Scenario of the world if maths is removed.
“There are things which seem incredible to
most men who have not studied mathematics.” –as rightly said by Aristotle.
Mathematics is a universal language which
is mutual to all individuals irrespective of their culture, religion and
gender, followed all over the world in the same manner without any deviation in
every sphere of life.
At a higher level, mathematics helps in
developing an analytic bent of mind, aids in better organization of ideas and
appropriate expression of thoughts. However, at a more general level, the
importance of mathematics for a common man Is somehow used whenever he visits
banks, shopping malls, deals with business transactions or trade and commerce.
We also add mathematics to some of our recreational activities like games,
dance, music, etc.
When do we use mathematics in daily
life?
We use mathematics in applying a certain
amount of paste on the toothbrush, while heating water for bathing, in adding
spices to the food and serving equal amount to each family member, taking a
certain dose of a medicine and at a particular time.
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Mathematics for running a house:-
From poor to rich, every man has to use
mathematics at some point of their life. For example, a housewife who has to
run her house on the given budget divides the money according to her needs by
estimating the expenses and then spending according to her range.
Mathematics in every move:-
We use mathematics in almost every move we
make. For example, when we throw a ball up in the air, its flight is caused due
to geometry, inertia, gravity and spatial calculations. Even when we walk, we
come across gravity, speed and again spatial relationships.
But how do you think a world without
mathematics will look like? How would you explain how old are you? How would
you explain your height and weight? How would you ever know if something is
increasing, decreasing, growing or degrading? In fact, all such terms would
seem meaningless.
Mathematics is omnipresent, Mathematics
is ambidextrous:-
Mathematics is present everywhere! It is in
phone numbers, it is present in birthdates. It is present in walking a certain
distance in a certain direction. Even throwing a ball while playing cricket is
mathematics! The amount of ink I use to write this essay is also mathematics.
Great mathematicians like Srinivasa Ramanujan also found mathematics in simple
taxi numbers! In fact, listing all these examples is also mathematics!
“Go down deep into anything, and you will
find mathematics.”- Dean Schlicter
How our brain uses mathematics:-
Do you know our brain makes the use of
mathematics without us figuring it out? Let’s see how. Suppose you are crossing a road and you see a
car coming towards you from your right. You see the car coming and quickly
cross the road. But how did you do this? Actually, when you noticed the car,
your mind instantly estimated the speed of the car, made a few calculations and
sent the information to your nerves that you need to walk quickly. Your mind
just used mathematics without you even knowing it!
But what would have happened if there was
no sense of mathematics in you? The car would have come straightaway making you
feel baffled and that could have led to an accident. In a world without
mathematics, even cars won’t exist.
Mathematics in the Economic world:-
Imagine, in a world without mathematics
when you need to buy a dress, you will not know what size clothes you wear
(even stitching of dress uses mathematics). You will also not know how much the
dress costs. In fact, there will not exist any money at all. Then we would have
to go back to the period of barter system. But how will you know what quantity
of a substance should be exchanged with the given quantity of another
substance? Because even barter system used mathematics!
Existence of time without Mathematics:-
If you ask someone what time it is, they
would answer something like ‘5.30’ or ‘2pm’. But if there was no mathematics,
there would not be any numbers. Then there will not exist any clock or any
time. Then people will not be able to differentiate between day and night. Then
some people will work at night and sleep in the morning. That will be very
unsystematic and confusing. In short, mathematics provides a system to our
daily life.
The universe is composed Mathematics:-
“The universe is a grand book which cannot
be read until one first learns to comprehend the language and become familiar
with the characters it is composed in. It is written in the language of
mathematics.” - As commented by Galileo Galilee.
This universe, this galaxy, this solar
system, this earth, are all composed of mathematical formulae given by the
greatest scientists of our world who have made researches to find the secret
behind the existence of this universe. Be it gravity or be it electricity, every
fundamental physical law has mathematics in it. You know the earth is round, it
revolves around the sun and rotates about its own axis only because Galileo
proved it to us with his mathematical theory and helped us to reach at such
conclusions. Mathematicians and scientists must have measured millions and
millions of units, page after page, only to help us understand the world we
confront today.
Zero, Technology today and mathematics:-
Aryabhatta, the Great Indian astronomer and
mathematician, with his greatest contribution to the world ‘Zero’, has made the
existence of two digit numbers, place value system and alphabetical counting
system possible for us. Without zero,
even the invention and working of computer was impossible. The world today is
null and void without mathematics. The modern world is modern only because of
the application of mathematics that is done. Today, we send rockets to moon and
spacecrafts to mars. How is it possible for such heavy objects to shoot out in
space disobeying the laws of gravity and encircle the earth’s orbit? What is
the root of their construction and function? It is nothing but mathematics.
There has been a paradox that researchers
do not use mathematics. MatLab(Matrix laboratory) , a numerical computing
environment and fourth-generation programming language, is widely used in
research institutions for various purposes of technical computing.
The Scenario:-
In a world without hammers, nails would
still need to be driven. Hammers were invented to make our work easier. In the
same way mathematics is a tool which is invented to solve the problems that we
face. It is not just a subject at school which is to be studied to complete
your syllabus. In a world without mathematics, we would still need to find a
way to build buildings, fire rockets, cook food, and calculate how much land we
own. There would still be a need of
something that would use calculations and measurement and at the end will be
called mathematics.
Conclusion:-
Hence, we conclude from the above
discussion that the world today is highly improbable and handicapped in the
absence of mathematics. Unless we have the slightest knowledge of calculating
numbers, it is difficult to perform our certain tasks. Be it shopping,
refashion a home within a budget or even cook the dinner, knowledge of
mathematics holds the key and hence, barely necessary.
“Mathematics is the gate and key of all
sciences. Neglect of mathematics works injury to all men. Since he who is
ignorant of it cannot know the other sciences or the things of the world.” –
Roger Bacon.
Note- This essay was selected for National Level Essay Writing Competition. Unfortunately the nationals never happened but I am glad this piece still exists. Its all a product of my own contemplation. Its my brainchild.
