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In Math for Grownups

Math at Work Monday: Kelly the Virtual Assistant

This world is spinning fast, and a lot of things are changing. Today’s interview is with Kelly Case ofTime on Hand Services. She is a virtual assistant or VA — in fact, she’s my VA! Without Kelly, this blog would be empty most of the time. She also lays out my newsletter and does lots of research for me.

Can you explain what you do for a living?

I have my own business that provides administrative services to other companies. These companies vary in size and may be located anywhere in the world. Thanks to the internet, there is less and less need for your assistant to be in the physical office with you. My clients enjoy the freedom of having a virtual assistant. They don’t have to provide office space, computer equipment, or benefits. They decide how many hours they want me to work for them each month and then assign tasks to me at their convenience. These tasks vary widely. I do bookkeeping, email management, calendar management, blog management, proofreading, data entry, travel planning, transcription, customer service, email marketing, website design, and more.

When do you use basic math in your job?

I use math just about every day, for my own virtual assistance business as well as for the businesses of my clients. I use math when doing invoicing, payroll, travel planning, and bookkeeping. For instance, when reconciling credit card or checking accounts, I must use math to make sure the credits and debits match the bank statement. When invoicing, I use math to make sure I’m charging their clients or mine the right amounts or percentages. A customer of my client may agree to make three monthly payments to the client for a certain product. I split the payment into thirds and charge at the appropriate time.

Do you use any technology (like calculators or computers) to help with this math? Why or why not?

Yes, I use the calculator function on my computer whenever I need to calculate long lists of numbers to prevent human error. I usually do it twice to be sure I come up with the same answer each time. I also use Microsoft Excel to keep track of credits and expenses for my clients’ check registers. Quickbooks is used often for the bookkeeping aspect as well.

How do you think math helps you do your job better?

I’m not sure that it helps me do it better, but it enables me to do my job. I wouldn’t be able to invoice, do payroll, or keep books without the use of math. Numbers are an integral part of our daily lives and work places. And, where there are numbers, there is math.

How comfortable with math do you feel? Does this math feel different to you ?

I am extremely comfortable with math. The type of math I use in my job is very elementary and basic for me.

What kind of math did you take in high school? Did you like it/feel like you were good at it?

I enjoy math very much. In high school, I got As in math and was asked by friends to do their homework assignments for them. In fact, I enjoy it so much I took math as one of my college electives because I knew it would be an easy A for me.

Did you have to learn new skills in order to do the math you use in your job? Or was it something that you could pickup using the skills you learned in school?

No, I didn’t need to learn any new math skills per se. I just had to learn the different programs that I use to do the math, like Quickbooks or an online payroll service.

More and more writers, like me, are hiring virtual assistants. This allows us to focus on our writing, and for me, it means having a detail person on my team. Have a question for Kelly or interested in learning more about her services? Check her out at www.timeonhandservices.com. Wondering how you can use a virtual assistant in your business? Ask in the comments section.

Photo Credit: Philippe Put via Compfight cc

In Math at Work Monday

Math at Work Monday: Becca the Trauma Nurse

When it comes to life and death situations, we want to have confidence in those that are taking care of us. How do they know when to give us medicine, or exactly how much we need? Rebecca Paisley has been a registered nurse for five years and describes her use of practical math in the workplace.

Can you explain what you do for a living?

I work on an inpatient trauma unit. We take care of the patients once they are seen in the ER. The patients either go to the Intensive Care Unit, the Operating Room or come to our floor. We have a variety of patients – from car wrecks, falls, gun shot wounds, stab wounds, motorcycle wrecks, traumatic brain injuries and some very intense medical surgical patients with complex diagnosis. We care for these patients throughout their stay which can be from 1 day to months. We are constantly on the go, getting patients out of bed, doing procedures at the bedside (extensive dressing changes, chest tube insertions, general patient care), occassionally transfering patients to ICU, if they need a higher level of care. We also admit and discharge patients throughout the day. Needless to say, we are busy!

When do you use basic math in your job?

