It is impossible to provide examples of all of the different
types of mathematical applications you can find in
your everyday lives.

Example 1:
John is planning to take a family trip to a famous
amusement park.  The distance to the park is 675 miles.
They plan on driving the entire distance in 1 day.
John's car can travel 23 miles on one gallon of gasoline.
If gasoline costs approximately $3.04 per gallon, how much
of the families vacation budget should John plan on spending
for gasoline?
(Remember....the family must also drive back home!)
Solution:
Total miles to be traveled:
675 x 2 = 1350 miles
(multiply whole numbers)
Total number of gallons required:
1350 ÷ 23 = 58.69 ≈ 59 gallons
(divide whole numbers/ rounding off)
Total cost for gasoline:
59 x $3.04 = $179.36 ≈ $180.00
(multiply decimals/rounding off)
John should budget a minimum of $180 of the
families vacation fund for gasoline!

Example 2:
Millie is going to make cupcakes for the entire
5th grade at her school.
The recipe she is going to use will make
1 dozen cupcakes.
There are 87 fifth graders in her school.
The batter she is using requires the following ingredients:
3 cups of flour
1 1/2 cups of milk
1/2 cup water
3 eggs
1/2 tsp. of salt
2 tsp. of baking powder
Solution:
Determine how many times her recipe needs to be multiplied.
87 ÷ 12 = 7.25 ≈ 8
(divide whole numbers/rounding up)
Multiply each ingredient amount by 8
8 x 3 = 24 cups of flour
8 x 1 1/2 = 12 cups of milk
8 x 1/2 = 4 cups of water
8 x 3 = 24 (2 dozen) eggs
8 x 1/2 = 4 tsp. of salt
8 x 2 = 16 tsp. of baking powder
(multiplying whole numbers and fractions)
So, Millie will need:
24 cups of flour, 12 cups of milk, 4 cups of water,
2 dozen eggs, 4 tsp. of salt and 16 tsp. of baking powder
to make 8 times the recipe amount.

Example 3:
The Ryan family is going to put new
wall to wall carpet in their Family Room.
The room is rectangular in shape and
measures 11 feet 4 inches wide by
18 feet 6 inches long.
The carpet they have chosen is priced at
$34.95 per square yard.
They must also purchase new carpet pad
which is priced at $3.95 per square yard.
Installation is free!
How much will this new carpet cost the Ryan family?
Oh...I forgot....the sales tax rate is 8 1/4 %!
Solution:
First, calculate the area of the room in square feet:
(11 1/3)(18 1/2) = 209 2/3 square feet
(convert inches to fraction of a foot and multiply)
Convert square feet to square yards:
209 2/3 ÷ 9 = 23 8/27 square yards
(to convert square feet to square yards divide by 9)
Change 23 8/27 to a decimal:
8 ÷ 27 = .296... ≈ .3
23 8/27 ≈ 23.3 square yards
(to change a fraction to a decimal divide numerator by denominator)
Calculate cost of carpet:
23.3 x $34.95 = $814.335 ≈ $814.34
(Multiply decimal numbers and round to nearest penny)
Calculate cost of carpet pad:
23.3 x $3.95 = $92.035 ≈ $92.04
Total the cost of carpet and pad:
$814.34 + $92.04 = $906.38
(add decimal numbers)
Calculate sales tax:
$906.38 x .0825 = $74.77635 ≈ $74.78
(change the % to a decimal and multiply, then round to nearest penny)
Calculate total cost, including sales tax:
$906.38 + $74.78 = $981.16
(add the two amounts)
It will cost the Ryan family $981.16 to
carpet their Family Room.

As you can see from just these three examples, math is everywhere.

To practice other real life mathematical applications

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