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Math for Grownups

Math is Not a Competition (Video)

Oh, the math competitions! From speed math to scrambling to get the correct answer, competing with math can be a very bad idea. In this video, I talk about when competition and math are a bad mix. Take a look!

Have you subbed to my YouTube channel: mathforgrownups? There are lots more videos there.  Also, I hope you’ll share this video on Twitter, using #slowmath and post it on your Facebook page. Share the Math for Grownups love!

As always, I’d love to hear what you think. Ask your questions or share your feedback in the comments section. Were you surprised by anything in the video? What do you think about math being a competition? Tell us!

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Math for Grownups Math for Parents Math for Teachers

Math at the Movies

Unidentified people look at Imax 3D footage filmed by the Astronauts during the STS-125 Hubble Repair Mission through glasses Wednesday evening, Sept. 9, 2009, during a celebration of the Hubble Legacy at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington. Astronomers declared the telescope a fully rejuvenated observatory with the release Wednesday of observations from four of its six operating science instruments. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

I love the movies. If I could, I would watch one every single day. I’m also a bit of a movie snob. I like films that surprise me or make me think. And while I don’t seek out movies that feature math, some of the best movies out there do. Here are a few of them.

Good Will Hunting (1997)

Written by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, Goodwill Hunting won the Oscar for Best Writing, Screenplay. Damon plays Will Hunting, an MIT janitor and math prodigy. Psychologist Sean Maguire (Robin Williams) finally breaks through Hunting’s defenses, helping him to leave his past behind.

Pi (1998)

If you’re looking for something surreal, Pi is it. Filmed in moody black and white, the movie follows mathematical genius, Max (Sean Gullette) , as he searches for patterns in mathematics. At the same time, he’s being pursued by two groups who want his results: a powerful Wall Street firm and a Hasidic cabalistic sect.

 A Beautiful Mind (2001)

Based on the true story of Nobel Prize winner, John Nash, A Beautiful Mind won four Oscars, including Best Picture. Nash (Russell Crowe) is a brilliant mathematician, who has troubling relationships with a former college roommate, a young girl and a Department of Defense agent.

Proof (2005)

As her successful mathematician father, Robert (Anthony Hopkins) descends into madness, Catherine (Gwyneth Paltrow) begins to question her own sanity and mathematical abilities. Proof is based on the Pulitzer Prize winning play by David Auburn.

Moneyball (2011)

The ultimate answer to the question, “When am I ever going to use this stuff?” Moneyball  tells the true story of Billy Beane, the Oakland A’s beleaguered manager, played by Brad Pitt. Given a tiny budget for salaries, Beane games the recruiting system, using a sophisticated statistical analysis program. His methods ultimately change the way all baseball teams build their rosters. Jonah Hill plays Peter Brand, the brains behind the plan.

 The Imitation Game (2014)

Based on the life of one of them most fascinating mathematicians in history, The Imitation Game is the most recent math-centric films to hit theaters. Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch) is the great mind who broke the Nazi’s enigma code, ultimately shortening the war by several years and saving thousands of lives.

With a list like this, you might think that Hollywood is has a great relationship with math. Never fear, this mashup tells the truth. Like much of the rest of society, the movies and television hate or are scared of math. Take a look.

What is your favorite movie or television program about math? What do you think of the movies I’ve listed? Post your comments below!

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Math at Work Monday Math for Grownups Math for Parents Math for Teachers

Math at Work Monday: Susan Weiner the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)

One of the things that excites me the most is seeing someone make a living out of their passion.  I had the privilege of interviewing Susan Weiner today.  She has been in her profession for more than 20 years and is living her passion.  She’s a freelance financial writer and author of Financial Blogging: How to Write Powerful Posts That Attract Clients.  She blogs atInvestmentWriting.com/blog. I highly recommend that you check out her work. First, let her tell us a little bit more about what she does and how it involves math.

Can you explain what you do for a living? (Be specific!)

I write and edit white papers and investment commentary for financial firms. You know how some people have great ideas but lack the time or skill to put them into writing? I interview them—and use their data—to put their ideas into persuasive writing. Some of their data include numbers generated using math.

When do you use basic math in your job? 

I use math when I write investment portfolio performance commentary. If you own a mutual fund, you receive semiannual reports about your fund’s performance. Some of that commentary is based on data called attribution analysis. It identifies which investments contributed to positive returns and which investments detracted. This data is reported in percentages.