I use math every single day at work. It’s basic math (simple multiplication, division, addition, subtraction), but I have to use it to take care of my patients. Mainly it’s medication related. For example, you’ve got Tylenol 1000 mg ordered, but the patient needs to use a liquid form (650 mg in 20.3 mL) of the medication, you then have to figure out how many milliliters you need to give the correct dose. Once you do the math a couple of times, you remember the mLs that you need. It’s easy to do it that way with a rountine medication, but sometimes we are doing the math extremely fast in an emergent situation (like a chest tube insertion or code situation). We always double check the medication during these times with a second nurse. Another example is when we give pain medication. Say the patient has diluadid ordered our standard protocol is 0.3 mg to 0.9 mg per dose. Using our judgement, we decide on the dose amount. The medication is stock in 2 mg per 1 mL vial. By using basic division I know that the concentration is 0.2 mg per 0.1 mL. I also use it to figure out the drip rate for IV fluids and antibiotics. Ancef is ordered, it comes in a 50 mL bag, it needs to infuse in 20 minutes. Here is the math in my head: 60 minutes (1 hr) divided by 20 is 3. Multiply 3 by 50 (the mLs needed to infuse) and you get 150 ml/hr. Or if we need to bolus some IV fluids, but the doctor wants them over a certain amount of time. Say 500mL over 4 hours, (500 divided by 4 equals 125, so 125 ml/hr). I also use math to estimate my time spent with my patients in the morning (15-20 mins a patient, totaling 1 hour to 1 hour and 20 minutes ), so I can grab my morning cup of coffee! 🙂 However, this math is not always correct!

Do you use any technology (like calculators or computers) to help with this math? Why or why not?

We have certain medications that are continuous drips, like heparin or insulin. The pharmacy has calculators for these high risk medications for us to use. We just have to plug in the correct numbers, and we get the new dosing rate. The formulas for these calculations are available on our protocols, so if the calculators are unavailble (which rarely happens), we have the formula to use to get the new dosing rate. These calculators are used to reduce human error on these high risk medications. They are extremely important for safe patient care, ONLY as long as the nurse is plugging in the correct values! That’s why there is always a second nurse verification! Some of the medications (like the Tylenol example) will have the milliliters needed for the dose in the order information, but I like to challenge myself, and calculate the dose myself.

How do you think math helps you do your job better?

It makes my patient care more efficient. When I am able to do basic math in my head, I can administer medications faster, especially in an emergent situation where time is everything.

How comfortable with math do you feel? Does this math feel different to you ?

I feel pretty comfortable with math, but just basic math. The math I use at work has become “second nature,” so I’m able to use it and not really think about it. More complex calculations require good ‘ole paper and pencil!

What kind of math did you take in high school? Did you like it/feel like you were good at it?

I took geometry, and trigonometry, and I’m guessing Alegbra. I honestly hated math in school, but was fairly good at it. I never wanted to aspire to take calculus or advanced Algebra.

Did you have to learn new skills in order to do the math you use in your job? Or was it something that you could pickup using the skills you learned in school?

In nursing school, we had a pharmacology class, the whole first portion of it was math. We had to pass a math exam to even continue in the class. Everyone was so stressed out about it. We had to hand calculate drip rates, dosages, and do conversions. This math wasn’t foreign to me, as far as proportions and basic alegbra, but it was definitely stressful! Once we learned the “easy” ways to figure these calculations out, it was all good. I had to learn these new ways of solving these problems, it obviously did not come naturally!

Do you have a question for Becca? Send me your question and I will forward it to her.

In Math at Work Monday

Math at Work Monday: Louisa the Greeting Card Designer

Nothing says hello to a new neighbor like sending a greeting card or an invitation. And cards can mean so much in times of grief or illness. Those special little messages to pull the heart strings have to come from somewhere, right? Louisa Wimberger, founder of Weehah Greeting Cards and Invitations has built a business around these special messages. From greeting cards to invitations, she makes some of the best cards available.

Can you explain what you do for a living?

I design and create greeting cards and invitations. I sell them through my website, at retail shows and festivals, and also wholesale them to stores.

When do you use basic math in your job?

