Lesson 1 — Activity 1: Introduction to Numbers
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Lesson 1 — Activity 1:
Introduction to Numbers
Math is everywhere! It is a part of our lives, whether we clean the house, make dinner, or mow the lawn. Wherever you go, whatever you do, you are using math daily without even realizing it! It just comes naturally. Here are just a few ways that we use math every day!
Image Source: Pexels
Chatting on your cellphone: When you talk with your friends and family on your cellphone, you require a basic knowledge of skills and math. You need to know numbers and how they work, and with today's technology, you can do almost anything on your cellphone, from talking and texting to surfing the net!
In the kitchen: Baking and cooking require math skills as well. Ingredients need to be measured, and sometimes you need to multiply or divide to get to get the exact amount you need.
Image Source: Pixabay
Image Source: Pixabay
At home and at the store: Whether buying a coffee or a car, you are using the basic principles of math. When you purchase something, you need to have an understanding of your budget and the costs of items from groceries to houses!
As you can see, from home to school to work and places in-between, math is everywhere!
Click on the Play button below to watch a video on how we use math in our everyday lives!
Our system of mathematics takes 10 digits and allows us to create numbers from very small amounts to very large amounts.
Image Source: Pixabay
Image Source: Pixabay
Just as the alphabet is the basis of how we read and write, numbers are the basis of our system of math from the simplest form of counting to advanced algebra and calculus.
Let's review the basics:
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number system — a way to represent and organize numbers
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whole numbers — any number that is 0 or larger that is not a decimal or fraction (also called integers)
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decimals — numbers written using a decimal point (e.g., 5.67)
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fractions — numbers that are parts of a whole or a group (e.g., 3/4)
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mixed numbers — numbers that combine whole numbers and fractions (e.g., 4 3/8)
Just as we can combine letters to form words, words to create sentences, sentences to write paragraphs, and so on, we can combine, rearrange, and manipulate numbers in many ways to meet our everyday needs.
Specific Uses:
Numbers can be applied in many different everyday uses, such as:
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Money — expresses any amount from cents to billions of dollars and higher
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Measurement — expresses time, weight, length, temperature, volume, etc.
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Percentage — expresses a number out of 100 (e.g., 65%)
Image Source: Pixabay
Self-check!
Think about some of the ways that you use math in your everyday life. Brainstorm some ways, and then complete a web organizer to show four different ways that you use math in all parts of your life. Be sure to hand in your organizer to your teacher when you are finished.