Let’s consider an example. A stock fund increased in value by 5% over one year. Where did that come from? How much of that was from specific stocks that the fund manager bought or sold? How much was from overall market growth or the performance of a specific industry? The percentages generated by the attribution analysis software explain which decisions helped and hurt the fund. By looking at lots of these numbers and finding patterns among them, I develop an objective basis to write about why the fund performed as it did.

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

I sometimes use Excel spreadsheets to rearrange the attribution numbers to make them easier to analyze. For example, I may sort the list of stocks so that the largest contributor to performance is at the top, followed by other contributors in descending order.

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

Without math, I wouldn’t have any objective data to inform my understanding of fund performance. With math, I can form and test hypotheses by looking at the data. When I get a chance to interview the fund manager, I can ask questions that test and expand on my hypotheses. The numbers don’t tell the entire story, so it’s important to get input from the professionals who manage a fund.

How comfortable with math do you feel? Does this math feel different to you? (In other words, is it easier to do this math at work or do you feel relatively comfortable with math all the time?)

I don’t love math, but I like how numbers make my job easier by providing insights. I do what’s necessary to obtain those insights.

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

I stopped after algebra and geometry. I did not take calculus, although now I wish that I had forced myself to struggle through it. Math did not come easily to 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 pick up using the skills you learned in school?

The skills that I had to learn weren’t mathematical. When I studied to earn my credential as a chartered financial analyst, a credential held by many fund managers, I learned about financial analysis. I also learned about Excel spreadsheets, which help me format the numbers to make them easier to analyze.

Anything else you want to mention?

Don’t underestimate the power of learning to write well about the numbers generated by math. That got me one of my first job offers in college, when my statistics professor asked me to help students in his class. Today, writing about numbers helps me to help my clients communicate better.

It sounds like even if you don’t love math, you can learn to respect it and get along with it like Susan does.  Interested in knowing more?  Let me know, and I will make a connection with Susan for you.

Photo Credit: humbert15 via Compfight cc

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Math Education Math for Grownups Math for Parents Math for Teachers

We Learn Math Best Through Discovery — And Failure (Video)

What’s the best way to learn new math ideas? The answer might surprise you. But like learning a foreign language or that the little brake light on your dashboard means get to the mechanic — now! — getting the hang of math may require a little bit of discovery, rather than listening to boring lectures or reading books. And getting your Christopher Columbus on means failing a few times too. Here’s how discovery and failure play an important role in math education.

More videos are coming, so please subscribe to my YouTube channel: mathforgrownups.  Also, I hope you’ll share this video on Twitter, using #failureisok and #discovermath and post it on your Facebook page. Share the Math for Grownups love!

As always, I’d love to hear what you think. Ask your questions or share your feedback in the comments section. Were you surprised by anything in the video? What do you think about having to fail in order to learn? Share in the comments section!

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Math for Grownups Math for Parents Math for Teachers Math for Writers

Celebrate Good (Math) Times

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my years of freelance writing and blogging, it’s this: I should always, always celebrate accomplishments, big and small. Truth is, 2014 was a really, really big year for Math for Grownups. So I hope you’ll indulge me in this little round up of the great things that have happened since last year at this time.

And I hope you’ll spend a few moments celebrating your own wins. (Share them in the comments section, so we can all cheer for you!)

Publication of Math for Writers

I had plans for this book since Math for Grownups published in 2011. Fear and a lot of anxiety kept me from my goal for a long time, but I finally pulled it together and got down to work. The writers I know are such smart people, and I wanted to give you all a little boost of confidence in your math abilities. As the subtitle says, with math writers can tell a better story, get published and make more money.

I’m also really proud that I self-published Math for Writers. I knew that finding a publisher would be tricky, and I wanted the autonomy of making my own decisions. It’s been a really amazing process, and I couldn’t have done it without the help of three folks: Jennifer Lawler, development editor; Sandra Hume, copy editor; and Caitlin Proctor of Design Cat Studios, who designed the cover. I highly recommend them all!

Redesign of www.mathforgrownups.com

As my reach expanded to writers and parents and teachers, I decided to put a new face on the Math for Grownups website. And with that redesign, I added more content, like quizzes, the Math Manifestoand even video. I also created a cool free gift to subscribers: a guide to overcoming math anxiety. (If you haven’t snagged yours, be sure to sign up in the bright yellow box on the right!)

