10 Everyday Reasons Why Equations Are Important in Your Life

When you started to learn about equations, did you find it difficult to understand what the mathematics was about? Well, that's okay because most students have a bit of trouble trying to understand what equations are really about.

Math seems to get more complicated when you start doing equations and using symbols like x and y instead of numbers. But equations are really important for calculating the same result many times with different values.

1. Computers

In fact, computers are the ultimate equation solvers! Computers were invented to solve equations over and over again instead of humans doing the calculations.

2. Computer Games

Do you enjoy watching the action and movement in your favorite computer game? How much do those action heroes and villains move like real people? In order to make that action look so real, mathematicians and software developers had to come up with complicated equations of how human motion works. The software for your computer games has more equations in it that you could possibly imagine!

3. Internet Searching

Do you look up information on the Internet? You just type in some words into the box and get lots of web sites to look at. Do you ever pay attention to what shows up as the actual search? Among the mix of symbols that the search shows you will find & symbols. Have you learned that & means "and" and that when you use & you are doing Boolean arithmetic? So if you were interested in zebras in Africa then the search engine would look for "zebras" & "Africa". Do you realize that this is part of an equation? The equation is: web sites to look at = web sites with (zebras & Africa)

4. Business

Businesses use equations every day.You should already understand what it means to make a profit - you sell an item for more than it cost to make it. So in very simple terms, companies use this equation all the time: Profit = selling price - cost

5. Government and Taxes

Everyone who works needs to pay taxes to the federal government. Many states and cities also collect income taxes. The federal government also collects money to pay Social Security and Medicare to senior citizens. When you work, your employer uses an equation to calculate how much money to send to the government and how much money to put in your paycheck.

6. Space Program

Are you fascinated by space exploration? Space scientists and astronauts work with equations all the time. If you want to work in the space program, you need to understand a lot about equations.

7. Medicine

Or are you interested in working in medicine? Would you like to be a doctor, nurse, dentist or physical trainer? Anyone who works in medicine must know about equations.

8. Aircraft

Lots of students are interested in aviation. Would you like to be a private pilot and fly your own small plane? You can't pass the test to get a pilot's license unless you can work with equations and calculate how to load the plane correctly with people and baggage.

9. Traffic Control

Do live in a city where lanes of traffic change during rush hour? Or maybe you've seen traffic control centers in some action-adventure movies. Again, this is another everyday example of how computers and equations. But remember that the computers need to be programmed by people who devise and program the equations.

10. Computerized Appliances

Today there are computers everywhere. You might not see them but the newest appliances like washers and dryers come with computer chips. Anything that has a computer chip in it relies on equations. What other items in your life can you name that rely on equations?