I use math all the time! For example: I use QuickBooks to invoice customers. I have to determine the cost of my supplies and my time in order to come up with a reasonable retail price ($3.95 per card or 10 for $35) and wholesale price ($2.25 per card).

I keep a budget, make purchases with credit cards, and pay that off monthly. On occasion, I hire someone to do mindless or repetitive tasks for me such as packaging cards. I learned that I have to pay someone per piece, and not by the hour!

I have to order cardstock and envelopes almost every week. My cardstock sheets come in 8.5 x 11 or 11 x 17 usually. So, when a customer wants 100 flat cards that measure 4.25 x 5.5 each, how many can I get per sheet? The list goes on.

Do you use any technology (like calculators or computers) to help with this math? Why or why not?

I use QuickBooks (for invoicing and budget/bookkeeping) and occasionally a calculator (to figure out measurements for things, mostly).

How do you think math helps you do your job better?

If it weren’t for math, I wouldn’t be able to actually make any money doing what I do!

How comfortable with math do you feel? Does this math feel different to you ?

I haven’t usually liked math in the past, but I have learned to appreciate (and even sometimes enjoy) it in the context of my business.

What kind of math did you take in high school? Did you like it/feel like you were good at it?

I think I took Algebra and Geometry but not Calculus. I never, ever felt like I was good at it. I glazed over a lot. I excelled in English, and that came naturally. Math was a push for me almost all the time. (And yet, I did pretty well on the math section of my SATs, oddly enough!)

Did you have to learn new skills in order to do the math you use in your job? Or was it something that you could pickup using the skills you learned in school?

I did not learn new skills. I more had to learn the theories people have behind how to price things, which doesn’t seem exactly like math to me.

Do you have a question for Louisa? Would you like to check out her cards? You can find out more about her at her website.

In Math at Work Monday

Math at Work Monday: Tina the Event Coordinator

Business is business, right? When it’s time to have those meetings and conferences, you want everything to run smoothly so you can concentrate on the task at hand. Tina Speers has been ensuring that happens for four years as a corporate event coordinator. She is the one making sure the projector runs like it should, and the refreshments are available on time.

Can you explain what you do for a living?

I have been an corporate event coordinator for four years. The majority of my job involves scheduling and planning events. I keep a Google calendar and plan the events and schedule rooms based on the needs of each group. We also do virtual conferences, which requires IT skills such as basic knowledge of IP based systems. I also stock our small cafe and make coffee on a daily basis.

When do you use basic math in your job?

Basic math is needed for the cafe. Each item is 50 cents, or we have all day pricing. I often need to make change (cafe is operated on an honor system). I never use a calculator unless large groups pay per person for a certain amount of items.

Do you use any technology (like calculators or computers) to help with this math? Why or why not?

If we need to make copies for our groups they are charged per page copied. I often use a calculator because of the amount we charge. A black and white copy is 05 cents and a color copy is 15 cents and we usual make copies in large volumes (at least 20 pages). I also use basic math to complete the usage and metrics for the event center. We tally our guest totals by month. I use a calculator for this because the numbers are usually large and uneven.

How do you think math helps you do your job better?

Math helps me do my job better because I am able to move fast when a guest is waiting for change. I can’t imagine having to use a calculator every time a guest needs change.

How comfortable with math do you feel? Does this math feel different to you ?

I am very comfortable with this math and it does not feel different or unusual in any way. I mean, I learned how to count change in first grade! In general, I do not feel very comfortable with math unless it is very basic.

What kind of math did you take in high school? Did you like it/feel like you were good at it?

In high school I remember taking algebra, trig, and geometry as well as some sort of review class my senior year. I think it was actually called “Senior Review.” I have not used any advanced math skills in my job. I took Calc I in college and barely passed. I also feel I had a lot of bad math teachers especially in my middle school years.

Did you have to learn new skills in order to do the math you use in your job? Or was it something that you could pickup using the skills you learned in school?

I have not used any advanced math skills in my job.

Do you have a question for Tina? An event you need to plan? Send me your question and I will forward it to her.