Again, I owe a big debt to someone who is much smarter than I. Patrick McCarty of evolv design has been my designer for years and years. I asked for pops of color and a playful look — and that’s exactly what he gave me. Thanks, Patrick!

Named one of GO Magazine’s 100 Women We Love in 2014

You could have knocked me over with a feather when I found out about this honor! Yep, that’s me, up there with Lily Tomlin, Robin Roberts, Mary Lambert and Ellen Page. Each year, GO chooses 100 lesbians who are making waves. To be on this list means more than just personal recognition — though that’s pretty darned cool! The best part was sharing the math message to a generation of women: girls can do math! (Check out my profile in the magazine.)

Hired a Virtual Assistant

This was a huge step. I’ve been a one-girl shop since I started out on my own in 2005. But with all of my big ideas, I knew I needed to step things up. Kelly Case with Time on Hand Services has been a god-send. Since the spring, she’s hanlded all of the Math at Work Monday interviews, and in the fall, she took over the newsletter. Look for her name to show up more in 2015! I’m so glad to have her on my tiny team of two.

Began Producing Video Online

Perhaps the most fun I’ve had this year is writing and producing my own video. The Math Manifesto series has been a blast. I’ve been writing math video scripts for several years, but this was my first chance to strike out on my own. And while I cringe a little seeing my face and hearing my voice, I feel really great about this accomplishment. The point is to ratchet down the anxiety and demonstrate how simple the math can be. (And sometimes I have to ratchet down my own anxiety about being on camera!)

Coming in 2015

So the best part about reviewing the previous year is the inspiration that comes. (Try it for yourself!) I’ve got big plans for next year, and I hope you’ll join me. Here’s a taste of what may come:

  • More video! I have a great new tool that I’m excited to use. Look for Khan Academy-like learning videos from Math for Grownups.
  • An online stats course for writers. This has been in the works for a while. Stay tuned for the details!
  • In-person speaking events. I’m showing up at a few writers conferences in 2015 (including the American Society for Journalists and Authors (ASJA) in the spring), and it looks like I’ll be working with public school teachers on implementing in-depth, project-based lessons in the classroom. I can’t tell you how excited I am to be teaching again!
  • New resources — for teachers and for writers. I’m developing some special items just for these audiences, and I can’t wait to share them.
  • A new book? This one is a little scary to announce, but I do have plans for two books. Most likely, only one will get done in 2015. Which one will be be? Not sure yet. (And I’m not spilling the beans about either one!)

Of course, I hope you all will stay with me throughout the next year. Invite your friends to subscribe, too! Math for Grownups is on the verge of something really great. Don’t miss out!

Photo Credit: jeff_golden via Compfight cc

Now it’s your turn. What would you like to see here at Math for Grownups? Please share your ideas with me, in the comments section to via email: laura@mathforgrownups.com. 

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Math at Work Monday Math for Grownups Math for Teachers

Best Math at Work Monday Interviews of 2014

I’ve had such a great time this year getting to know people and their occupations on a deeper level. It’s that time of year when we reflect on what has been and dream of what will be. I’m thinking back on all the great interviews I had. A few come to mind that I’d love to share with you — just in case you missed them.

First on my mind is Mary the Non-Profit Principal. Loved her sense of humor!  She knew how to turn a serious interview about math and work into an entertaining read. She is gifted on so many levels.

Then I am recalling Louisa the Greeting Card Designer.  What a job!  I love the creativity that she unfolds into her designs.  If only some of those vibes were transmitted to me during our interview!

The next one that comes to mind is Andy the Design Director.  I guess I just have a thing for the creative types!  As I recall the math in his job is mostly done by the computer.  Just think of it though… the math that it takes to do graphic design.  The computer makes his job so much faster in so many ways.

What about Shayna the Cook Supervisor… remember her? Talk about crunching some numbers. She has to convert recipes on a daily basis as well as manage the food budget.  Because I love math, that sounds like a mighty fun job! I’m not so sure about the actually cooking part though.  With me at the stove, the food might not be so great!

Finally, I have to include Kathy the Company President who heads up a manufacturing company. As the president, she has a lot of numbers to look over including tolerances on the design prints, payroll, quality scores and much more. I love hearing about the industry that is the heart of so much in our country. I hope she inspires students to pursue STEM occupations. (Um… she’s also mom to Kelly, my virtual assistant, which is pretty darned cool!)

