Arithmetic operations are essential to our lives. Arithmetic operations are a fundamental part of mathematics, but their importance extends beyond just numbers on a page or a screen. They allow people to make sense of the world around them and give people a way to understand concepts that cannot be seen or touched. This article will explore the basics of arithmetic operations and why they are important.
Different Types of Arithmetic Operations
- Addition: Adding two numbers to find their sum.
- Subtraction: Subtracting one number from another to find the difference between them.
- Multiplication: Multiplying a number by a given number to find the product of the two numbers.
- Division: Dividing a number by a given number to find the quotient and the remainder.
This article will discuss where arithmetic operations are used in real life. For instance, arithmetic operations are used in many different scenarios, such as when we want to divide the pizza among four members, division operation is employed.
As already discussed, arithmetic operations are the basic building blocks of mathematics. They are used in all areas of life, from the simplest to the most complex problems. Here, we will explore some of the most common applications of arithmetic operations in real life.
Addition and subtraction
We have all looked at our calculator or phone to calculate simple calculations, but what about in real life? A few examples are below to show you how basic maths can be done in real life:
- If you have several apples and oranges, you can subtract the number of oranges from the number of apples to find out how many apples are left.
- If you are at a restaurant with a friend and they order an appetizer that costs less than your main course, you could say, “I’ll pay for your appetizer” (Simple subtraction).
Basic multiplication
Basic multiplication is a mathematical process used to find the product of two numbers. It is vital in everyday life, and we use it differently. The most common use of basic multiplication is to determine the purchase cost. For example, if you buy two items for Rs. 10 each, the total cost would be Rs. 20.
Basic division
Basic division is a mathematical operation that can be done in your head. It is helpful in dividing one number called dividend by another number called divisor to find an answer called quotient without a calculator. There are many different ways to use fundamental division in real life, but here are some of the most common:
- Dividing your dinner bill with friends
- Dividing candies with your friends
Percentages and fractions
Percentages are used to express a fraction of 100. For example, if you have 25% of a pie, you would have 25/100 or 1/4 of the pie. A percentage is also one way to express any fraction as an equivalent decimal number. For example, if you have 3/5 of a pie, you would have 3/5 x 100 = 60%.
A percentage can also be represented as a decimal. For example, if you have 25% of a pie (25/100), this could be written as 0.25 x 100 = 25%.
The following are examples of the use of percentages in real life:
- In a survey, 30% of people said they were satisfied with their jobs.
- The company’s annual profit was up 7% from last year.
- The price of the car is discounted by 3%.
Few more real-life uses of arithmetic operations
The following are the well-known examples of basic arithmetic operations:
- The most common use of arithmetic operations is calculating the total cost of an item or service. When you go to a grocery store and buy things, you might be asked to pay with cash or a debit card. If you choose to pay with cash, the cashier will ask for your total amount, and if you choose a debit card, they will ask for your PIN and how much money you want to withdraw from your bank account.
- Another everyday use of arithmetic operations is calculating tips at restaurants or bars. When it comes time to pay the bill, servers will often calculate what a tip should be for service.
- When counting the money, we can use the order of operations (PEMDAS) to solve the problem.
- While purchasing clothes, we might use addition and subtraction to calculate which size fits us best.
- Lastly, when cooking a meal, we can use multiplication and division to calculate how many servings the recipe will make.