We all at some level realize “why” we need to learn math. Even though they’re not always everyone’s favorite, word problems allow us to connect real world application to math. Whether that be finding out how much a trip to grocery store will cost, the exponential growth of a beetle population on some small island, how much a babysitter will cost, or loads of other word problems you heard in math class; there is so much more than just that.
Thanks to the power of math, a new system in Los Angeles in helping police officers fight crime!
By using crime reports and data from the past it forecasts “hot spots” that crimes are likely to occur within in the next 24 hours. It predicts how crime will spread sort of like some chemical bacteria and with knowledge of human nature to see predict where crime is most likely to occur.
In morning role calls, the system identifies certain “hot spots”. 500 by 500-foot squares where crimes are more likely to occur in the next 24 hours. The LAPD then sends extra squad cards and patrols to this area to interfere and stop the crime.
Within just sixth months, crime as decreased as much as 11% and burglaries have gone down 25%: all thanks to math!
To learn more about how this amazing crime fighting tool came to be and more about the math behind it: click here!
