Why Math is Important for High Schoolers and Where to Find Math Resources Online
Mathematics is often seen as a difficult subject that many students struggle with, especially in high school. However, being good at math can offer many benefits and open up various opportunities in life. Luckily, with some focus and dedication, anyone can improve their math skills and use math resources online to help them achieve their goals.
One common myth that persists is that some students are simply “bad at math.” This is simply not true! While some students may struggle with math initially, it is important to understand that proficiency in math is not innate, but rather a learned skill. Any student can improve their math abilities through practice, hard work, and persistence. By breaking down complex concepts into smaller, more manageable parts, and using a variety of teaching methods, students can build their confidence and understanding of math.
Why is Math Important for High Schoolers?
Career Opportunities
Math is a foundational subject that is required for many fields, including science, technology, engineering. A strong math background is essential for pursuing degrees in these fields and for success in related careers. Math skills are also important for various other professions, such as finance, accounting, and data analysis. Even if you don’t think you will pursue these areas in the future, by not being equipped with essential math skills, you are limiting your options.
Individuals with a strong background in math can also excel in the field of computer science and programming. These fields require a strong understanding of mathematical concepts such as algorithms, data structures, and discrete mathematics. Likewise, proficiency in math is crucial for many scientific disciplines such as physics, chemistry, and biology. Jobs in these fields often involve research and development, and being skilled in math can be a significant advantage.
The rise of big data has led to an increased demand for professionals who can analyze and interpret complex data sets. This has created a need for individuals with strong math skills who can apply statistical analysis and modeling techniques to large data sets. Many companies in various industries are looking for data analysts, data scientists, and business analysts who can leverage data to drive business decisions, and data science is one of the fastest growing careers right now due to high demand.
Problem-Solving Skills
Math teaches critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are useful in all aspects of life. The ability to analyze, solve problems, and provide logical reasoning is a valuable skill that can be applied in various situations, from day-to-day decision-making to tackling complex challenges.
Daily Applications
Math is also used in daily life in many ways. From calculating taxes to measuring ingredients for cooking, from budgeting to calculating interest and making financial investments, math is an essential part of everyday activities.
College Admissions
High school math scores are often used to determine college admissions and scholarships. Students with high math scores are seen as more likely to succeed in college and in their chosen careers, making them more attractive to colleges and scholarship programs. A strong math background can also lead to higher SAT and ACT scores, which are important for college admissions.
Sense of Accomplishment
When students excel in math, it can have a positive impact on their self-confidence and self-esteem. Mastering complex math concepts requires hard work, dedication, and problem-solving skills, and achieving success in math can give students a sense of accomplishment and pride.
Where High Schoolers Can Find Math Resources Online
There are various online resources available that can help high schoolers improve their math skills. It’s important to build a strong foundation in math, and online resources can help fill in the gaps compared to teachers who might need to pay attention to a class of 30 students.
Math is a subject that continuously builds on prior knowledge, and a faulty understanding of a particular math concept can lead to even more problems down the line. For example, learning trigonometry requires a thorough understanding of geometry, and learning calculus requires an understanding of both. This is why online resources can be just as valuable as classroom instruction or even more so; it personalizes the content for each student, identifying weaknesses in their knowledge and concentrating on practice and test problems in that area. Here are some examples of online resources that high schoolers can use:
Khan Academy: Khan Academy is a popular online learning platform that offers free math courses and tutorials for students of all ages. The site offers a wide range of math topics, from basic arithmetic to calculus and beyond. The courses are presented in an engaging and interactive format, with video lectures, practice exercises, and quizzes.
Mathway: Mathway is a math problem-solving website that offers step-by-step solutions to math problems. The site covers a wide range of topics, including algebra, trigonometry, calculus, and more. Students can enter their math problems into the site's interface and receive a detailed solution, along with explanations of each step.
Wolfram Alpha: Wolfram Alpha is a powerful computational knowledge engine that can solve math problems, perform calculations, and provide answers to complex questions. The site covers a wide range of math topics, from algebra and calculus to statistics and probability. Wolfram Alpha also offers a free mobile app that can be used to solve math problems on the go.
Math-Drills: Math-Drills is a website that offers free printable math worksheets for students of all ages. The site covers a wide range of topics, including basic arithmetic, fractions, decimals, and more. The worksheets are designed to help students practice their math skills and develop a deeper understanding of math concepts.
Mathplanet: Mathplanet is an online math learning platform that offers courses and tutorials for students of all ages. The site covers a wide range of math topics, from basic arithmetic to calculus and beyond. The courses are presented in an engaging and interactive format, with video lectures, practice exercises, and quizzes.
Brilliant: Brilliant is an online learning platform that offers math and science courses for students of all ages. The site covers a wide range of topics, from basic arithmetic to advanced calculus and beyond. The courses are presented in an interactive format, with video lectures, quizzes, and practice exercises.
YouTube Channels: YouTube is a great resource for finding math tutorials and lessons. Channels such as Numberphile, Khan Academy, and Mathantics offer a wide range of math content for students of all ages. The videos are presented in an engaging and interactive format, with visual aids and explanations of math concepts.
Peer Tutoring Sites: Many websites offer free peer-tutoring services for students, including help with math subjects. Two popular options are StudyGate and Chegg Study. StudyGate offers live one-on-one tutoring sessions with qualified tutors, while Chegg Study offers step-by-step solutions to math problems and access to online tutors.
Being good at math is important for high schoolers, as it can open up various opportunities in life and teach critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are useful in all aspects of life. There are various online resources available that can help high schoolers improve their math skills, from learning platforms like Khan Academy and Mathplanet to problem-solving websites like Mathway and computational knowledge engines like Wolfram Alpha.
By taking advantage of these resources and focusing on improving their math skills, high schoolers can set themselves up for success in college and in their chosen careers, while also developing valuable life skills that will serve them well in the future.
About Inspirit AI
AI Scholars Live Online is a 10 session (25-hour) program that exposes high school students to fundamental AI concepts and guides them to build a socially impactful project. Taught by our team of graduate students from Stanford, MIT, and more, students receive a personalized learning experience in small groups with a student-teacher ratio of 5:1.
