How to Use Polynomials in the Real World

Mathematics is a core academic subject. In the real world, algebra and calculus concepts are essential to career paths in the areas of construction, architecture, aerospace and financial planning. Helping students understand the importance of concepts such as polynomials in mathematics will motivate them when memorizing and perfecting the techniques. Polynomials are expressions using lines of numbers and variables raised to whole number powers.

Instructions

1. Offer the students a simple example with a discussion about two-dimensional construction planning. For example, you could ask the students to create a garden and give them the total amount of available soil and the width of the garden. Then ask them to calculate the garden's length using the polynomial function.

2. For students planning to enter the legal or financial planning industry, many of the interest rate formulas are polynomial equations. For example, have a student calculate the value of his college savings account with a deposit amount of $200. Using the standard annual interest calculation of 2,000(1+r)^3, have the student calculate what value the account will have in three years.

3. Introduce the students to the complexities of architecture and how polynomials are applied in that field by showing them a video about how New York's Trump Tower was created and the application of polynomials with that building in a video clip from Thefutureschannel.com, an educational tools website.

4. Entice your students with basic aerospace science through Newtonian physics problems such as the equations for objects in motion, projectiles and even air resistance.

References

• Thefutureschannel: Structural Engineering
• "Algebra and Trigonometry with Analytic Geometry"; Earl W. Swokowski and Jeffery A. Cole; 2007.