As 2014 draws to a close, I hope you all get some much deserved time off work and begin calculating your goals for next year.  I’m excited about next year’s Math at Work Monday interviews, but for now it feels good to focus on the holidays.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Photo Credit: Jon Glittenberg via Compfight cc

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Math for Grownups

Math Anxiety Is Bad News, and You Can Get Over It (Video)

If your hands get sweaty, heart starts to race and your brain shuts down at the thought of doing math, you might have math anxiety. This is a very real condition with very real consequences — from making more mistakes to avoiding math altogether.

But there’s really great news. You can get over math anxiety. And, if you have kids, you can help them avoid getting it in the first place. This video shares a few tips. And if you want more, sign up for my free resource, Multiply Your Math Moxie: A Painless Guide to Overcoming Math Anxiety. Check out the yellow box to the right!

More videos are coming, so please subscribe to my YouTube channel: mathforgrownups.  Also, I hope you’ll share this video on Twitter, using #mathanxiety and post it on your Facebook page. Share the Math for Grownups love!

As always, I’d love to hear what you think. Ask your questions or share your feedback in the comments section. Were you surprised by anything in the video? Do you have your own stories to share about your or your kids’ math anxiety? Share in the comments section!

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Math for Grownups Math for Teachers

Decoding Geeky T-Shirts, Episode 1

We’ve all seen them. Mathy t-shirts, mugs and social media graphics that offer a fun phrase for those who can decode the message. But have these ever made you feel a little, well, not so mathy? Me too.So let’s unlock the mysteries of these inside jokes.

I’ve gathered a few of the most common t-shirts featuring math symbols. One by one, I’ll interpret them for you. Of course if you have any ideas to share, feel free. And if you disagree with my analysis, by all means, let me know!

Here’s to feeling much smarter.

Math is fun!

We’ll start with a doozy and break it down bit by bit.

M = M     One of the shortcuts that these t-shirts take is simply inserting letters as variables. Or you could make an argument that the M in this example stands for mass.

This one took me a few moments to figure out. It’s based on the Pythagorean Theorem — solving for a. Here’s a quick rundown:

This is the Ideal Gas Law, which I know nothing about. But there’s some algebra to get from the law itself to this representation.

H = H  Seems to me that this is simply the variable H, which could stand for just about anything. (If you have another suggestion, let me know in the comments section.)

I love this one! You may remember that you cannot take the square root of a negative number. And then you may remember that there is a very special number for the square root of -1. That number is the imaginary number — or i. It’s crazy to think that we can have imaginary numbers, but there you have it. It was important enough to create a whole new system of numbers so that we could deal with the square root of -1. (And yet, we still can’t divide by zero!)

If you were a Greek during college or remember a little bit of your Algebra II class, you’ll remember that this symbol is the Greek letter sigma. It’s used to denote summations — not the legal kind; the math kind. When you want to find the sum of a set of numbers, you can indicate it by using the letter sigma.

The last clue is a little bit of a fudge, I think. First the f and parentheses. In math-speak this represents a function, and you probably remember seeing it written like this: f(x). In this form, it means a function in terms of x. But — and here comes the not-so-accurate part, in my opinion — u raised to the nthpower is not something you would see in function notation. And u raised to the nth power doesn’t really translate to –un.

And that’s how you get “math is fun” from all of those symbols. Not too bad, eh? Next time, we’ll have some pie!

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Math at Work Monday Math for Grownups Math for Teachers

Adam the Solar Energy Meteorologist

This week I had the privilege of interviewing Adam Kankiewicz who has been a solar energy meteorologist for 16 years!  Some occupations use math more than others, and meteorology is one of those that relies heavily up on it.  Not only does Adam know his math skills but also seems to enjoy it.  Let’s learn more about what he does…

Can you explain what you do for a living?

I work with numerical weather prediction models and satellite data to estimate the energy output of PV (photovoltaic) solar systems. These estimates are used to plan projects ranging in size from home rooftop panels to large plants that cover several square miles. I also develop forecasts used by existing solar plants to predict energy production.

When do you use basic math in your job?

I use statistics when estimating long-term solar energy output. I analyze 15+ years of solar energy data to calculate an average year’s energy output based on the statistical mean. We also factor in year-to-year variability using more advanced statistical methods, such as correlation.

We use simple addition to calculate an annual sum of energy produced. The “annual sum” is a common way to report solar energy output.

