Learn by Listening Level 2

[00:00.65]Why Do I Like Mathematics?|[00:03.57] Sometimes there is a problem in life that has no answer.|[00:08.30] Perhaps a child has trouble learning.|[00:11.73] Perhaps someone becomes ill.|[00:14.28] Perhaps there was love, but now there is conflict.|[00:18.38] These problems are hard to solve.|[00:21.24] There is no single answer.|[00:23.48] Many people have opinions on what is the best answer.|[00:27.77] But in mathematics there is an answer:|[00:31.51] a single answer that is right.|[00:34.00] There is no doubt; there is no argument; this answer is right.|[00:38.79] If we ask, "What is five plus seven?"|[00:42.89] The answer is twelve.|[00:45.07] If we ask, "How do you raise a child?"|[00:48.80] The answer would depend on the child and the parents.|[00:52.72] Sometimes there is more than one way to reach an answer.|[00:57.01] Imagine we want to find the area of a triangle.|[01:01.62] The triangle has a right angle;|[01:04.60] the two sides surrounding the right angle are 20 mm and 30 mm.|[01:10.76] The formula for the area of a triangle is one half of (base)(height).|[01:16.79] We could consider the 20 mm side|[01:20.09] as the base and 30 mm as the height.|[01:24.01] We could consider the 30 mm side as the base|[01:28.62] and the 20 mm side as the height.|[01:31.97] Both ways would produce the same answer.|[01:34.90] The area is 300 square mm.|[01:38.94] Alternatively, we could consider the base|[01:42.17] as the third side of the triangle|[01:44.85] and then we would have to draw a height and measure it.|[01:48.27] The height would be neither 20 nor 30.|[01:51.69] But still we would end with the same answer.|[01:55.05] In math, the answer does not change.|[01:58.53] Another reason I like math is the way it brings order.|[02:03.14] There can be a whole set of numbers|[02:06.06] or a whole set of measurements that mean nothing|[02:09.17] until mathematics organizes them into a pattern.|[02:13.53] An average number can be found;|[02:16.20] graphs can be drawn; the spread of the numbers|[02:19.56] and probabilities of a certain number happening can be calculated.|[02:23.85] This is like having a whole lot of dirty dishes after supper.|[02:28.58] Applying math is like washing and sorting the dishes|[02:32.44] and putting them back into the cupboard.|[02:34.93] Math is a powerful tool. Math should be our friend,|[02:39.90] and we will find more ways to use it to better our lives.