Where do you use common factors in math in everyday life?

Question

Greatest common factors and all that jazz

Answer 1

Maths in general are underrated in their use in everyday life.

When you go to the supermarket and compare prices of different sized packages you use common factors.

Maths in school is taught in an isolated academic context. Teachers (of which I am one) need to relate their subjects to relevant everyday contexts to show the value of the knowledge. When I was at school, I saw no value of calculus, then I discovered that it was very relevant in my trade.

Answer 2

If you actually know how to *use* math, it makes any kind of numerical calculations a whole bunch easier.

How would you reduce 72/96 to it's lowest terms? Notice that 72 and 96 are both even and divide out a 2 to get 36/48. Still both even, so do it again and get 18/24. Still even so do it again and get 9/12. 9 and 12 have a common factor of 3 so divide out a 3 and get 3/4. If you practice a bit, you can do those things in your head very quickly.

Want to square a 2 digit number in your head? Remember that (a+b)(a-b) = a² - b² and then choose the 'b' so that one of the 2 terms is an exact multiple of 10. For example; square 37. OK choose b = 3 and multiple 40 times 34 to get 1360. (How he do dat?? Simple, 40 times 34 is 4*34*10 = (120+16)*10 = 136*10) Now 'add back' the square of the 'b' you chose (in this case b was 3 so add back a 9) and get 37²=1369.

Remember that the very *finest* calculator in the known Universe is setting right there, between your ears. You just have to learn how to use it ☺


Doug

Answer 3

well it really depends on what you do in everyday life,
but one example, is how computers organize information.
Often it is necessary to use the factorization of a number to implement algorithms.
h

Answer 4

Look, it is unnecessary to justify certain mathematical topics, despite the insistence from many teenagers to demonstrate its relevance to their little universe. So, don't ask why you need to know that, and we won't ask you why you think it is important to know Avril Lavigne's middle name. (I realize you are probably too self-centered to get my point, but I said it anyway...)