The M in STEM Represents Mathematics

Why is Mathematics Important in STEM?

Mathematics aids in our understanding of the world and is a good tool for developing mental discipline. Logical reasoning, critical thinking, creative thinking, abstract or spatial thinking, problem-solving abilities, and even successful communication skills are all encouraged by math.

Mathematics is a great approach to develop mental discipline while also encouraging logical reasoning and mental rigor. Furthermore, understanding the topics of other educational courses such as science, social studies, and even music and art is dependent on mathematical knowledge.

Mathematics Is All Around Us!

Math is essential in our daily life. Your ability to do basic math is required even for the most simple tasks. Imagine going to the shop with a $100 bill and paying for your groceries. You simply stand there waiting for change, unsure of how much it should be or how much change you should receive.

Take, for example, time; in today's society, no one can live without a clock. Simply try it out and see how many times you utilize your clock in a day. Time is as important to us as breathing, from waking up in the morning to moving from one location to another and retiring to bed at night. Driving from one city to the next necessitates some fundamental math skills. How will you know the distance, how long it will take you to get there, or even read the road signs if you don't have a GPS? Time management has become a way of life for many people.

Math Matters in Everyday Life:

Managing money
Balancing the checkbook
Shopping for the best price
Preparing food
Figuring out distance, time and cost for travel
Understanding loans for cars, trucks, homes, schooling or other purposes
Understanding sports (being a player and team statistics)
Playing music

Careers In Mathematics

Auditors review and produce financial documents while checking for accuracy, then report back to key stakeholders on their findings. Internal auditors look for mismanagement of an organization's funds and suggest solutions to improve waste and fraud-prevention measures.

Data analysts assist firms analyze complicated challenges, discover and address inefficiencies, and make strategic, data-driven business decisions by employing advanced mathematical and analytical tools. They commonly employ statistical methods to assess data sets and generate executive-level reports that successfully explain business trends, patterns, and projections.

Modeling, data mining, and production processes are all designed and built by data scientists. These specialists are responsible for designing prototypes, algorithms, predictive models, and bespoke analyses in addition to completing and interpreting data studies and product experiments with diverse data sources.

Mathematics Activities For K-12

Math Bingo (Grades K-6)

This mathematics game will quickly become a popular among your peers. You can review whatever skill you desire, including addition, subtraction, and number sequencing. The game functions similarly to normal bingo, with the exception that students must solve arithmetic problems in order to determine which number to cross off their sheet. Make a list of 25 math problems (for example, 2+1, 3–0, or 2, 4, 6, ) to prepare.

Answers should be written on the same sheet of paper as the questions.

Make your own 5x5 bingo cards or use an internet generator. Using the solutions from your list, write the answers on the cards at random. Each pupil should have their own bingo card. You can laminate the cards for future use and have students mark their answers with pennies or rocks.

For kindergartners, you can ask them to identify numbers or shapes. You can adjust this activity to older grade levels by using more complex math problems.

Makedo Windball (Grades 7-12)

Makedo Windball is a geometric craft that is both simple and unique. Basically, all you have to do is put together some simple cardboards and make them into a work of art. The project's fundamental notion is actually fairly abstract; it demonstrates that there is no such thing as a fully flawless sphere in the world. You can also show that spheres are formed out of squares, hexagons, or triangles.

Cut out 30 30x30cm squares from cardboard.
Punch holes in all four corners of the cardboard square with the tip end of the Makedo safe-saw, but not too close to the edge. As a spacing guide, use the Makedo hinge.
On the remaining 29 pieces of cardboard, punch holes in all four corners. To make the ball, use Makedo pins and clips to join 5 pieces of cardboard from corner to corner.
Moving from layer to layer, continue to link the parts with Makedo pins and clips. As you go, the ball's shape begins to take on a more rounded shape. The negative space between the cardboard should form triangles and pentagons to help you visualize your windball.

Pi Poster (Grades 7-12)

Pi is an irrational number, with digits that never end and don't follow a pattern. When you write 1000 digits of pi, though, it's difficult to assert there's no pattern at first glance.

Fortunately, there is a lovely creative technique to demonstrate that pi has no pattern. We can make a visual representation of the number's digits by changing each one to a different color. For example, all ones turn into white dots, all twos turn into black, all threes turn into blue, and so on.

Martin Krzywinski came up with the idea for this data visualization in 2013. When I told my students about the project, they addressed it in an entirely different way. They used different colors of m&ms to symbolize the digits of pi, and then made digit locations on a board to glue each m&m. It took a long time, but their masterwork was well worth the wait.

Female Mathematicians That Changed The World

Hypatia was the daughter of renowned Egyptian mathematician Theon, with whom she collaborated on a number of well-known mathematical publications. Hypatia received the same education as her male colleagues because she was the daughter of an upper-class mathematician and philosopher, and it wasn't long before she demonstrated that she was a more proficient mathematician than many, including her father.

She is credited as being the world's first female math teacher, as well as teaching astronomy and how to use an astrolabe to mimic astronomical phenomena. She not only became a respected mathematics teacher (which was unheard of for a woman in Egypt at the time), but she also made several contributions to the field, including her work on conic sections and the development of the concepts of ellipses, parabolas, and ellipses by dividing cones into planes.

Dorothy Vaughn is a well-known high school math instructor who currently works for NASA as a "human supercomputer."

Vaughn was part of a racially divided team of computer programmers tasked with using supercomputers to conduct computations for NASA space launches, including the 1962 launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit.

She was the first African American female supervisor at NASA and is a main figure in the hit film Hidden Figures. She went on to play a vital role in NASA's use of supercomputers in aeronautical and space initiatives.

Valerie Thomas is a well-known scientist who is most known for creating the llusion Transmitter, a 3-Dimensional Imaging Technology that was the first of its type when it was initially introduced in 1980. In fact, this technique is the foundation for today's 3D image technology, which can be found in modern televisions, video games, and films!

From 1964 to 1995, Valerie Thomas worked for NASA as a developer and engineer. During her time at NASA, she led a team that was responsible for facilitating the reception of the first satellite photos from orbit.

Thomas is a youth mentor at the Science Mathematics Aerospace Research and Technology and National Technical Association at the time of this writing, where she encourages young people of all genders and backgrounds to pursue science and mathematics.