We all have our favourite subjects throughout our lives. We develop an interest in some things when we are young, and that interest can shift as we grow older. But some subjects remain constant in our daily lives, whether we like them or not, whether we are students or not.

One such subject is mathematics. Students are usually hesitant when they deal with the tricky equations of this subject. Primarily, this is because many students find it difficult. Part of the reason students feel this way is their poor grip on the basic concepts of mathematics. Before I go into the details of this subject, I would like to share my own experience from my student life.

During my college days, I was curious to know the real-life applications of mathematics as a subject. It was this curiosity that made me ask questions in almost every lecture. I remember asking a teacher how mathematics played a role in our daily lives. In response, he gave two examples.

The first was about building a circular overhead bridge, where different mathematical formulas are used to ensure the bridge is strong and perfectly shaped. The second example was related to medicine: when a sick person takes a pill, mathematics is used to calculate the correct dosage. These examples helped me realise that mathematics is useful in both construction and healthcare.

We may forget many lessons from school, but mathematics follows us every where, from classrooms to playgrounds and beyond

Keeping in view my teacher’s sound responses and his way of making difficult concepts seem easy, my interest in the subject increased manifold. Hence, I began revising the concepts of mathematics from Grades 6 and 7 onwards. Since I was undertaking this task as a personal effort, I left no stone unturned in analysing the key concepts and their connection with daily life. During this journey, I approached my teacher whenever I faced difficulty in understanding a concept.

Now let us now talk about the different aspects that make mathematics an interesting subject.

The first place where you can witness the role of mathematics is banks. When you visit a bank, you will notice how bankers carry out their daily tasks. From crediting salaries to depositing and withdrawing money, every activity performed in a bank involves mathematics. Even basic tasks such as addition or subtraction are carried out using calculators. From deducting taxes to calculating zakat, bankers need various mathematical tools to make their work easier.

The second place where you can observe the application of this subject is during the exams at school. Addition, subtraction and percentages, among other operations, are used to calculate results.

Most of the time, these calculations were performed manually. While manual calculations help in understanding the concepts, the use of calculators and other mathematical tools in computers shows how mathematics is incorporated into digital devices.

The third place where you can find the application of mathematics is in the playgrounds and sports. If you are unaware of the basics of mathematics, you cannot keep track of the score of any game. The probability of a team winning a match is also calculated using simple mathematics. The DLS method is used to decide the winner in limited-overs cricket matches when play is interrupted due to weather or other factors.

Today, the role of mathematics in technology is extremely important. We see robots that can perform different tasks just like humans. This is possible because mathematical models are created before a robot is built or used. A model is a plan or set of calculations that shows how a robot should move, react and perform its tasks accurately. In the field of construction as well, mathematical models are used to plan measurements and designs in advance. This helps engineers build structures safely and with precision.

To sum up the discussion, one cannot deny the countless applications of mathematics in both theoretical and practical fields. It has become an indispensable part of our activities. This is why a strong foundation in mathematics is important, and why mathematics is often called the queen of all sciences.

Published in Dawn, Young World, February 14th, 2026