Starting off in the Discovering Mathematics module is terrifying. 
Maths is certainly not my strength, especially as I have not used or looked at maths since my 5th year of high school.
Well that’s a lie! Those were my initial thoughts on my participation in mathematics, but actually I use elements of mathematics each and every day. I just hadn’t realised.
As part of our assignment we have to discuss the use of mathematics in the wider world, outside the parameters of education. And so I began to think of all of the mathematics that I use in my life.
I work part time in Pizza Hut, the restauarnt. Roughly every 10 minutes a customer waves their money in the air signalling that they are ready to pay their bill. And I have to work out how much change to give them and take it out of my float in my apron. This was relatively simple for me to identify as mathematics that I use daily. Simple addition and sutraction. And even more basic, the recognition of money itself. Now this part of maths I am pretty good at, and im not being vain. I HAVE to be good at this if I don’t want an angry mob of Pizza Hut customers coming after me because I gave them incorrect change.
There are many other instances in my life where I use mathematics.
Again in Pizza Hut when I am working in the kitchen I have to make our Pizza sauce in large batches. There is only one recipie for one set amount of sauce, but life just doesn’t conform to one set recipie. Sometimes we need more and sometimes we need less. I had not realised until I really thought about it but I use RATIOS! If you had asked me last week, when was the last time I used ratios I would have told you way back in 3rd year!
I also use time on a daily basis. Everyone does! Telling the time of course, but also I use time alognside problem solving. When I wake up in the morning I need to work out how much time I can use to get ready leaving enough time for the drive to uni, the time spent trying to find a parking space and the walk to class in order that I arrive on time. And with the traffic in Dundee this takes a lot of brainpower. PROBLEM SOLVING.
The burning question in my mind is why I had to think so hard to uncover mathematics in the things I do day-to-day. Why don’t we immediately think of maths?
Very insightful, I feel the exact same in terms of how often I experience math’s in my day to day life, I look forward to reading more about how you identify fundamental mathematics in your daily schedule.