Definition of Mathematics

    The 4 most central points that math revolves around are shapes, computational skills, letters,  representations of data, and symmetry. 

    In my previous math classes, I have added, subtracted, multiplied, and divided. All of those parts involve a person's computational skills which is one of the 4 central points that involve math. "Excellent experimental skills are required, together with good analytical and computational skills." This was a sentence that I found off of a site that was explaining what necessary skills are needed to get into a mechanical college.

 Also, in my previous classes, we have been given equations that make shapes. Shapes are also one of the 4 points of mathematics. "As students become familiar with shape, structure, location, and transformations and as they develop spatial reasoning, they lay the foundation for understanding not only their spatial world but also other topics in mathematics and in art, science, and social studies." this sentence is saying that shapes are one of the things that knowing shapes will help them in other fields of academics. 

 In previous classes we have used letters in equations. letters are also used to mark certain points on shapes that are being used. This is called algebra. So letters are another point of the four points of mathematics. 

In this picture we see that shapes and letters are used. the shapes are marking points that were specified, while the letters are marking certain points on the shape. 

The next point is the representation of data. In previous classes we have graphed numbers to represent some form of data. representing data is important in math because if you make a mistake you can always retrack your steps and find your mistake other than just redoing the whole problem. 

symmetry is having balance, where a shape looks the same on both sides. In one of my previous classes we had to draw symmetric shapes and fit them together to form a pattern. Which is the last point of mathematics. Symmetry is important in mathmatics because it will help give the person some ideas for an art class. 

   second paragraph  -   http://www.mae.okstate.edu/newfaculty/ 

third paragraph  -  http://www.madison.k12.wi.us/tnl/math/Geomeas.PDF 

picture  -   http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=home.attbi.com/~gllibrary/

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