| Why should I study math? Will I ever use | | | | are health or computer (information |
| stuff like algebra and geometry in the real | | | | technology) occupations. |
| world?" If you're looking for answers to | | | | |
| questions like these from your child or | | | | The two occupational groups projected to |
| student, here are some key points gleaned | | | | increase the fastest and add the most jobs |
| from math educators. | | | | are at opposite ends of the educational and |
| | | | earnings ranges - professional and related |
| The first and possibly most important answer | | | | occupations at the high end and service |
| for your child is that math is the real | | | | occupations at the low end. |
| world. Mathematics uses a universal language, | | | | |
| the only one shared by everyone regardless of | | | | The top two industries expected to have the |
| culture, religion or gender. Math is | | | | fastest wage and salary employment growth are |
| universal because humans didn't invent the | | | | (1) software publishers and (2) management, |
| concepts of math -- they were discovered to | | | | scientific, and technical consulting |
| be existing truths. Math is what enabled us | | | | services. |
| to obtain knowledge to explore space, build | | | | |
| cars, design skyscrapers and create the | | | | What do these projections mean for your |
| latest video game. Everything around us, | | | | child? It means that more and more jobs in |
| whether natural or human-created, involves | | | | the future will require higher math skills, |
| math. | | | | especially those with higher earning wages. |
| | | | If your child talks about pursuing a |
| We also use math constantly in our day-to-day | | | | high-paying occupation, let her know that |
| lives. When we compare prices of food items | | | | math is in her future. On the other hand, if |
| packaged in different sizes, we are using | | | | his interest lies in an occupation offering a |
| algebra. If your child wanted to redecorate | | | | creative, free-spirited environment, share |
| his room, he'll need geometry to figure out | | | | with him this morsel of information uncovered |
| how to rearrange his furniture and to | | | | during our research: designers of toy cars, |
| calculate the square footage of wall space | | | | skateboards, bicycles, and race cars all |
| for painting. When your child wants the | | | | require higher math skills, as do specialists |
| latest gadget, she'll need to calculate how | | | | in computer graphics and animation. |
| many allowances she has to save before she | | | | |
| can buy it. | | | | Where to Go for Extra Help |
| | | | |
| Math Provides Access to Higher-Level Jobs and | | | | Once you've helped your child to realize that |
| Careers | | | | math is important, it's time to put those |
| | | | math concepts to work. Also consider that |
| Beyond everyday living, math is necessary for | | | | some kids who shrug off math might be doing |
| every job. It's a safe bet that your child | | | | so because they struggle with it. |
| has no interest in becoming a mathematician. | | | | |
| However, math is the gateway for other | | | | If your child could use some extra help in |
| subjects and fields in which your child may | | | | understanding math concepts, check out |
| have or eventually develop an interest. Along | | | | AOL® Step by Step Math, an |
| with the obvious fields that require math | | | | online service that provides tutorials, |
| such as all sciences, engineering, | | | | guides students through step-by-step |
| architecture and accounting, it would be hard | | | | solutions to problems, and gives you progress |
| to identify an occupation that doesn't | | | | reports on how your child is doing. |
| require math skills. | | | | |
| | | | Using technology that replicates the school |
| According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' | | | | environment, a verbal explanation is given as |
| employment projections for 2002 to 2012: | | | | the handwritten, step-by-step explanation |
| | | | appears on the white board - your child will |
| Nine of the 10 fastest growing occupations | | | | consider it "very cool." |