How Is Math Used In Everyday Jobs? John Smith

Joan Jones Age : 44 Nurse Practitioner / Nursing School Instructor As a nurse my aunt uses math very frequently during her career. To give medication she has to measure the correct dosage or amount of medicine that the patient needs. An error in the calculation could harm the patient or be fatal. She uses a calculator to check and double check herself and also refers back to the medicine drug book to make sure that her answer makes sense. When she does this she can be sure that her answer falls within the normal range. If the answer still does not make sense she will contact the pharmacy or the doctor to make sure that the order was the actual order placed or if there was an error in the given dosage.

Examples Her patient is ordered 25mg of liquid medicine X. It comes in 5mg per 5mL of liquid. She must calculate the desired dose over what she has and multiply by the vehicle (mL) 25mg divided by 5 = 5 x 5mL = 25mL She would need to give her patient 25mL of liquid medicine in order to get the 25mg that the doctor ordered. The patient is ordered 90mg of medication X. the pharmacy sends 30mg tablets. She needs to calculate how many tablets to give the patient in order to give the correct dose. The calculation would be 90mg divided by the 30mg tablets to get how many tablets of medication are needed which would equal 3 tablets.

Bill Williams Age : 71 Locksmith / Safe Cracker As a safe cracker my grandfather had to figure out opening combinations when a combination lock malfunctioned. The first, second, or third wheel could be the problem. As a locksmith he helps design master key systems for corporate buildings. A lot of math is needed to figure out how to make the master hey systems for these buildings.

Examples To crack a safe and find out the number combinations for the first, second, and third wheel my grandfather must add numbers to the first and third combination numbers. Then subtract numbers from the second combination number. This would create the working combination that would unlock the safe. Even though all the numbers are under 100 it takes a lot of thinking to figure out what numbers to choose. Its just like probability. To make a master key system as a locksmith my grandfather has to make a master key that will work in every lock in the building that a master key is needed for. A master key is designed by numbers that indicate the cuts in the key. The tumbler system inside the lock is created so that an operating key and a master key will open the lock. This is accomplished by breaking the tumblers in sections. All operating key codes are then mathematically determined to interchange with each other.

John Jones Age: 51 Propane Company Owner My uncle uses math in the propane industry regularly. The math helps him inform his customers and better understand their propane usage and it helps determine the scheduled delivery. Doing the math in the business is critical because it is important to bill customers correctly, inform them of the accurate cost, and assist them in approximate usage versus the price. It is also important to know how often deliveries are to be made so that there is no wasted time and money going around to places that do not need gas yet, also, so people do not run out of gas and then they end up making a special trip to make an extra delivery which is an expense to the company.

Examples In order to charge customers he must calculate the gallons times the price per gallon to come up with the purchase price.In order to charge customers he must calculate the gallons times the price per gallon to come up with the purchase price. A lunch truck comes in to the lot and wants to fill his tanks with 8 gallons of propane. The price is $2.50 a gallon. He needs to multiply 8 x $2.50 to know the total cost of the refill. The total comes out to be $20.00.A lunch truck comes in to the lot and wants to fill his tanks with 8 gallons of propane. The price is $2.50 a gallon. He needs to multiply 8 x $2.50 to know the total cost of the refill. The total comes out to be $ In the propane business my uncle has to figure out how much gas a pool heater would use.In the propane business my uncle has to figure out how much gas a pool heater would use. A 400,000 BTU pool heater will use approximately how much propane per hour? You determine this by dividing 400,000 by 92,000 per gallon which means a typical pool will use about 4.5 gallons per hour.A 400,000 BTU pool heater will use approximately how much propane per hour? You determine this by dividing 400,000 by 92,000 per gallon which means a typical pool will use about 4.5 gallons per hour.

Mark Smith Age: 44 Electrician My dad is an electrical foreman manager for PATCO high speed line. He is in charge of maintaining the electrical systems and components. Troubleshooting some of the problems that occur also come along the line of work that he does. Running conduit and wires also requires a lot of math to know how much wire can occupy the inside space or the conduit.