In Math at Work Monday

Math at Work Monday: Cindy the Graphic Designer

I sure think it would be fun to be a graphic designer. The only problem is…I’m not sure my creativity can keep up! Today we interview Cindy Schnell, Vice President of Graphica, to find out how math plays a role in her job.

Can you explain what you do for a living?

I manage a creative firm that specializes in strategy and branding.

When do you use basic math in your job?

I use basic math when estimating projects and providing quotes.

Do you use any technology (like calculators or computers) to help with this math? Why, or why not?

I use a calculator to ensure accuracy.

How do you think math helps you do your job better?

Providing an estimate for a project is sometimes the first contact you may have with a new client. It is critical to provide accurate pricing. You do not get a second chance to say, “Oh wait, I didn’t add that right, or I forgot to include the following charges.” Our professionalism and accuracy is imperative to our brand.

How comfortable with math do you feel?

On my own, without a calculator to validate my final numbers, I am not as confident.

Does this math feel different to you?

No, my needs in day-to-day business are basic and are very familiar to me.

What kind of math did you take in high school?

Calculus.

Did you like it/feel like you were good at it?

No. I also took it in college, and it was one of my most difficult subjects. I also have a mild disability with dyslexia and numbers so numbers have always been a slight challenge.

Did you have to learn new skills in order to do the math you use in your job? Or was it something that you could pick up using the skills you learned in school?

No, I did not have to learn any new skills to do the math at my job.

Curious to know more? If so, let me know, and I will pass them along to her.

In Math at Work Monday

Math at Work Monday: Andy the Design Director

You probably enjoy a good motion picture from time to time. When watching, you probably do not think about how much math was used to design it. Today, you will hear from Andy Nick who has been a Design Director for ten years. He makes a motion picture come to life.

Can you explain what you do for a living?

I work for a full-service design firm and lead a team of video specialists. We are a small team, so we all do a lot of different jobs. I direct live action video shoots and handle post production and visual effects for short films, motion graphic projects and all sorts of other multimedia.

When do you use basic math in your job?

When I use Adobe After Effects (a motion graphics and visual effects program) to design and animate graphics using the old-skool cartesian coordinate system. I put design elements at a specific place using X and Y coordinates, and when I work in “3D”, I use Z space, too. Animation is just changing numbers around from their location on a graph to transparency, rotation on all 3 axes and scale. Sometimes, I write very simple mathematical code that calculates where something should be based on simple variables. It’s not calculus, but it does get a little tricky. It’s all very cool though.

Do you use any technology (like calculators or computers) to help with this math?

In my line of work, the computer does all of the number crunching. I just push and pull things around. Sometimes, I have to look carefully at the numbers to make sure that two graphics line up perfectly to each other. Other times I need an animation to look smooth, so I look at the graph that tells me how the numbers change over time. I see the results of math much more often than I worry about the actual number crunching going on.

How do you think math helps you do your job better?

Understanding the basics of plotting points on a graph is just the beginning of understanding 3D graphics, but it’s a foundation that you totally have to have. It’s especially cool for me to use these tools because when a video looks really spectacular, people don’t tend to think that you came at it from a mathematical point of view. Things just end up looking “right”.

How comfortable with math do you feel?

When you’re working with graphics, all the math is “under the hood” which means that no one will ever see any numbers. When you come out with something that looks good, people don’t understand or care how long it took you to make two things line up perfectly, look realistic and move in proportion to each other in 3D space. All of the hard work that I do with numbers is gone, and people just say “that looks real”.

What kind of math did you take in high school?

Yep, I was decent at math. I was bad at memorizing formulas, but I really understood principles well, and I was especially awesome at using a graphing calculator. (Do students still use those?) If I remember right, I made it to Algebra 2 before graduating high school. I wish I had taken a trig class. I think that’s some really cool stuff, and hardcore programmers can make some crazy things happen on screen if they know some of that stuff.

Did you have to learn new skills in order to do the math you use in your job?

I never learned more math after graduating. I only learned how to apply simple math in a way that made sense to me. I move graphics around for a living. Having an understanding of what makes motion look real is definitely due to an understanding of basic math.

Anything else you want to mention?

