Do you ever wonder if math problems are good for the brain? According to a recent study, the answer is a resounding yes! Scientists have found that students who continue studying mathematics beyond GCSEs have higher amounts of a brain chemical essential for cognitive development. So, why is math good for the brain? The more math problems you solve, the more your brain will develop to deal with the most difficult problems. In other words, mathematics is an exercise for the brain. It's not just about being intelligent; it's about becoming smarter.
To help teenagers rekindle their passion for math, educators can use everyday situations to make math more engaging. For example, instead of a hypothetical problem in which students use mathematics to organize the profits from a bake sale, they can actually carry it out in real life for a student activity or club. To understand how math affects the brain, scientists taught 80 men and women how to interpret a set of mathematical symbols and equations they hadn't seen before. The results showed that when people think deeply about math, they feel as if they are everything - and that is the best thought you can feel through mathematics.
Karen Aronian, EdD, university professor and educational design consultant, says she can't think of a single profession that doesn't use mathematics and reasoning in some way. The study analysis also concluded that mathematics education is associated with “educational progress, socioeconomic status, employment, mental and physical health, and financial stability.” This means that people who aren't good at math may have a hard time finding a job. The differences in learning mathematics can be attributed to experiences you have had in life that have helped you develop the brain connections necessary to think about complex mathematical problems. Studying mathematics is a stepping stone to increasing your general intelligence and, with regular practice, you will improve in various academic activities.
Memorization by heart has been ridiculed and considered a “lower-order mathematical skill”, but it is still important for mastering math. These findings have led parents and mathematics teachers to renew their interest in making mathematics a subject of choice rather than one they fear.
