Grade 10：What Mathematics Actually Is-Shanghai High School International Division

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Grade 10：What Mathematics Actually Is

April 13, 2021

On April 7th, Grade 10 students gathered for the weekly Assembly. Ivan Yuan from 10(5) shared his understanding of the subject of mathematics. Ivan started with an intuitive example by showing a picture of a dam. The students were confused at first, but then realized that mathematics, just like languages, can be used to describe real-world things such as the flow of water into and out of dams. Ivan then took the audience into the origins of mathematics and stated how mathematics is based on describing the real world. After that, Ivan addressed two misconceptions about mathematics – the idea that mathematics is based on “standard answers” and the idea that mathematics is making things complicated. He used accurate examples and analogies to demonstrate how these claims do not stand. Finally, Ivan provided some advice into how his peers can enhance their understanding of mathematics by putting it into an applicational setting and looking into the context.

(Written/Pictures by Ivan Yuan Supervised by Menglei Wang)