Dr Biplab Pal
Mathematics often feels confined to classrooms and exams, but its influence stretches far beyond academic walls. Beyond managing daily finances—something I’ve covered in previous blogs—mathematics shapes our understanding of the world and our experiences within it. At the heart of this lies the concept of ratios, fractions, and percentages, which are essential tools for reasoning about almost everything around us.
Consider how we describe everyday situations: “It’s a densely populated area,” “He is scoring well,” or “She is performing better in academics.” Each of these statements is fundamentally about comparison—comparing numbers, measuring performance, or evaluating success. We are constantly using ratios to make sense of these scenarios, whether we consciously realize it or not.
Even in casual conversations, like when we remark that it’s a “hotter day” or “cooler weather,” we’re inherently comparing temperatures—quantifying experiences that would otherwise be purely subjective. Without these comparisons, our conclusions about the world would lack any meaningful foundation.
Mathematics allows us to break down our experiences into measurable elements, providing a clear lens through which we can view reality. It helps us assess, predict, and make informed decisions, whether we are evaluating someone’s academic progress, planning our day based on the weather, or simply deciding when to relax.
In essence, math goes beyond numbers and calculations; it offers a structured way to interpret our surroundings. Without the ability to quantify and compare, we would struggle to make sense of the complexities of life. Understanding math empowers us to articulate the nuances of our experiences, making it an indispensable tool not just for exams, but for life itself.