Mathematics in Daily Life
Posted by admin in Mathematics on January 22, 2012
Too often, I go dumbfounded at the billing section in a shopping store, and happen to easily believe whatever the salesman asks me to pay. I never calculate myself, mostly because neither do I have the patience, nor do I have the prowess to add, subtract, multiply, or divide numbers chop-chop in a single go. Calculators are my thing! I never exercised my math abilities in front of others – I was never good at it (actually, I sucked!). But is that all about mathematics? Do you need it only at a shopping store? Is it limited to just adding or subtracting numbers? Absolutely not. I was ignorant, not to have realized the ubiquity of mathematics in daily life, and the reasons behind it being one subject that is known to transcend all boundaries in terms of culture.
So, that really makes me wonder, what actually is the importance of mathematics in daily life? Of course, you need not use the properties of logarithms, algebra, and trigonometry to sort out your daily issues, but then, you need mathematics to sustain from day to night. Don’t believe me? Take a look at the following section.
Use of Mathematics in Daily Life
What time do you wake up in the morning? 7 am? What if it’s 6:50 am? You’ll thank the Almighty for getting 10 minutes of extra sleep, wouldn’t you? Well, did you notice that we used a tad-bit of mathematics here? The watch is the most common and the most wide-spread example of using math in everyday life. Just think about it, had there been no watches and clocks in the world, the word ‘discipline’ would have lost its existence forever. Read the rest of this entry »
There’s More to Science Education Than Just Teaching Science
Posted by admin in Science Education on January 19, 2012
Most secondary schools hire teachers for a specific subject area and schedule the subjects to be taught independently of each other. As a result of this fragmentation, students often miss the importance of applying what they learn in one class to what they learn in their other classes. In the teaching of science, communication and math skills should be incorporated into the curriculum; but not every science teacher does that. However, as a home schooling parent, you have a golden opportunity to give your child the interdisciplinary education that is necessary for future success while he or she is learning science.
One of the most frustrating things I encountered while teaching high school was student resistance to using proper grammar, or even full sentences, while writing their lab reports or doing homework. The protest “This is science, not English” would always get my blood boiling. How could they not understand that the results they got on their science experiments would be useless unless they could properly communicate them to others?
The same holds true for inaccurate math work. Many scientific conclusions are based on data that are summarized mathematically or in graph form. If the math work is performed incorrectly, or if the results are not displayed in the proper graphical format, the results are meaningless. Even so, many students will claim “foul” when the teacher corrects their math in a science class. After all, “That’s a different subject, isn’t it?” Read the rest of this entry »
A&E Network Helps Viewers Track Paranormal Events
Posted by admin in Paranormal on January 14, 2012
The third season of “Paranormal State” on A&E Network was eagerly anticipated by regular viewers who enjoyed following along with a group of students at Penn State University College as they and their director investigate paranormal phenomena. The dramatic series chronicles the real-life case files of the Paranormal Research Society (PRS) unraveling mysteries such as ghost sightings, sixth-sense phenomena, demonic apparitions, and other brushes with the unknown.
This season’s debut is especially intriguing to viewers because it coincides with the launch of a free application for iPhone and iPod Touch users. The application, called the Paranormal State EMF Reader, temporarily converts these mobile devices and makes them EMF readers so users can home in on electromagnetic field (EMF) fluctuations. By downloading and installing this free application, users can become paranormal investigators with the ability to sweep their own surrounding locations to look for paranormal activity and ghostly entities.
Paranormal investigators routinely use EMF meters to scan for electromagnetic fields. EMFs may be emitted as a sign of paranormal activity from beyond the grave. According to Paul Jelinek, Sr. Vice President of Digital Media at A&E Television Networks, “Paranormal entities have to gather energy when manifesting themselves or attempting to communicate, which causes EMFs to fluctuate, making EMF readers essential tools for all aspiring paranormal investigators.” A&E designed the EMF readers for iPhone and iPod Touch devices so they could reach out to the regular viewers of “Paranormal State” and give them an engaging application to supplant and enhance their enjoyment of the show. Read the rest of this entry »