The school offers various subjects and usually, it is fun to learn. I love to go to school because it offers a plethora of subjects that we can use in the future. Yet, out of the whole palette being offered, there is one subject that I sincerely feel is a total waste of time. This subject is Advanced MATHS. It is one of the most competitive subjects at school and no offence, but one of the most time-consuming as well. We, as students, waste a lot of time learning how to manipulate numbers, solving impractical questions and trying to prove obvious shapes. Not just these, I have many other bones to pick with Advanced MATHS.
Algebra
First of all, we have algebra. This topic of Maths is relatively easy if you understand the formulae properly, but it is highly impractical. Especially when you get to understand that there are numbers less than zero. Let’s take for example -3<x<0. Here we can see 3 numbers, -3, 0 and x. But when you think about it, 0 means nothing and -3 means less than nothing. I’m sure this means something but either way it doesn’t make sense. X is also equal to less than nothing which should mean that both -3 and x should be kind of equal because my senses say that whatever is less than nothing is actually equal. Further confusions crop up when other algebraic components like ‘y’ and ‘z’ step in with their bizarre humour.
I often wonder what I am going to do with all this algebra! For a music lover like me, it is an impractical and confusing topic with a lot of loopholes and nothing more than a theoretical appeal.
Financial Maths
Then comes Financial Maths. Our Maths teachers tell us we will be able to use financial mathematics outside the school, but I don’t agree at all. Have you ever gone to the store and seen the 20% off sign for the product you want to buy? I have seen this so many times. Financial maths teaches us how to calculate how much we are gaining from that transaction, but is it really what I’m gonna do? Sit at the store and calculate the amount of money I will gain? No. I’m simply gonna buy the product knowing that it’s coming at a cheaper price.
Likewise, there are so many other aspects of Financial Maths that will never get into practical usage by people like me. With accountants and financiers taking care of people’s finances, people do not want to rack their brains over calculations that are not their cup of tea.
Geometry
Finally, we have geometry which is very unreasonable. The hardest questions in geometry are the proof questions in which we are shown figures like triangles, squares, etc and are asked to prove their shapes using equations. I mean, to be honest, there is nothing to prove. Everyone knows that triangles have 3 sides. But no, in geometry we manipulate numbers to prove that a triangle is a triangle. Looking at the figure I know it has three sides and it is a triangle, but NO! I have to prove it. What could be more unreasonable? Looking at Math, I have often wondered if one day I would have to prove that I am Hannah myself! This is why I believe Geometry is useless, unreasonable and unrealistic indeed!
Although people may swear that it is one of the most useful subjects around, according to me, Advanced Maths is a total waste of time. We are given impractical questions and asked to prove obvious shapes. As far as the basic calculations and simple topics like profit-loss, decimals, fractions, graphs, data analysis, etc are concerned, they are good and useful. But when it comes to Advanced Maths, the truth is that other than engineers or mathematicians, very few people have use for it. So, instead of teaching Advanced Maths schools should focus more on life skills and arts so that people like me can be saved from this mindless and needless torture.
Grade : 10 (Year 2023)
Place : Sydney, Australia
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