The world is pretty complicated today compared with what it was forty years ago. And it's getting more so all the time.We have to have more and more specially trained people.We need math to solve the tough problems of science.We need them to find new ways to conquer disease, to design the machines of industry and the laborsaving gadgets of the home.And we need them more and more for the ordinary things of everyday life.
It takes special training to be a good carpenter, or plumber, or car mechanic.Jobs in electronics  require even greater skills.We used to think a radio repairman had to have a pretty thorough kind of training.But it's even tougher to be a television repairman.
Some of you are probably thinking, "That's all right for technical people.But suppose I want to be an artist, a druggist, or a nurse. Suppose I want to go in business for myself.What good will math do me?" All right, Let's see.
Many artists today are in what is called applied art.They use their ability in advertising, interior decoration, or some similar job.But people in business who hire the artists for that kind of work say that simple artistic ability is not enough.There are lots of young people who have that. But not enough of them know anything about physics, or mechanical  things, or math.
To be a druggist you have to study chemistry.You can't learn chemistry without knowing something about algebra.How about a nurse?One of the required subjects in a course of nursing is known as materia medica.In materia medica you'll learn how to figure out doses and prepare medicines.
Algebra is important in doing the figuring.Too many student nurses flunk out of the course because their math is weak.
It's the same with many trades.If you want to be a draftsman, a machinist, a molder, or a patternmaker, you'll need algebra and geometry and even  trigonometry.
Even if you want to go into business for yourself, you'll need math.Business today, whether it's running a little gas station or a big factory, takes good management.Good management takes mathematics.
And those who are going to keep up the wonderful progress being made in science and engineering need math more than   anyone else does.
You've read about those wonderful computers that used today.These are machines that work by electronics to do all sorts of complicated problems in mathematics at terrific  speeds.Maybe you think we should let those machines do our math problem.If you do,you don't understand the way computers work.
A computer is not better than the human mind that controls it.Mathematician has to run it. He has to analyze the problem and set it up.Then he must feed the data into the machine before the machine can solve the problem. Computers are a big help. They can make calculations faster than a man can.But they can't do our math for us.
There's something else you shouldn't forget.there are lots of times when more math would help you in your everyday affairs.A famous British mathematician points out that we live surrounded by figures.Think of railway timetables, unemployment insurance, taxes, schedules of working hours, speed limits, calories,automobile and truck weights, temperatures, rainfall, miles per gallon, electricity and gas meter readings, bank interest, parcel post and freight rates, and so on.
But there's one more reason why you should study math now.You may be the kind of person who needs to know something about advanced math to get the mostout of life.Some people go on from day to day, having a good time and not caring much about anything else.But many people aren't content to live that way.They're interested in life, and other people, and what makes things happen the way they do. They want to know what makes it snow, what the stars are, and how radio works.
These people are curious about things.
If you're that kind of person, you almost have to learn something about the more advanced branches of math.There will be no other way to understand the things you become curious about.
Ever since the United States was young, school children have had learn their three R's. Readin' and 'ritin' are certainly very important.But now, as never before, we must be sure that we're getting enough 'rithmetic.

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