This is only a brief sampling of all the work out there requiring mathematics. Calculators are here, and they can do for us many of the things we once accomplished only by hand. Our graphing calculators can draw nifty graphs for us. These graphs are important in understanding many mathematical situations, but if the user of the calculator does not know what the graphs mean, they are as worthless as they would be if they did not exist. The skills that mathematics helps us to learn extend far beyond the ability to solve mathematics problems.
Problem solving skills are invaluable in all walks of life.
Although the mathematics itself does not always help us to solve our problems, some of the skills we use in mathematics do help. In mathematics class, we learn to think quickly and to solve problems under pressure. We learn to analyze a problem logically until we arrive at a valid method for finding the solution. These skills come in handy in many situations that call upon our sharp thinking, and allow us to handle problems better than those who ve had less mathematics instruction would. Mathematics increases our ability to think.