Math and technology are no strangers to each other. Phones, computers, tablets, televisions -math is responsible for so much of what we use technologically speaking. There is, of course, debate about how much technology is helpful and how much it’s a hinderance, especially when it comes to education. Integration of technology in the classroom is becoming more and more common in all subjects. One of these, is, of course, our favorite – math.
Everything from fun games to digital work sheets can be found to help teach kids math, but one of the best and most practical uses for math is coding. Coding is more traditionally considered to be in the Computer Sciences category, but it has so much cross-over with math – it’s practically a math language! Whether creating a website, game or application, coding is uses math in a very practical way. Here are some ways coding uses standard mathematical practices:
Reasoning in Repeating
Reasoning in math is the ability to realize if patterns are repeated, and to look for efficiencies and shortcuts. For instance, noticing that dividing the one number by another number several times will result in the same answer each time. Coding also relies on understanding repeated reasoning. Once a sequence of code is used to make something function a certain way, that same sequence can be repeated to make the same functions happen.
Precision in Calculations and Explanation
Communicating precisely with others and using clearly understood definitions when talking to others to explain something is skill that’s needed for math. Being able to state the symbols and numbers you choose, and the right units of measurement is something that appears in practical and more abstract math and it’s also a part of coding. Those who code efficiently need to calculate with precision the way that a piece of code will react. They may not code right the first try every time, but the more precision that’s used when coding and reasoning behind the precision, the more time will be saved. Thus, it’s a great skill to have when coding.
Making Use of Structure
Being able to make use of structure means being able to see pattern. Math requires pattern association and building when doing multiplication and division, sorting shapes, plotting graphics and more. Coding, too, requires pattern recognition and use. When you hear the term “building a website” it makes sense. When you build a house, there’s a foundation laid first and then the frame and structure go up next. Building a website is similar, only you’re using math to create the foundation and structure and seeing patterns with the codes you use helps you build strong structures over and over.
Constructing Arguments
Math often requires making hypothesis and then proving them right or wrong. Building arguments to prove or disprove something usually involves looking at some sort of data. Anything from a pie graph to an equation can be considered when constructing math arguments, and arguments often mean not always being correct. This is something that is often seen in applied sciences as well, including computer programming. Trial, error and experimentation are huge when coding and coders often form arguments around why a website should be coded a certain way for simplification, fast downloading, safety reasons.
Problem Solving
Say like you’re headed down a one-lane road and a semi-truck stops directly in front of you for over an hour to make a delivery on the side of the road. Chances are you wouldn’t sit there and wait that long or turn around and skip your destination to back home. You would make sure there wasn’t anyone in the opposite lane, and you would go around. Congratulations! You have just problem solved and while this isn’t an example that necessarily uses math, problem solving similar to this is something math students and coders do all the time. In math, numbers and measurements are usually used to deduce a logical answer. In coding, numbers and symbols are used to either build or fix depending on what the problem is. If a computer programmer is needing to fix a bug in a website, problem solving is used to deduce where the problem might have occurred. If they are trying to build a new phone app that is a response to another competitor, problem solving is used to figure out how to improve the app and make it better than the competition.
Modeling in Real Life
Using math practically means applying it to everyday parts of our lives (read more about how math applies to real life here). Things like grocery shopping, traveling and gardening are all activities that math is used for. Coding takes very impractical math applications and makes them something useable, too. Think of your favorite website (Mathnasium of Cherry Hills?!). Chances are, you’re just able to click buttons and scroll to see whatever you want to see. Behind all that is a bunch of programming using numbers, letters and symbols telling the website how to look and function so that it’s easy to understand. Coding makes website browsing much easier.
Coding can be such a fun way to learn and develop math skills. Many teachers nationwide are introducing coding in secondary and sometimes even primary education, some of which can be taken as electives for students and some of which are just part of computer labs classes. There are also teachers who are integrating coding into everyday math class as part of curriculums, There’s also room to further classroom efforts at home! Resources from https://code.org or https://scratch.mit.edu are good places to get ideas and tutorials for coding basics and how-tos for teaching it. Happy coding!
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