How to Answer: 'Why Learn Math if I’ll Never Use It in Real Life?
A simple answer using sports.
Trigonometry, Geometry, Algebra—school at all levels can often feel filled with "knowledge for knowledge's sake."
This isn’t unique to math; it’s an issue across all disciplines. Why write an essay on Moby Dick? When will I ever need to calculate the area of a rhombus or the angles of an isosceles triangle in real life?
These are valid questions, and we should resist dismissing children’s curiosity with a simple “just do it”, especially since they might often be technically right. While we can occasionally point to practical scenarios where concepts like the Pythagorean theorem are useful, the truth is that much of what we learn in school doesn’t directly apply to daily life. So, what’s the point?
The answer lies in how we prepare ourselves for challenges. Consider this: professional athletes, like LeBron James, spend countless hours on exercises like rope slams or weightlifting. Yet, you’ll never see LeBron doing rope slams during Game 7 of the NBA Finals, nor Messi bench pressing during the Champions League final.
These activities build strength, endurance, and mental focus, preparing their bodies and minds to perform when it truly matters. Similarly, math and other subjects serve as mental training.
You might never be asked to recite the quadratic formula in real life, but solving those problems trains your mind to think critically and adapt. When unpredictable real-life scenarios arise, you’ll be better equipped to respond—not because you memorized formulas, but because you’ve trained your brain to process and tackle challenges effectively.
Does this resonate with you and, more importantly, will it resonate with the kids or adults in your life that ask you this question? Let me know!
Thank you for reading!