MATH

THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE

Mathematics is the only language shared by all human beings regardless of culture, religion or gender.

Pi, a number used in Mathematics, is still approximately 3.14159 regardless of what country you are in. Adding up the cost of a basket full of groceries involves the same math process regardless of whether the total is expressed in dollars, euros, or reais.
How can math be so universal? First, human beings didn’t invent math concepts: we discovered them. Also, the language of math is numbers, not English or French or Portuguese. Very few people are literate in all the world’s languages. But virtually all of us possess the ability to be “literate” in the shared language of numbers, which connects us with people across continents and through time. It is what links ancient scholars and medieval merchants, astronauts and artists, peasants and presidents.
With this language we can explain many of the mysteries of the universe or the secrets of DNA. We can build computers and transfer information across the globe. We can understand the forces of planetary motion, discover cures for catastrophic diseases, or calculate the distance from Boston to São Paulo.
Math can help us in our daily lives, by helping us make important decisions and perform everyday tasks. Math is not just for professors and scientists. It’s for all of us. And it’s not just about calculating difficult equations. It’s about making better daily decisions and, hopefully, leading richer, fuller lives.

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From “Math in Daily Life”, the Annemberg/CPB Project, 1997-2008. Adapted by MARQUES A. On Stage – Componente Curricular: Língua Estrangeira Moderna - Inglês. Obra em 3v. para alunos do Ensino Médio. 1 ed. São Paulo: Ática, 2012. p. 64.