I.Values of Learning Mathematics
Values are the outcomes or results achieved after
teaching according to certain aims. They are the actual
results of our teaching effort.
• Practical or Utilitarian values
• Intellectual values
• Social values
• Moral values
• Disciplinary values
• Cultural values
• International values
• Aesthetic values
• Vocational values
• Psychological values
1. Practical or Utilitarian Value
Everybody uses mathematics in their daily life.
Any person who is ignorant of mathematics can be easily
cheated. He will always be at the mercy of others.
We have to make purchases daily. We buy cloth, food
items, fruit, vegetables, grocery etc. We have to calculate
how much we have to pay for everything.
Mathematics is needed by all of us whether rich or poor,
high or low.
Not to speak of engineers, bankers, accountants,
businessman, planners etc., even petty shopkeepers,
humble coolies, carpenters and laborers need mathematics
not only for earning their livelihood but also to spend
wisely and save for future.
Whoever earns and spends uses mathematics.
We are living in a world of measurements. We have to
measure lengths, areas, volumes and weights. We have to
fix timings, prices, wages, rates, percentages, targets,
exchanges etc. In the absence of these fixations, the life in
the present complex society will come to a standstill.
Just think if a fairy descends on earth and
removes all mathematics. There will be no
calendar, no maps, no accounts, no fixations or
measurements, no industrial activity, no plans or
projects. Thus we see that mathematics has
tremendous value or application in our daily life.
It is essential for leading a successful social life.
2. Intellectual values
Develops intellectual powers:
• imagination
• Memorization
• Observation
• Invention
• Concentration
• Originality
• Creativity
• reasoning
If a child faces mathematical problems, his mind become
active in solving that problem.
3. Social values
Social values can be acquired
• Tolerance
• Open
mindedness
• Objectivity
• Honesty
• Truthfulness
• Co-operation
• Will power
Organization and maintenance of social institutions
• banks
• co-operations
• Railways
• post offices
4. Moral values
Develops moral qualities:
• Honesty
• Truthfulness
• Justice
• Dutifulness
• Punctuality
• self confidence
• power of
distinguishing
between right and
wrong
• Cleanness
• Patience
• listening to others
• respect to others
Deprives off the feelings of jealousy, hate etc.
Ability in arguing on the correctness and incorrectness of a statement.
5. Disciplinary Values
“Mathematics is the way to settle in the mind a habit
of reasoning”
-Locke
• As mathematical knowledge is exact, logical, real and
to that point, it creates discipline in a human mind.
• Develops an ability to grasp a situation , to analyze
the situation and to perceive correctly the state of
affairs
Helps the students to imbibe qualities:
• Simplicity
• Accuracy
• Certainty of results
• Originality
• Similarity to reasoning in life
• Verification of results
• Concentration of mind
6. Cultural values
“Mathematics is the mirror of civilization”
By the culture of a nation or society we mean the mode
of living of its inhabitants.
Helps in promoting cultural heritage an transmitting it to
future generation.
The welfare of our civilization is almost depends upon
scientific and mathematical developments.
Helped in the development of various subjects and
occupations.
7. International values
Mathematicians research their mathematical ideas
from one nation to another nation.
Mathematician’s books and journals are circulated
among almost all the nations of the world.
8. Aesthetic values
“Education as a whole should foster the higher impersonal pleasures”
-Thorndike
One gets pleasure in solving mathematical problems, especially when he get
correct answers to his problems.
Different symmetric designs by Ramanujan are a source of great pleasure
Eg:
Mathematics is closely related with arts like drawing, painting, music etc
All musical instruments like harmonium, drum, flute, guitar, violin etc are
played with the rules of mathematics.
9. Vocational values
Mathematics has great vocational values.
Study of mathematics prepares the students for a wide
variety of vocations.
It finds extensive application in all vocations like:
• Agriculture
• Accountancy
• Banking
• Business
• Engineering
• information
technology
• Tailoring
• Carpentry
• surveying etc.
10. Psychological values
Mathematics helps to develop positive attitudes such as
open mindedness, reasoning etc.
The learning of mathematics is based on fundamental
principles of psychology such as learning by doing
learning through experiences and problem solving etc.
