We all know that in the world in which we live the mathematical calculations are quite necessary. So necessary that even plants do it (at least that's what a scientific study says).
According to a study published in the eLife journal, plants are able to perform simple mathematical calculations so as not to starve. They calculate the amount of stored energy to make sure it will be enough overnight. Why at night? Because at night there is no sunlight, and they can not perform the photosynthesis necessary to convert carbon dioxide into sugars and starch.
These calculations are chemical, not that at night the plants grab a pencil and are doing mathematical calculations in secret so that we do not see them. So how do you do the calculation? More or less like this: On the one hand the plant measures the amount of starch stored in its system and on the other its circadian rhythm. (This works to tell the plant what time it is or how late it is to dawn) Plants do is somehow take the energy molecules obtained from the starch and divide them between time. This allows them to know how much energy to consume during the night so as not to starve.
Yes, you may be feeling bad right now because you should think "even plants do math and I do not." Many find it more difficult to perform mathematical calculations. Why this? Those who are good at algebra tend not to be so good at geometry and vice versa, but it is because both are two different types of cognitive skills, geometry is more spatial and algebra is more logical and verbal.
There are several reasons why a bright student in other areas is bad at math. It can be lack of motivation, problems with attention and even anxiety problems, but anyone who is well trained and with good motivation can be good in any branch of mathematics, anyone who does not have DISCALCULIA.
Dyscalculia is like dyslexia but with numbers, it affects 5% of children and 6% of the world's population. It manifests itself as a disability to understand numbers and to process mathematical calculations, Calculations that for most of us are easy, for them are a torture. This disability is possible to perceive in children aged 4 to 5 years when they can not differentiate between a smaller number and a larger number, and this disability increases over time. If it is not treated in time, it can for example reach the age of 17 and is a genius in other subjects and in mathematics continue to count with the fingers.
How do you know if someone has dyscalculia? Well, that person has never learned the multiplication tables, never understood the fractions, lose the sides of a die by counting the points one by one in the place of the set and things like that.
I hope you liked this post, after I took some time without doing them. Tell me if anyone has dyscalculia, share this with your friends and family to see if they have it. For me this has been everything and until next time!
Sources:
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/oscillator/cellular-mathematics/
http://www.nature.com/news/plants-perform-molecular-maths-1.13251
https://cogsci.stackexchange.com/questions/12234/why-are-some-people-good-at-algebra-and-bad-at-geometry-and-vice-versa
http://discovermagazine.com/2013/julyaug/20-learning-disability-dyscalculia-explains-how-a-smart-kid-can-be-so-bad-at-math
http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~lngbrain/Acalculia/acalculia.htm
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/science-when-brains-dont-count-1091947.html
http://discovermagazine.com/1997/jul/aheadfornumbers1179
The images were taken from pixabay.com