If you’re interested in seeing some of the motion graphics I develop, check out our latest showreel at https://vimeo.com/60230695 (password: realreel)

Check out Andy’s motion graphics he developed. This time you will be thinking more about how math is involved in what you are watching on the screen. If you have any questions for Andy, I can send them his way. Feel free to check out more of his work at nickad.com.

In Math at Work Monday

Math at Work Monday: Tiffany the Choir Director

Music adds such a level on enjoyment and creativity to life. As the Choir Director at Mad River Middle School, Tiffany Hesselbart sees this firsthand. In this field, it is essential for Tiffany and her students to understand basic math. Although math skills cannot give you a better singing voice, it may help those who already sound beautiful when they sing!

Can you explain what you do for a living?

I teach seventh-grade choir. I have approximately 140 students split between 4 classes.

When do you use basic math in your job?

Math is very important in music so we use it every day. We talk about the number of beats in each measure. We talk about the values of different types of notes and rests. For example, I may ask the class what the value of a quarter note is, and when they say one beat, I ask them what happens to the note if it has a dot on it. They have to know that a dot equals half of the value of the no, and that it would then equal one and one half beats. In addition, we talk about how two eighth notes equal one quarter note, two quarter notes equal one half note, and two half notes equal one whole note.

Do you use any technology (like calculators or computers) to help with this math?

Our math is basic fractional math that does not require a calculator.

How do you think math helps you do your job better?

Math and music go hand in hand. I explain to students every day that they need to understand fractions in order to understand music. If I could not explain that to students, then they would not understand many aspects of music. So it not only helps me do my job better, it is absolutely essential.

How comfortable with math do you feel?

I am comfortable with math that I use every day, but math is not my strong suit.

What kind of math did you take in high school?

I took algebra 1 and 2 in high school. Also, I took geometry. I think that I was good at it them because I was in accelerated math. However, when I took math in college, I realized I was not as good at it as I had originally thought.

Did you have to learn new skills in order to do the math you use in your job?

No, the math I use daily is basic math that middle schoolers can understand so that I can meet my teaching and learning goals with them.

So, when Tiffany’s students utilize their basic math skills in choir, I bet it is music to her ears. If you have questions for Tiffany, send them my way, and I will be happy to send them to her!

Photo Credit: Brandon Giesbrecht via Compfight cc

In Math at Work Monday

Math at Work Monday: Tina the Executive Director with Mary Kay Cosmetics

You have more than likely heard of Mary Kay Cosmetics. Tina Frantz, is an Executive Senior Sales Director with Mary Kay Cosmetics. When she started with Mary Kay, I am sure she had no idea how much math was going to be involved. Read on to see how math plays a really big part!

Can you explain what you do for a living?

I sell Mary Kay products to people all over the United States. Other aspects of my job include mentoring other women in the business, teaching them skills to build a successful Mary Kay business including time management skills, business management, money management, emotional management, and other skills specific to the field of buying and selling these products. I also teachcustomers and consultants how to apply cosmetics to themselves and how to take great care of their skin. I oversee the efforts of 900+ women in Mary Kay. Then, I directly teach and coach over 200+ women and men.

When do you use basic math in your job?

I use math every day in my field. Specifically, when I am calculating sales and tax. Simple addition and subtraction is key. Calculating sales tax using percentages is a daily application. On a larger scale, we use math to set goals and break down goals, using averages and numbers all the time. For example, we know that the AVERAGE skin care party will retail around $275.00. We also know that we profit 50 percent of everything we sell. So, if we want to make an average of $400 in profit per week, we should hold about three parties per week. We also know that the average hold rate is 50 percentage. So, to hold three parties, we need to book six parties.

Also, calculating my paycheck is really fun too. I use percentages a lot for that as well. We make 50 percent off everything we sell, but we also make a percentage on what our team sells. That percentage changes depending on the number of people on our team. So, math is very useful and helpful for those purposes as well.

I also track all of my totals to determine what I need to do differently or where my focus needs to be for the next week or month. We are always tracking how many faces we do as a whole group, how much product we sell, and how many people are starting new businesses with us. This helps us to see what we may need to improve on or what we are doing well.

