Mathematics has always been used as a tool in our routine life, in its most basic applications of monetary exchange and transactions, estimating the travel time required to get to our workplaces so as to avoid being late, to its more complex deployment in the value-analysis involved in stock exchange in the global business market. Yet, the intrinsic value of mathematics is found not only in its concrete uses – being used as a mere tool – but more predominantly in its power to empower people and the world we live in. By taking a deeper and closer look into the power of mathematics, mathematics can effectively be seen as a language – a medium for interaction and communication. It can also be seen as a rich source of enhancement for the human mind, taking mental activity and capabilities to new heights. Most of all, mathematics should not be seen as a mere mash of numbers, questions and results, because by looking beyond that, we would see the large amount of information those “mere numbers” can tell us, where mathematics itself, can be seen as an entity, the engine that drives how we live and how we will live in the distant future.
By looking at the application of mathematics in our everyday lives, it is obvious that is used in extreme magnitudes in almost every aspect of our daily life. Because of this, mathematics is gradually seen as a form of language, with its basis of operation being the analysis and observation of sequential patterns, and the whole simple yet potent idea of counting. Studies over the years have shown us that the frequency of a cricket’s chirp over specific time frames is relative to the temperature of the surroundings at that point in time. Counting and identifying the sequence and patterns of clicks and beats have also given birth to the “MORSE code”. The whole concept of code-deciphering in various artifacts and transcripts is also based on pattern observation, a key component in mathematics. Taking into consideration that English, Chinese, French and Russian are languages that can only be used to communication by people who know them, since mathematics is something that lives among us in our everyday lives all over the world, there comes a possibility that mathematics could be the universal language of the future. Even during our daily conversations, there are instances where mathematically based observation is applied to allow us to arrive at certain conclusions. For example, too long a pause in between dialogue between friends can indicate either awkwardness, boredom or confusion. In the same light, panic or excitement can be observed when the pauses in between dialogue is abruptly cut off or too short, allowing us to conclude a certain level of anxiety and panic in the other party’s speech. All of such observations are again, also based on the mathematically-based concept of counting and speech-pattern analysis. Modern lie detectors in crime investigation sectors not only use heart rate and blood pressure as a gauge, but also the complex analysis of such speech patterns. Thus, it is undoubtedly clear that mathematics is not just a mere numerical tool, but a form of language that holds within it messages that we can uncover and allow us to arrive at various conclusions from a more careful observation of a simple string of patterns and numbers.
Moreover, mathematics is also seen as a source of enrichment to one’s mind. Because of the sometimes thought-stimulating aspects of math, the human mind is made to work more actively and process information at higher levels, thus familiarizing the brain with such demanding levels of mental activity and allowing individuals to attain a so-called “more intelligent mind”. The whole idea behind mathematics taking its place as a subject in educational institutes is not because of the direct usefulness of the various mathematical concepts taught. How often do we actually apply the mathematical concepts of the binomial theorem and Maclaurin’s series in our daily lives? With the modern day calculator at hand, none of those mathematical concepts are needed, and none of them would even prove to be useful in any way at all. Then why are students forced to learn such concepts of calculus if they are seemingly useless in today’s world? The reason is simple, and it is plainly because such concepts are supposedly difficult to grasp and questions pertaining to such concepts often difficult to answer, requiring deep thought and analysis in working towards the right answer. Based solely on this aspect, such mathematical concepts thus encourage the mental activity of the students, forcing them to think at higher levels and enabling them to grow more accustomed to high levels of thinking and the vital ability to think “out of the box”. With this accomplished, students would then grow into individuals with a higher mental capability, more prepared to tackle the many challenging problems and issues that they would most likely face especially in the working world, along their road to future success. Thus, mathematics is more than just a tool we make use of in the process of our daily lives but a form of “vitamin” that spurs us on to attain higher mental capabilities and a deeper understanding of how to go about solving problems and finding solutions whatever they may be, whereby such intellect is crucial to one’s success in the ever-changing world.
All in all, mathematics is not just a mere tool in our daily lives, but in actual fact the basis of all science and perhaps, all life. To provide a more absolute understanding of the value of mathematics, everything we live on has to do with mathematics, and everything around us functions by mathematical platforms, even us, as illustrated earlier. The houses we live in and every patch of man-made surface we set foot on, even the lights and air-conditioners we so conveniently turn on, are all constructed based on architectural analysis and measurements, as well as mechanical and electrical engineering which revolve around concepts found in mathematics. The computers and televisions we tend to seek daily entertainment from, even the electronic games we play and the computer applications we use to do work in the office, are all results of advanced and complex programming, another high level mathematical concept. In addition, processes crucial to the state of every country such as economic evaluation of market value and exchange rates, as well as statistical studies conducted to obtain relevant information from the population are also mathematical in nature. With so many things around us brought about by mathematics, and with so many crucial and important aspects functioning based on mathematical ideas, it would be foolish and naïve to still view mathematics as a mere tool, instead of something that empowers us with the many vital must-haves in life. With the sheer extent of benefits and promises brought to birth by mathematics, it can possibly be said to be the engine of our universe.
Mathematics shows us how to find logical paths to truth, how to unambiguously describe those paths to others, and how to recognize descriptions of faulty paths that lead in the wrong direction or in circles. With it in our arsenal, we are endowed with the ability to think critically, avoid error and derive solutions to any brain-racking issue. Mathematics enables us to communicate, to enhance our minds, and to develop the many things we find almost impossible to live without in our lives. Mathematics is not just a mere tool in everyday life, but an entity that brings about infinite possibilities.