Example If my dad wants to wire something on the PATCO High Speed Line then he would have to refer to the N.E.C. (National Electrical Code) to find out what the specifications are. If he had to install three #2AWG wires (American Wire Gauge) for a circuit then he would have to find what the area of the 2AWG wires are. He would refer to the N.E.C. and it would tell him what the area for each 2AWG wire was. Then he would come up with a total area that the three #2AWG wires take up. He would then have to find the Internal Dimension (ID) of the pipe that the wires are going to be installed into. The N.E.C. states that three 2AWG wires cannot occupy more than 40% of the pipe due to heat. So he would have to figure out the total area of the pipe and then multiply the pipes total area by 40%. If the number is greater than the area of the wires then that size pipe can be used. If not then he has to choose a larger size pipe for the wires to go into. So he does the same calculations until he finds the right size pipe to fit the wires.If my dad wants to wire something on the PATCO High Speed Line then he would have to refer to the N.E.C. (National Electrical Code) to find out what the specifications are. If he had to install three #2AWG wires (American Wire Gauge) for a circuit then he would have to find what the area of the 2AWG wires are. He would refer to the N.E.C. and it would tell him what the area for each 2AWG wire was. Then he would come up with a total area that the three #2AWG wires take up. He would then have to find the Internal Dimension (ID) of the pipe that the wires are going to be installed into. The N.E.C. states that three 2AWG wires cannot occupy more than 40% of the pipe due to heat. So he would have to figure out the total area of the pipe and then multiply the pipes total area by 40%. If the number is greater than the area of the wires then that size pipe can be used. If not then he has to choose a larger size pipe for the wires to go into. So he does the same calculations until he finds the right size pipe to fit the wires. 3 – 2AWG wires =.69in3 – 2AWG wires =.69in ² 1 inch pipe area =.5² x 3.14 =.785in²1 inch pipe area =.5² x 3.14 =.785in² To find allowable NEC fill of 40% :.785in² x.40 =.314To find allowable NEC fill of 40% :.785in² x.40 = in² >.314in² so a larger pipe is required.69in² >.314in² so a larger pipe is required 3 – 2AWG wires =.69in²3 – 2AWG wires =.69in² 1½ inch pipe area =.75in² x 3.14 = ½ inch pipe area =.75in² x 3.14 = To find NEC required fill of 40% : 2.335in² x.40 =.934in²To find NEC required fill of 40% : 2.335in² x.40 =.934in² This means that the regulation on the NEC has been met and can be installed on the High Speed Line.This means that the regulation on the NEC has been met and can be installed on the High Speed Line.

Dave James Age: 58 Woodworking Craftsman Dave is a woodworking craftsman. He owns his own buisness called A-1 Woodworking. He designs and constructs furniture, cabinets, shelving units, and many other pieces that are made from wood. Woodworking uses many different mathematical calculations from start to finish. From how much wood to order to the angles and depths he has to make his precise cuts is all included in the math he uses during his job.

Examples Wood is sold in lumber board feet. One lumber board foot is 1’ x 1’ x 1”. When some companies say that they are selling you 100 lumber board feet they might try to rip you off and only sell you 80 lumber board feet. The wood comes in different sizes and demensions. So to figure out if he is getting the correct amount of wood then Dave has to add up the dimensions of all of the pieces of lumber and calculate if all the wood he purchased adds up to 100 lumber board feet.Wood is sold in lumber board feet. One lumber board foot is 1’ x 1’ x 1”. When some companies say that they are selling you 100 lumber board feet they might try to rip you off and only sell you 80 lumber board feet. The wood comes in different sizes and demensions. So to figure out if he is getting the correct amount of wood then Dave has to add up the dimensions of all of the pieces of lumber and calculate if all the wood he purchased adds up to 100 lumber board feet. Another way math is used in his job is if Dave is knowing what sizes of wood he is able to cut. To save the most amount of wood that he can he has to make a calculation on how many inches he is allowed to cut off.Another way math is used in his job is if Dave is knowing what sizes of wood he is able to cut. To save the most amount of wood that he can he has to make a calculation on how many inches he is allowed to cut off. Dave would be using a 4’ x 8’ sheet of wood. If a customer wants a cabinet that is 18” deep then he will have to figure out the lengths that he will need to cut in order to have the least amount of scraps possible. So for an 18” deep cabinet the customer would be paying for a 24” cut. This is because two 24” cuts make the 4’ on the one side of the board. He would suggest that the customer should go with the 24” cut because that is more wood for the same price. He could also suggest to the customer that a 16” cut would work. He could have three 16” cuts to equal the 4’ side with the least amount of waste possible. So to help the customer and save money of his own then he would have to figure out what size cut the customer would need. Also he would need to know what sizes are close to what the customer ordered that would help make an even cut with the least amount of waste. This is a big help to him and the customer.Dave would be using a 4’ x 8’ sheet of wood. If a customer wants a cabinet that is 18” deep then he will have to figure out the lengths that he will need to cut in order to have the least amount of scraps possible. So for an 18” deep cabinet the customer would be paying for a 24” cut. This is because two 24” cuts make the 4’ on the one side of the board. He would suggest that the customer should go with the 24” cut because that is more wood for the same price. He could also suggest to the customer that a 16” cut would work. He could have three 16” cuts to equal the 4’ side with the least amount of waste possible. So to help the customer and save money of his own then he would have to figure out what size cut the customer would need. Also he would need to know what sizes are close to what the customer ordered that would help make an even cut with the least amount of waste. This is a big help to him and the customer.

So math IS used in everyday jobs!