Do you use any technology (like calculators or computers) to help with this math?

I use calculators to determine the percentages and when calculating sales tax. I also use a calculator for calculating my check when the numbers aren’t easy, especially when building a team and adding the sales of the team. However, finding 50 percent is easy because it’s just half of whatever the total number is.

A series of studies over a long period of time determined the averages that I use. I am always tracking numbers daily and weekly to see if theses averages stay true. I track my numbers using a spreadsheet on a computer or tablet.

How do you think math helps you do your job better?

Using math and numbers in my career helps me focus on what makes money. It also helps me to focus on the reality of the effort I am putting into the business, instead of the feelings I may be having about it. Math puts things in black and white. So, if I are feeling frustrated about my results, I can look at my activity and then see that it’s no surprise why the results are the way that they are. Also, I can see how I can increase without being frustrated. It helps me see where our efforts need to be each month. It also helps goals seem more attainable. Mary Kay always said, “You can’t eat an elephant whole, but you can eat it piece by piece.” By breaking down numbers, I can see how truly attainable a “bigger” goal is.

How comfortable with math do you feel?

I feel very comfortable with the math at work. I have not always felt that way. I have had great training and education specifically on how to use this math at work so my comfort level is very high.

What kind of math did you take in high school?

I got through calculus in high school and college. I was not comfortable with it and still don’t feel comfortable with all forms of math. I always felt that I was good at it until my junior year when taking pre-calc. After that, I lost a lot of interest.

Did you have to learn new skills in order to do the math you use in your job?

It was something that I picked up with the skills I obtained in school. However, there were a few times when I needed help. But now, I feel like a PRO! 🙂

There is a lot to this job, right? I find it inspiring! Tina uses a great deal of math to get her products in the hands of customers. If you would like to know more about Tina’s job, let me know and I will connect you with her.

Photo Credit: pumpkincat210 via Compfight cc

In Math at Work Monday

Math at Work Monday: Beth the Educator

We owe a great big thanks to teachers! They equip us with many of the basic skills that we use on a daily basis. Beth McBride has been an educator for over twenty-nine years, and currently she is a seventh-grade language arts teacher. I got the chance to speak with her about her job and the use of math in her daily work.

Can you explain what you do for a living?

I educate students at the middle school level in standards related to reading, writing and vocabulary.

When do you use basic math in your job?

Grading is one place where math is used. The actual computation is done through electronic grade programs, but weighting values of assignments is still a human process. Math is used to analyze test results and gauge student learning.

Do you use any technology (like calculators or computers) to help with this math?

Absolutely! My strength is English. In the middle school, math teachers and English teachers have a healthy respect for and rivalry against each other.

How do you think math helps you do your job better?

Math is an exercise in reasoning, problem solving and utilizing already proven strategies to get where you want to go. Life is an exercise in reasoning, problem solving and utilizing already proven strategies to get where you want to go.

What kind of math did you take in high school?

I took all of the required college prep courses. I LOVED geometry, but the only “D” I have ever received in my life was in high school algebra. My father, an engineer, insisted on “helping” me, and his older methods were different than those I learned in school. I “fired” him and got a B.

Did you have to learn new skills in order to do the math you use in your job?

Several years ago, I taught all subjects. There was a point when we adopted a variant math program, and I had to relearn many concepts in a new way to present as the state believed it should be taught. It is difficult to relearn something you know using a variant method. Now, I understand how my father felt in the above scenario.

As we see every week in the Math at Work Monday series, math plays a vital role in more jobs than we realize. Educators like Beth give us many of the skills we need to succeed in life.

Photo CreditPhoto Credit: Forty Two. via Compfight cc

In Math at Work Monday

Math at Work Monday: Jaime the Forensic Psychologist

Man oh, man! You’re in for a treat today–especially if, like me your favorite character on Law & Order SVU is Dr. Huang. Jaime Adkins has been a forensic psychologist for six years. Basic math allows her to manage her time, so that she can meet those pressing deadlines.

Can you explain what you do for a living?