Learning of mathematics results in the development
of a number of fruitful values in the students. Only a
resourceful teacher of mathematics with his
deliberate efforts and planning can make it possible
for the students to realize these values.
II.Correlation of Mathematics
Mathematics is applied and used everywhere in earth.
Mathematics has relation with many other subjects.
In our daily life we are applying and using mathematics.
Calculations, scientific methods and so on mainly depend on
mathematics.
Mathematics has correlation with:
• life
• different branches of
mathematics
• other subjects
• between different topics within
mathematics.
(a) With life:
• Mathematics expresses itself everywhere in almost every fact of life in
nature all around us and in the technologies in our hands.
• Mathematics is the language of science and engineering-describing our
understanding of all that we observe.
• In our daily life, mathematics has a central role. In time, in counting, in
calculations etc we apply techniques of mathematics.
• Even in nature also, there is a hand of mathematics.
Eg: the Fibonacci sequence 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8 … is derived from adding the
previous two numbers. This sequence of numbers can be found in many
natural patterns like in pineapples, sunflowers, nautilus and pine cones.
• If we generalize, there is a correlation of mathematics in counting , in
nature, in shapes, curves and patterns, in games and puzzles, in time
etc.
(b) With other subjects:
Mathematics is termed as the Queen of science. So
mathematics has relation between all other
subjects.
(i) Science
Science and math are intimately connected particularly
in fields such as chemistry, astronomy and physics.
Mathematics is also important in practical sciences
such as engineering and computer science. Students
may have to solve equation when writing programs.
(ii) Literature and writing
Literature might seem like a far cry from
mathematics, but mastering basic arithmetic can
enable students t better understand poetry.
The meter of poetry, the number of words to include
in a line and the effect that certain rhymes have on
the reader are all products of mathematical
calculations
(iii) Social studies
Social studies classes such as history, often require
students to review chart and graphs that provide
historical data or information on ethnic groups.
In geography classes, students might need to
understand how the elevation of an area affects its
populations or chart the extent to which different
populations have different average life spans.
Knowledge of basic mathematical terms and formulae
makes statistical information accessible.
(iv) The arts
Students interested in pursuing careers in theater, music,
dance or art can be benefit from basic mathematical
knowledge.
Musical rhythm often follows complex mathematical
series, and math can help students learn the basic
rhythms of dances used in bullet and theater
performances.
Art thrives an geometry, and students who understand
basic geometric formulae can craft impressive art pieces.
(c) With different branches of mathematics:
All the branches of mathematics are interrelated
and interpenetrating, and these help one
another to advance.
Moreover, some branches of mathematical
sciences like modern algebra. Linear algebra,
real analysis, complex analysis, functional
analysis, ordinary differential equations, partial
differential equations, differential geometry and
so on , are base branches.
• Traditionally, these are collectively called Pure
mathematics. We should have a sufficient grounding in
these pure or base branches. With this grounding we
shall be well prepared to grasp and advance the study
and research of applied mathematical sciences like
statistics. So, there is organic relation between pure
mathematical sciences and applied mathematical
sciences. We should grasp the importance of this
organic relation and move forward.
(d) Between different topics in the same branch
If we take any branch of mathematics the topic in the same
branch of mathematics should be correlated to each other.
In algebra, the topic polynomial is related with equation.
In geometry, the knowledge of area of triangles leads to the
derivation of the formula for the area of quadrilateral,
rectangle, square, parallelogram, rhombus, trapezium, regular
hexagon and so on.
Similarly in arithmetic, without the knowledge of percentage,
one cannot understand the concepts of discount, interest, rate...
CONCLUSION
There are mainly ten values in learning mathematics. They are
practical value, intellectual value, social value, moral values,
disciplinary values, cultural values, international values,
aesthetic values, vocational values and psychological values.
Also we learned the correlation of mathematics. We know
that mathematics is an universal subject. It has application
everywhere. We can’t consider anything without mathematics.
We observed that mathematics has relation with life, other
subjects, and different branches of mathematics and different
topics of same subject. Mathematics is a main part in our daily
life.