Eighth grade students applied mathematics to everyday life in their creative math class, which took place on September 30, 2019. They connected math and business concepts by applying them to interesting real-world contexts.

Students were first introduced to these connections when they watched videos about opportunity and production cost through a mathematical lens. After watching the videos, students realized that there are many choices to consider when doing a cost analysis. Not only must one decide whether or not to choose a certain action, but she must also make further choices afterward. Since there will be different gains and losses corresponding to each action, it’s crucial to analyze all possibilities and select the best route overall.

After this discussion, several real-life situations were provided for consideration, and students used their logical reasoning to select the best possible choice. Toward the end of class, students created posters to further illustrate their ideas and justify their answers.

These creative math classes allow students to make interdisciplinary connections and apply mathematics to real-world contexts. This not only improves their problem-solving ability, but also allows them to explore other passions and interests outside of the math classroom. It was great to witness their creativity in action.

(Written by Du Tong Edited by Hannah Bush Pictures by Du Tong)