More math in daily life

Every kid in high school: "Why are they making us learn this? I'm not gonna need it in the future. If it took my teacher 4 years to learn this math in college, why do they expect us to learn this in like 50 minutes? Why do we have pop quizzes? When I don't understand the material, then have  a quiz on it, the quiz rings my grade down!!!!!!!!" All this complaining. I do have to admit that I use these phrases more than once a day, especially when I am getting frustrated at not knowing or understanding a specific topic.

Most juniors have no idea of what they want to do in college and therefore will waste money and time. I mean it's ok not to know specifically, but one should have a decent idea. I want to go into automotive engineering and possibly later (if I have the time, money and energy) become a math teacher.

With automotive engineering, algebra, geometry, physics, chemistry and possibly trig and calc will be used everyday. Obviously if i wanted to design a faster, safer drag/race car, I will need to measure, plan, and do math all on repeat. Multiple times a day. I will not be needing the specificity of "x" equation or the exact order of the variables in "y" equation, but I will be needing math.

Right now in class, we are learning of parabolas, circles and ellipses. Tires and rims are perfect circles. If they aren't, the tires will wear weird and as a result put additional strain on the engine. The light bulbs for all the headlights, tail lights, brake lights and other lights are similar in shape to that of a "parabaliod." That is the shape that is the result of spinning a parabola in its vertex. It is almost a steep bowl like shape. How would that shape have been used if people didn't test to see which light would work the best in cost and shape?

Math is needed in everyday life. Maybe it's the ratio of 2 prices or even finding how much wear can be put on a pair of tires with "w" amount of miles on it. Yes most of the mat may seem pointless right now, as a high schooler, but it will help you once you get into the real world.

Palindromes

Palindromes are everywhere. Between race car and 5-10-2015, there are numerical and and written palindromes if you choose to look for them.  I think the best example of numerical palindromes are our telephone area codes. Not all states have area codes that read the same forward and backwards. Some are like 483. That is not a palindrome at all. But in New Mexico, as well as Hawaii, all the area codes are Palindromes. Both NM and HI are part of 16 states that have area code palindromes. In NM, the two area codes are 505 and 575. In Hawaii the area code is 808. NM isn't really known for much except for aliens, tacos and possibly needing a passport to visit this State (in the United states of America). But now we can be know for something other than that. We are one of 2 states that have only palindromes for area codes. How cool is that?

The other palindrome i like is the "race car" example. I love cars and especially race cars. These two words are used fairly frequently. But that fact that these two words together make a palindrome makes them even more special.

These hidden Easter eggs in life make life just a bit more interesting. If you know or find an Easter egg, you are an astute and very bright person.