December 8, 2008

It Figures

Having hated math for most of my school life, I have suddenly developed a fascination for numbers. I just love it when the disbursements and balances even out, when the liquidation tallies. If I had known that I'd breeze through crunching numbers, I wouldn't have considered accounting--and accountants--boring. I would have taken statistics seriously, the same way I internalized mythology and African lit.

While I have no wish to revisit the confusing algebraic expressions that put an end to my graduating-with-honors aspirations, I really wish I had paid better attention. I am told that grade four students already have some semblance of algebra in their curriculum. I wonder if I'll have it in me to guide my daughter through the maze of XYZs when the time comes.

Sitting through a particularly engaging presentation at the office, I realized that, while I am averse to reducing people to mere sticks in mounting statistics, figures do matter. How can we map out emergency response, for example, if we do not have the statistics to back us up? And how can we come up with adaptation measures if we have no grasp of the real, factual situation?

It boils down figures, really. And as late as I am in the game, I am glad that I can now see clearly the connection between numbers and real life.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I hated math most of my school life too but, unfortunately, I still have not developed any fascination with numbers as you have. Can't even balance my check book so I let hubby take care of that. The only numbers I can manage are pixels in photos and those related with cooking.

Mel said...

i was smiling as i read your blog, because i also went through that stage of math "appreciation" when i joined the corporate life - budgeting, cost-benefit analysis, return on investment etc. how i wished i paid better attention to my algebra and statistics but i also realize it's never too late to relearn.

Kayni said...

i loved math in elementary and high school, but i don't know what happened when i hit college i couldn't tolerate numbers anymore no matter what i do to convince myself that math is important. until today, i can't find the answer - why i became a math hater.

Unknown said...

Funny, I hated math in high school, too, but ended up taking up architecture in university. Go figure...

Abaniko said...

True as long as statistics don't lie. :)

Droomvla said...

Bagan nalubong ka na dida sa mga numero... Haen na an bag-o mo na blog? Surat na tabi sin kadali kay miss ko na an mga chika mo didi. heheheha