers.

Hexadecimal: We learned how to do math by using base 16 for hexadecimal numbers.

Scientific Notation: We learned how to do math by using scientific notation for very large numbers.

What is the point of learning maths in these different ways?

There are several reasons. The first is that the methods have different purposes. For example, you can use raised figures to determine factorials by hand, but it’s much easier to work with decimals or fractions when you want to write them down for someone else.

Another reason is that learning math in various ways helps you understand the underlying principles behind the techniques. It also allows you to recognize which technique is appropriate in each situation.

Conclusion

Whether you’ve been trained differently or not, you must learn math correctly and understand how it works. This way, you can apply it to your life in a logical manner. You will be able to acquire the necessary knowledge for you to succeed in life, which will enable you to meet your goals.