I complete court-ordered evaluations of felony-level offenders in 11 counties. I complete interviews and psychological assessments to offer the court a professional opinion regarding issues of competency to stand trial, not guilty by reason of insanity, death penalty mitigations, intervention in lieu of conviction and bindover status for juveniles.

When do you use basic math in your job?

I use very little math in my profession. The majority of math is simple addition and subtraction for time management. We are allotted 30 days to complete our evaluations. This amount of time includes the interview, assessment, travel time, report writing, etc. I have to calculate the amount of time needed. Also, I have to report the amount of time that was spent on each portion of the assessment.

Do you use any technology (like calculators or computers) to help with this math?

No. It is simple math that I am able to complete in my head without a calculator or computer.

How do you think math helps you do your job better?

Math contributes to time management. This affects productivity and the budget. By utilizing math I am able to determine if I am spending too much or too little time on certain aspects. Although my job is not always time specific (as some cases are more difficult), it still keeps a boundary.

How comfortable with math do you feel?

I am comfortable with simple math that is required at work. In general, I do not feel comfortable with math. I have always had difficulty with higher level mathematics.

What kind of math did you take in high school?

I took Algebra and Calculus. I did not enjoy it and had difficulty with it. I often had to ask my older brother for help with my homework. I was thrilled when I completed my last class relating to mathematics.

Curious to know more? Let me know any questions you have, and I’ll see if she can spare some time to answer.

Photo Credit Photo Credit: Jack Mallon via Compfight cc

In Math at Work Monday

Math at Work Monday: Shayna the Cook Supervisor and Team Lead

Today, we interview Shayna Hartman, the cook supervisor and team lead at a retirement community dining facility. As we learn more about the details of her job, you will see how Shayna uses math each and every day to serve meals and oversee her team.

Can you explain what you do for a living?

For the past fourteen years, I have been a cook in a retirement community.While much of my job involves measuring, another part of my job is to handle the schedule for more than 20 people. This includes conducting interviews, ordering, keeping inventory and taking care of disciplinary problems when needed.

When do you use basic math in your job?

In my job I have to use math skills to be able to convert recipes from a small amount to an amount that will feed a hundred people. Also, I have to make sure no one goes over their 40-hour work schedule. Another facet of my job is budgeting. For example, when a new department opened, I was in charge of the $150,000 budget. This involved me looking at many different details.

Do you use any technology (like calculators or computers) to help with this math?

I use technology in my job when using math. It would take a lot longer without a calculator to add up labor, inventory costs, and many other things that come with running the department. If I didn’t use a calculator, my workload would be immensely increased.

How do you think math helps you do your job better?

Math helps me do my job better because I can stay under budget and adjust hours so my employees get equal amounts of working time.

How comfortable with math do you feel?

I am very comfortable doing any type of math. I enjoy using math in my job and personal life. Math comes easy to me. I use it in any situation that I can. Math is what I enjoy, and I like to learn.

What kind of math did you take in high school?

In high school, I took Geometry, Algebra 2 and Pre-Calculus. I feel like I am very good in math, but when I get to a huge problem, I quit. In Pre-Calculus I was doing great. I quit trying when I had a two-page problem, and I didn’t need the class to graduate.

Did you have to learn new skills in order to do the math you use in your job?

I went to college to learn the skills that I need to do my job. So, I learned my skills in both high school and college.

Can you imagine increasing a recipe so that it feeds 100? Shayna is more than willing to give you some pointers. For more information from Shayna, ask in the comments section.

Photo Credit: SkyFireXII via Compfight cc

In Math at Work Monday

Math at Work Monday: Nate the Restoration Hero

Properties that are damaged by fire, water, storms, smoke, or mold require the services of a professional. This is a job for Nate Dawson, Restoration Hero and President of Sterling Restoration. Read on to see how he uses math to restore damaged properties back to mint condition.

Can you explain what you do for a living?

Sterling Restoration specializes in emergency repair to real property whether damaged by fire, water, storm, smoke or mold. Sterling Restoration is trusted for high quality and comprehensive cleanup, mitigation, and restoration services for both residential and commercial projects. We are a locally owned company based in Springfield, Ohio serving the Miami Valley and Central Ohio areas. We take pride in knowing that our team of professionals and extensive network of resources have the expertise to return any property to its pre-loss condition as quickly as possible.

