# Math.... **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 13, 2002, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math/142382 "2002-12-13T00:58:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SmileyDeath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@SmileyDeath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmileyDeath)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math/142382/1 "2002-12-13T00:58:53Z")
Hey. Most of the math in high school(which I am in) seems to have no real use in life… Ie when are you going to use the pythogoream theory… Except for architecturial type jobs? ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math/142382/2 "2002-12-13T01:04:10Z")
You will use it when you are trapped on a desert island, trying to crack open coconuts, in a vain effort to figure out how big your search area is. ---
**Author:** ![SmileyDeath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@SmileyDeath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmileyDeath)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math/142382/3 "2002-12-13T01:08:33Z")
Hmm. Makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math/142382/4 "2002-12-13T01:10:26Z")
The point isn’t to have every singe kid use it. The point is to enable you to pursue something where you could use it. It’s good for you, like broccoli and brussel sprouts (yum!). ---
**Author:** ![SmileyDeath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@SmileyDeath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmileyDeath)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math/142382/5 "2002-12-13T01:13:27Z")
Well the fact that I don’t understand the math is crap. Mainly because all the career goals I have planned do not involve math and the fact that I’m failing it. The thing is if I try and fail it one of my elective(fun) courses gets elimanated because of something I may never need. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math/142382/6 "2002-12-13T01:14:37Z")
Well…What are your career goals? Then we can see if math truly does not apply… ---
**Author:** ![SmileyDeath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@SmileyDeath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmileyDeath)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math/142382/7 "2002-12-13T01:15:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SmileyDeath \* > \*\*Well the fact that I don’t understand the math is crap. Mainly because all the career goals I have planned do not involve math and the fact that I’m failing it. > The thing is if I try and fail it one of my elective(fun) courses gets elimanated because of something I may never need. ☹ \*\* A english proffessor or similar. ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math/142382/8 "2002-12-13T01:19:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SmileyDeath \* > \*\*A english proffessor or similar. \*\* I **REALLY** hate to say this, but it’s “Professor”…😃 ---
**Author:** ![SmileyDeath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@SmileyDeath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmileyDeath)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math/142382/9 "2002-12-13T01:22:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SmileyDeath \* > \*\*A english proffessor or similar. \*\* What’s really funny is that I got a high b in english in Language arts but my mark in spelling lowered it to a c plus. ---
**Author:** ![Azael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a8b319/32.png) [@Azael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azael)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math/142382/10 "2002-12-13T01:26:17Z")
Maybe not all math is useful, but why cheat yourself so early in the game? ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math/142382/11 "2002-12-13T01:32:49Z")
Excellent point Azael! Who knows, your whole perspective on life could change, as mine did. I use to think now-leg was of the deevvul, Until I got out of Highschool-where it was manditory-and you know what? Now I aspire to know EVERYTHING. Not that aspiring really helps mind you, but it does put a different spin on the whole learning thing… ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math/142382/12 "2002-12-13T01:34:40Z")
The point of studying math is not to learn math. The point of math is to learn deductive reasoning and analytical thinking, skills which are important for **any** job. ---
**Author:** ![ElJeffe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/958977/32.png) [@ElJeffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElJeffe)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math/142382/13 "2002-12-13T01:36:34Z")
It’s important that you learn math for several reasons. Notably: - You likely do not know in high school what you really want to do for a living, no matter how much you think you do. I used to want to be a lawyer. Then I wanted to be an aeronautical engineer. Then I hit college, and changed to mechanical engineering, with a focus in robotics. Got two degrees in ME, got into the field, and hated it. Now I make video games. - There’s a lot to math besides the actual math. Math and, to greater extent, science, teaches you critical thinking and problem solving skills, which are important in any career, as well as in life in general. - While you may never try to solve an indefinite integral while going grocery shopping, basic skills such as statistics, mental arithmetic, probability, and such _do_ come in handy. - Math is fun! Okay, well, maybe that’s not a reason for all of us… 🙂 Anyway, umm… Be cool, stay in school, or something. Jeff ---