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

Yes, we use sophisticated computer algorithms to make our calculations. We also use Excel sheetswhen computing annual sums. Because we make hundreds of calculations a year, it wouldn’t be practical to work by hand. Also, using computers significantly reduces the margin for human error. This doesn’t mean we just push a button and get a finished result. We physically review all data and results for consistency and to make sure they’re within expected range. We also write reports interpreting the numerical results.

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

I couldn’t imagine doing my job without math. My job is very math-intensive and wouldn’t exist without math. Meteorology, in general, relies heavily on math.

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

I feel very comfortable with all aspects of math and especially enjoy applied math (as opposed to theoretical). I look forward to the daily challenge of working with solar energy data.

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

I took algebra, statistics, geometry, and trigonometry. Yes, I liked all my math classes and felt math was my best area.

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 did not have to learn new skills to do the math I use at work. My college math classes were intense and were enough preparation for the math aspects of my job.

Anything else you want to mention?

Thank you for interviewing me!

Interested in learning more?  Adam has written a blog post for SolarToday magazine.  You can find that here. And you can also see maps of monthly PV energy generation here. I don’t know about you, but I really enjoy learning more about these not-so-traditional professions.

Photo Credit: Lauren Manning via Compfight cc

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Math for Grownups Math for Parents Math for Teachers Math for Writers

There’s More than One Way to Skin a Math Problem (Video)

I never was fond of the step-by-step process many of my math teachers favored. But by the time I reached high school, I figured out that math is pretty darned flexible. And in college, that lesson really took hold.

You may think that math is black and white, but honestly? There are many different ways to solve simple and complex math problems. And that’s what I explain in my latest video. Check out how you can be creative with your math solutions — and still arrive at the correct answer!

More videos are coming, so please subscribe to my YouTube channel: mathforgrownups.  Also, I hope you’ll share this video on Twitter, using #flexiblemath and post it on your Facebook page. Share the Math for Grownups love!

As always, I’d love to hear what you think. Ask your questions or share your feedback in the comments section. Were you surprised by anything in the video (like how you solved the problem I propose)? Do you have your own stories to share about how you learned to find your own way to answers? Share in the comments section!

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Math for Grownups Math for Parents

A Gift Guide for Math Geeks (and Wannabes)

It’s gift-giving season for most of us. In honor of the winter holidays, I’ve pulled together a little list of ideas for your math geek. Or perhaps you want to encourage someone to step a little deeper into the math pool. I’ve got ideas for those folks, too. Enjoy!

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Math at Work Monday Math for Grownups Math for Parents Math for Teachers

Let Me Interview You for a Math at Work Monday Post!

Since launching this website in 2011, Math at Work Monday has been an extremely popular feature.Teachers let me know that they love sharing insight from these interviews with their students. (What better way to answer the question, “When am I ever going to use this stuff?”) Other grownups have told me that the interviews help them identify when they’re using math in their everyday lives.

Over the years, I’ve interviewed a variety of different people — from an astronaut to a fish hatchery technician to a glass artist. All jobs are terrific fits — because as we all know, Everyone Does Math.

(Did you catch my Everyone Does Math video? Check it out!)

In fact, the series has been so successful, I’m launching a special printed option for teachers and homeschoolers, including unique student-directed questions. I’ll start with one set of my favorite interviews, which can be downloaded as printable worksheets for use in the classroom or at home. Stay tuned for the details, coming in two weeks!

Now I need your help! I’m looking for new people to interview in the next month. If you or someone you know is up for it, let me know. You can email me at laura@mathforgrownups.com (include their names and email addresses). If you’ve been around for a while, you know that the process is simple. My wonderful assistant, Kelly emails a list of questions — yes, everyone gets the same questions! — you respond to the questions and email them back to Kelly. That’s all. Painless.

So what kind of folks am I looking for? You name it!

  • dentist, orthodontist, dental hygienist
  • pet groomer, dog walker
  • EMT
  • chiropractor
  • divorce attorney
  • security officer, military personnel, state trooper
  • archeologist
  • chef, pastry chef, caterer, butcher
  • makeup artist
  • interior designer
  • surgical nurse
  • prosthetic engineer
  • truck driver, tow truck owner
  • actuary

But you can probably come up with even more great ideas. If you have suggestions (but don’t have someone to recommend), go ahead and post them in the comments section.

I’m so proud of the Math at Work Monday series, and I thank you for making it so popular and for making it possible. I look forward to receiving your recommendations. Remember, email me with potential interviewee’s names and email addresses at laura@mathforgrownups.com.

Photo Credit: stefanweihs via Compfight cc