First of all, mathematics can make people rigorous, in other words, it can make people think clearly. People who have studied mathematics generally consider it comprehensively, because mathematics always discusses what happens when variables change. This kind of training makes us take our time when we encounter practical problems. Secondly, we know the beauty of mathematics. Many geometric institutions make mathematics better, such as the golden section, pyramids and many other real buildings. Thirdly, mathematics is widely used, not to mention it.
1. The world today is much more complicated than it was 40 years ago. And it will get more and more complicated. We must have more and more specially trained talents. We need mathematics to solve difficult problems in science. We need mathematics to find new ways to overcome intractable diseases, new ideas to design industrial machines and small inventions to save family labor. We also need mathematics more and more to acquire common things in our daily life. To be an excellent carpenter, plumber or auto mechanic requires special training. Working in electronic technology requires more skills. We usually think that repairing radios requires comprehensive and good training. But repairing TV sets is more complicated. 3. Some of you may think, "It is right for engineers and technicians to study mathematics, but if I want to be an artist, a pharmacist or a nurse, if I want to run my own business, how can mathematics help me?" Ok, let's have a look. 4. Many artists today are so-called applied artists. They use their abilities in advertising, interior decoration or similar work. But business people who hire artists to do the above work say that artistic talent alone is not enough. Many young people have artistic talent, but not many people know physics, mechanics or mathematics. To be a pharmacist, you must study chemistry. Chemistry is impossible without algebra. What if you want to be a nurse? Pharmacology is one of the compulsory courses in nurse training. In pharmacology class, you will learn how to calculate dosage and prepare drugs. It is important to do these computational algebras. Many nursing students failed in the exam and dropped out of school because of their poor math foundation. 6. The same is true of many handicrafts. If you want to be a craftsman, sewing worker, modeler or stylist, you need algebra and geometry, even triangles. 7. Even if you want to do business yourself, you need math. Nowadays, industrial and commercial enterprises, whether running a small gas station or managing a large factory, need good management. Good management should use mathematics. Those who want to make amazing progress in science and engineering need math more than others. 9. You have read the guide about the powerful computers in use today. These computers are machines operated by electronic technology, which can solve all kinds of complicated mathematical problems at an amazing speed. Maybe you will think, we should let these machines do the math problems for us. If you think so, you don't understand how computers work. 10. A computer is not much better than the human brain that controls it. Mathematicians must be able to operate computers. He must analyze and ask questions. Then, he must input the data into the computer, and the computer can solve the problem. The computer is a good helper. It is faster than human calculation. But it can't solve math problems for us. There are still some things you should not forget. In daily life, you often need more math help. A famous British mathematician pointed out that we live in an environment surrounded by mathematics. Think about train schedules, unemployment insurance, taxes, work schedules, speed limits, heat, car and truck weights, temperature, rainfall, miles per gallon, electricity and gas meter readings, bank interest, postal parcels and freight, and so on. 12. However, there is another reason why you should study math now. You may become the kind of person who knows that advanced mathematics can solve most things in life. Some people live happily day by day and don't think too much about other things. But many people are not satisfied with this life. They are interested in life and others, and they are also interested in why things happen like that. They want to know why it snows, what stars are there and how the radio works. These people are curious about everything. 13 If you are that kind of person, you must always learn more advanced branches of mathematics. There is no other way to know what you are interested in. America used to be a young country, and school-age children had to learn three major courses: reading, writing and arithmetic. The study of reading and writing is of course very important. But now we can't learn arithmetic well as before.