**Author:** ![SmileyDeath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@SmileyDeath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmileyDeath)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math/142382/14 "2002-12-13T01:37:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Meatros \* > \*\*Excellent point Azael! > > Who knows, your whole perspective on life could change, as mine did. > > I use to think now-leg was of the deevvul, > > Until I got out of Highschool-where it was manditory-and you know what? Now I aspire to know EVERYTHING. Not that aspiring really helps mind you, but it does put a different spin on the whole learning thing… \*\* Yeah, but upto algebra requires analytical behaviour. Why can’t the same be achieved in a subject like english? ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math/142382/15 "2002-12-13T01:39:04Z")
Two reasons: 1. Actually, there is a fair amount of math in real life; you’ll be at a disadvantage if you can’t figure out how to invest your money, interpret statistics, etc. If you’re going to be an English professor, you’ll also have to know how to calculate grades (and how to _design_ a fair grading scale that measures what you want it to measure, which is more difficult). 2. Math, like all academic disciplines, isn’t just a body of knowledge, it’s a way of thinking. Learning _how_ to think, in the long run, is more important than learning facts. You might not remember the Pythagorean theorem in twenty years, but some of the problem-solving skills you learn in math class will stay with you (at least, they will if you approach the class in the right way). As a side note, I’m a grad student in English, and I’m very, very glad my dad made me take calculus, although I didn’t agree at the time. ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math/142382/16 "2002-12-13T01:39:29Z")
Ah, don’t listen to that **ultrafilter** , he’s a math guy. 😉 Seriously, I think he’s absolutely right. At least, the way I was taught math it helped. A little. What do you mean I can’t use deductive reasoning?! 😛 Given your grammar and spelling thus far, being an English professor will be an uphill battle. And you know what you’ll be asking in college? “Why do I have to read _this_? I’m not going to teach medieval literature! Who needs it for real life?” At some point you will say: oh, its been real life this whole time, and the fact that I’m required to learn it is what I need to know it for. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SmileyDeath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@SmileyDeath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmileyDeath)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math/142382/17 "2002-12-13T01:40:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ElJeffe \* > \*\*It’s important that you learn math for several reasons. Notably: > > - You likely do not know in high school what you really want to do for a living, no matter how much you think you do. I used to want to be a lawyer. Then I wanted to be an aeronautical engineer. Then I hit college, and changed to mechanical engineering, with a focus in robotics. Got two degrees in ME, got into the field, and hated it. Now I make video games. > > - There’s a lot to math besides the actual math. Math and, to greater extent, science, teaches you critical thinking and problem solving skills, which are important in any career, as well as in life in general. > > - While you may never try to solve an indefinite integral while going grocery shopping, basic skills such as statistics, mental arithmetic, probability, and such _do_ come in handy. > > - Math is fun! Okay, well, maybe that’s not a reason for all of us… 🙂 > > Anyway, umm… Be cool, stay in school, or something. > Jeff \*\* Re: Your second to last comment: I am good at simple math ie adding multiplying dividing and some algebra. It’s stuff like trigonometry and simlar. Also, I am good at science. But not math. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math/142382/18 "2002-12-13T01:40:21Z")
In other words, uh, what **ElJeffe** said. Damn, I’m going to have to learn how to write faster. ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math/142382/19 "2002-12-13T01:41:23Z")
Holy crap that was a hella bunch of simulposts. ---
**Author:** ![SmileyDeath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@SmileyDeath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmileyDeath)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math/142382/20 "2002-12-13T01:42:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by erislover \* > \*\*Ah, don’t listen to that **ultrafilter** , he’s a math guy. 😉 > > Seriously, I think he’s absolutely right. At least, the way I was taught math it helped. A little. What do you mean I can’t use deductive reasoning?! 😛 > > Given your grammar and spelling thus far, being an English professor will be an uphill battle. And you know what you’ll be asking in college? “Why do I have to read _this_? I’m not going to teach medieval literature! Who needs it for real life?” > > At some point you will say: oh, its been real life this whole time, and the fact that I’m required to learn it is what I need to know it for. 😃 \*\* My grammar and spelling is not this bad when I write it’s just I’m a bad typer. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math/142382.md?page=2)