Why would people benefit from having math skills?
354735
No matter what line of work you are in, you will always need math skills.  You will need to check your pay cheques, because some of the people in the payroll department may have poor math skills and make mistakes.  You will need math to:\n-calculate distances and estimate travel time when driving\n-know how far you will be able to drive before refueling, especially in remote areas where gas stations are few and far between\n-set a budget for yourself and family\n-know how much you can afford to spend\n-balance your chequebook and credit card balances\n-measure a room for the amount of paint, carpeting/tile, drapes/curtains/blinds,\n-measure ingredients and adjust them when cooking/baking\n-calculate the payments/interest on loans & mortgages so you will know what kind of car or house you can afford to buy without putting yourself into debt\n-know how many programs you can add to your computer without upgrading your hard drive\n-know how much change you should get when you are in a store, because some of the clerks they hire have no math skills\n\nAsk one of your teachers about the math skills used in the type of work you want to do or look up the information in the National Occupations Code book.  It will tell you what skills are needed for each type of job.
412238
Math is a natural extension of human needs to count and measure. Cavemen probably did need to compare groups of things (Which group of stones is larger?) and that leads to comparison words (> < =) in human languages. Then natural numbers are invented to communicate and count quantitatively (1 2 3 ...). More operations, plus, minus, multiply, divide, are invented as needs arise and human societies and technology become more complex. \n\nIt's likely that school math curricula more or less trace such historical progress from basic to complex math knowledge. Starting from comparisons in kindergarten and go through numbers, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, percents, in primary school. Most of these constructs were known millennia ago. Then algebra, geometry, trigonometry--now studied in high school--were invented within the last few thousand years. Analytic geometry and Calculus, the next major advances, were built on algebra & geometry knowledge and matured to today's form in the last few hundred years. Today, they are studied in late high school and university years. \n\nMany, many people throughout history contributed to the advances and accumulation math knowledge. Prominent mathematicians did more than most and three people are often hailed as the most outstanding of mathematicians in history: Archimedes, Newton, and Gauss.\n\nFor more details, see The MacTutor History of Mathematics archive at http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/
124660
Math.  Why do we need to know half of the things they teach us in it???
763708
It all comes down to the roots. What i mean is that once you know the basics mathematics, you will learn new things which build up on these skills, and once you get the hang of everything, you will love it. As with most things, the key to excelling at mathematics is practice!
1103611
Yes.  And it happens more and more each time I open my math books.   Seriously, but that doesn't stop me.  My professor says that mathematicians are people who have a high tolerance for frustration.\n\nAnd it is really worthwhile, when you finally realize that you have made progress, and are able to appreciate the beauty of a subtle and intricate theory.\n\nThe alternative is to not experience growth, and just grow stale.
148099
Many people don't get their mathematics. The basic problem is that they don't give enough time to it. Most people dislike mathematics that they  hardly know it. The solution to this problem is to change your attitude towards maths.
761024
I disagree completely...mathematics is more about learning from others than any other subject I know...surround yourself with ppl no better than you, and you will never be challenged, and will lose ability over time.  Work with someone who is constantly pushing your potential, you will be getting better every single day.
458620
Depends on each person. Try to find out more about the person's interests and work it out from there. (Well, this actually requires a lot of experience, but basically is about putting yourself in their shoes and trying to see how math is involved in their favorite domain or can help them further their talents.)\n\nFirst of all don't forget to value their talents and say it's ok if they don't learn math after all, they are not stupid. There is something called "The theory of multiple intelligences", you know...
832581
You are either born great, or not born great. You can become very good at math by a lot of studying and practising, but to some people, like Richard Feynmann, math just comes to them. Some people are born great at other subjects, not necessarily math, so it depends.
1087397
In general, there isn't much use unless your job requires it. Some jobs today, usually having to do with computers, need Algebra. I read an article in a business magazine that said some of the higher level computer-based jobs need the higher level math and Algebra was listed.\n\nThe problem is, if your brain doesn't work that way, and creative people usually use the other side of their brain, Algebra drives them nuts. They are better suited for Statistics.
675951
Most colleges use advanced math to "weed out" people that may not be suitable for computer science or engineering.  It's not that you will use the math abilities so much, but the ability to pass an advanced math course shows that you have an aptitude for highly structured thinking.\n\nSometimes that is not the best logic.  Creative thinkers don't like structure and prefer to think about things differently.\n\nDon't forget - Einstein flunked math in school!\n\nPossible careers in science/biotechnology\nhttp://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/cgi/career/?PAGEID=3&SUBID=136
485479
I think it has opened so many doors to increasing knowledge for all students.   In our Districts they are teaching students math on the computers.  Remember students have to know how to program them to get the correct answers.   So the computer is not really doing their work.  It does help teachers to be able to access them better.  Plus students can work at their own pacing plan  which allows them to go as fast or as slow as they can.  Additionally we live in the age of electronics.   Our children can have global communication as opposed to when we were in school.  I'd like to see more computers in the classrooms because right now the kids have to share,,,,
35104
Of course. You can "lead" them to the answer, letting them solve the problem with clues. Or you can offer multiple choice answers. Or you can help them understand the problem by showing which answers are not possible (elimination of choices). Stimulating young minds is a challenge that is very rewarding. When done correctly, children gain confidence in their own abilities and excel. Of course, it helps if the teacher really understands the concepts they are teaching. So many teachers are versed in education, but not in the subject matter. A mathematician who is taught to teach is a far better math teacher than an educator who "learns" math.
731375
If you can't work it out on your own, then consider taking math classes to pass the time inside.
107243
you LIKE math????\n\nit takes a special kind of person i guess....lol
473117
In order for math to be interesting to you, you should make it part of you, and part of your life. you would have to use it in your every day life basis. don't use it like when you have to do your homework or practice for SAT, but use it like when you are eating, look for what is the percentage of each category of food you are eating, make equation about it, and you will practice even without knowing. like if you playing cards or marbles, or dices, whatever you are doing, just make it mathematically, and once you do that, math is going to be part of your basic life and it is going to be fun for you, you understand it more and more, cause sometimes this is what i usually do.
429122
our life is based on math, but we dont notice usually, for example , when look at your points in yahoo answers and try to increase it, it means u use an exteremely mathematical logic, thank u  , bye