It’s been a long while since I’ve posted a new Math at Work Monday interview. But this feature remains one of the most popular here at Math for Grownups. Perhaps that’s because teachers and parents like to prove to their kids, “See, you will use this stuff one day!” And I imagine that others stumble upon it while looking for career advice. At any rate, it’s been an eye-opening experience for me, too. And here are a few lessons learned.
People don’t know they’re doing math
I’ve intentionally focused on careers that are not traditionally STEM related — from a textile designerto an FBI profiler to a children’s book author. And almost everyone says the same thing: “I don’t use much math in my work.” Then they follow up with a revelation – they do more math than they think!
People do the math they want to do
This makes a lot of sense. Why go into a career that requires skills you don’t have? Those folks who really dislike calculus are most likely not going to become physicists. Folks who hate statistics avoid careers in research. And people who have a disdain for geometry aren’t likely to become carpenters or architects. At the same time, when someone feels drawn to a career, they’re willing to whatever it takes to be successful. That often includes a little bit of math.
People do a lot of mental math
While most folks I interview say that they check their work with a calculator or good old back-of-the-envelope calculations, a fair amount of math is being done in their heads. This may be as simple as using fractions to mix the perfect hair color to deconstructing formulas so that the math can be done in the field, say on a fish hatchery.
People also depend on technology
When it comes to money, especially, or critical situations, like healthcare, a computer, spreadsheet or calculator is often a necessary tool. But often these require a clear understanding of the math going on. It’s not enough to give someone some software. These folks must know how the math works in order to use their technological tools.
People often don’t have a good relationship with math
This is kind of sad to me, but it’s been very true: I rarely meet someone in a non-STEM field who says that they really understood math in school and now feel really confident in their skills. Yet, all of the folks I interview for Math at Work Monday do use math. That says to me that their issues with math are often in their head – and probably not really their fault. The reality is that our educational system and other adults often fail us in this regard. It’s not about making math fun. It’s about making math useful.
I’d like to keep Math at Work Monday going, but I need your help. Do you know someone who would be interested in being interviewed? Think of basic fields: home improvement, medicine, the arts, law, public service and more. Does your partner use math in his work? What about your next door neighbor or your sister? The answer is yes, and I’d like to interview them. Shoot me a line at llaing [at] comcast [dot] net, and I’ll reach out to them.
What have you learned from the Math at Work series? Have you been surprised by anything? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
P.S. I wanted to explain why I was so silent last week. Because of the horrific events in the U.S., I felt it would be trite to post about Math Awareness. Clearly our national attention was needed elsewhere, and so aside from a Boston-related post, I made the decision not to post. My thoughts continue to be with everyone in Boston and West, Texas.