When do you use basic math in your job?

Basic math is used in all aspects of our business including our accounting, estimating and production departments. Our accounting department uses it to calculate payroll, receivables, and payables. Our estimators use math more than anyone in our business. During the estimating process for reconstruction, we use square footage formulas (L x W) for calculating materials used, for example: subfloor framing, roof framing , insulation, drywall, painting, etc.. We use square yard formulas (L x W/9) for calculating vinyl floors and carpet. Basic algebra formulas are used for calculating rafter lengths based on the rise and run of roof slopes.

One of our most interesting uses of basic math, and one I will focus on going forward is with water mitigation (returning a structure to dry standard). Basically, drying a wet building! Once we determine the affected area we then use a cubic footage formula (L x W x H) along with the extent of saturation to know how much dehumidification is needed. Dehumidifiers are rated based upon how many pints of water they are capable of removing from the air within a specific amount of time (AHAM Rating). Therefore, depending on the type of dehumidification used and it’s rating, we are able to determine the number of dehumidifiers we need to dry a structure within the standards of our industry (S-500 ANSI approved standard). We also use the atmospheric readings to determine whether we are creating the desired conditions required to remove water from affected materials and to determine the effectiveness of our equipment. To do this we use the temperature and relative humidity to determine specific humidity (the weight of moisture p/lbs of air) and dew point (the temperature at which water vapor will begin to condense). The formula we use to determine the number of dehumidifiers needed is as follows:

Step 1 – Determine Cubic feet (CF).

Step 2 – CF/Class Factor(a low grain refrigerant dehu has a class factor of 40 in a class two loss) = # of AHAM pints needed.

Step 3 – AHAM points needed/Dehumidifier rating = number of dehumidifiers needed.

I know! It’s starting to sound a little complicated but it is all basic math.

Do you use any technology (like calculators or computers) to help with this math? Why or why not?

Absolutely! Even though we are in the building trade we are not in the dark ages. We use the most advanced estimating system designed specifically for the insurance restoration (property repair) business. After in-putting the dimensions into a sketch type format, this system automatically calculates all the square footages, cubic footages, and linear footages. The next step is to add a specific line item. For example, when you add drywall to your estimate it uses a current square foot price to calculate how much to charge for hanging, taping and finishing the drywall in your project. It will also calculate how many sheets of drywall, how many fasteners are needed , how much drywall tape, and how much joint compound is needed. Finally, it will calculate the material sales tax and any state sales tax on the service.

How do you think math helps you do your job better?

I do not feel it’s a matter of doing my job better. I simply could not perform my job without math! As I stated earlier, we use math in every aspect of our business. I do not feel there are too many moments throughout the day that I am not using some form of math.

What kind of math did you take in high school?

During my high school years I completed algebra and some trigonometry. If I remember correctly, that was all that was offered (yes, I graduated high school 32 years ago). Once leaving high school I furthered my math education in mechanical engineering. In my opinion, the levels of math being taught in high school today are far superior to what was then taught.

Did you like it/feel like you were good at it?

I feel like there are individuals that have an aptitude for math and those who do not. Math will obviously come easy for those who have this aptitude. I would also say that if you are good at something, the chances of enjoying it are far greater than if you are not good. Having said that, I do not believe I had this aptitude. Therefore, I had to work a little harder than others, and, at best, I was average at math. Guess where I’m going with this…no I did not like it.

Did you have to learn new skills in order to do the math you use in your job? Or was it something that you could pick up using the skills you learned in school?

I had to learn how to use the math skills I had already acquired to accomplish the task at hand. For example, if you have the lengths of two sides and the angle of a triangle, you can calculate the length of the third side. It is crazy how much I use this algebraic formula; however, it took some time and experience to learn how many applications this formula has. Having said that, ninety percent of my daily tasks require math learned in high school.

Are you interested in learning more about restoration? Let me know and I will pass your information along to Nate.