Math Field Day, advanced classes offer application opportunities
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Throughout 12 years of school, math principles change from "2+2" in elementary school to "solve for x" in junior high to finding the probability of a geometric series in high school. While these concepts can seem overwhelming, they are defended as valuable by math teachers and fans.
Many students struggle in math, thinking, "When will I ever use this material later on in life?" Michael Fenton, head of the campus math department, says math shows up in professional and private situations regardless of career choice.
"Even though my job is teaching math, I have used math in other situations besides in the classroom," Fenton said. "When I bought my house, I used math to figure out loans, what I could afford, interest rate numbers and maintaining my budget and taxes."
Fenton says calculus in particular is recognized anywhere there is change, which gives students an unusual glimpse of the world around them, sometimes without realizing they are using math.
"Calculus is the study of change," Fenton said. "It's always nice and cool to understand the world around you. The light in a classroom emits heat — that's calculus. When someone leaves the classroom — that's calculus."
In addition to simple understanding, advanced math classes can sometimes influence colleges' impressions of students' applications.
"Even though my job is teaching math, I have used math in other situations besides in the classroom. When I bought my house, I used math to figure out loans, what I could afford, interest rate numbers and maintaining my budget and taxes." —Michael Fenton, head of the math department
"One of the main reasons students should take math class is to get into a better college," Fenton said. "You will also have a higher paying job."
Stephen Prince, '09, says math fails to catch his interest because of its lack of application in his life.
"You just want to give up on it sometimes because things like imaginary numbers don't exist," Prince said. "It's not like I'm ever going to need to know the quadratic equation [later on in life]."
Although Prince does not believe in the class' relevance, pre-calculus student Ricky Lopez, '11, finds math fun.
"It's always [concrete], unlike subjects such as English, where structures [and ideas] change all the time," Lopez said. "Plus, [I like math because] I want to do something involving math after high school."
In order for students to experience math in a new context, the annual Math Field Day will be held on April 18 at California State University, Fresno. The event is available to all math students, but required for those in honors or AP math classes. If not able to attend, honors students must write a five-page research paper on a math-related topic.
"During Math Field Day, students will have the opportunity to participate in math outside of the classroom," Fenton said. "It gives someone a taste of a different experience."
For more information, e-mail Michael Fenton or read the April 25, 2007, article, Class questions math relevance. For past coverage of Math Field Day, visit the April 24, 2007, article, Campus wins multiple math awards.
