From time immemorial, math has been a subject that has always been associated with monotonous formulas and complicated equations. Very few have got to experience the fun side of math. Those who have experienced this side of it will tell you how doing math for enjoyment can develop your exploratory and analytical skills further.1

One of the most popular sitcoms in history, Futurama (an animated science fiction), had a team of math experts as its writing staff.2 What does this tell you about the subject? The fact that a group of mathematicians is behind one of the most successfully telecast humorous TV shows proves that one can apply math to create something fun! Read this article to understand why some people love math and take it up as their leisure-time activity.

Math as a Hobby

What do you call a person who loves math? A philomath, perhaps, but it is more of an umbrella term for a lover of knowledge. Some people enjoy doing math as a hobby or pastime. You need not be a professional mathematician to enjoy math and solve math questions.3 Even an amateur can love math for the fun of it. Let us learn how math lovers enjoy the subject as a hobby.

Some individuals solve puzzles and learn spatial relations to enhance their cognitive skills and prevent age-related deterioration.4 The fact that there is no pressure associated with grades and deadlines adds to the fun factor. Furthermore, some love to utilize the patterns concept and delve into general and abstract thinking using mathematical concepts. They derive pleasure by scribbling over pages of mathematical notations while working out a solution that involves a lot of brain-racking. Some simply love investigating a theorem from all angles and spend hours of leisure indulging in that activity.5

Why People Love Doing Math for Fun?

Do you often wonder what makes people take up math as a hobby? What is it about numbers that fascinates them so much that they spend hours playing with them? We have listed some of the reasons below:5,6

  • Solving math problems keeps the mind active and energized.
  • Unlike other subjects, there are no gray areas in math. It is either black or white. This objectivity appeals to many.
  • Old concepts are as crucial as new ones, and there is always a correlation.
  • Math lovers enjoy experiencing the thrill of being able to come up with solutions to complex equations or problems.
  • It keeps you on your toes and gives you something mentally stimulating to look forward to.

How to Have Fun With Math?

With everything around us becoming technologically advanced, there is no denying the fact that one needs to have a basic knowledge of math to stay updated. Aiming for the most sought-after careers, such as doctors, engineers, scientists, software developers, business analysts, and investment bankers, requires you to possess fair math skills and a love for the subject.

The key to making students and adults love learning math is breaking the negative stereotype surrounding the subject. Teaching math to develop life skills instead of mere conceptual knowledge will instill more interest.6 

Here are a few ways (for all age groups) in which you can nurture the love for math by making it all about fun and games.

  • Board Games and Video Games – Math-related games help develop your number sense through sensory experiences.7,10
  • Puzzles, Riddles, and Brain Teasers – Mind-related activities employ math to promote critical thinking and reasoning.1
  • Cards and Dice Games – A standard deck of playing cards or a game that involves rolling dice can enhance your computational abilities.8
  • Math Journaling and Story-Telling – These activities involve writing and incorporating math into daily tasks. Formulating stories based on numbers and math concepts is a fun way to learn.
  • Math Art Projects – You can effectively teach concepts, such as symmetry, tessellations, sequences, and geometry, using art activities.
  • Outdoor Activities – Movement-based math activities such as hopscotch, bingo, and treasure hunts involve engaging all the senses for better learning. You can even apply math skills to gardening activities. For instance, measuring the spacing between seeds and determining how much water is needed to irrigate the garden involves math.9
  • Math Apps – Download apps that integrate technology with teaching mathematical concepts. These games are portable and increase practice time without realizing it. These app games even provide immediate feedback for better engagement.

Doing Math for Fun

Developing a love for math can never make it a dull subject, although a poor understanding of it can lead to unpleasant feelings. People who want to explore math as a hobby in their free time can try out math questions on numerical analysis and abstract algebra for recreation.5 Math is a fantastic (though less popular) way of keeping yourself occupied and honing your mental abilities simultaneously.

Did you find this article interesting? For blogs on related topics, such as which branch of math is widely used in the real world, please visit BYJU’S FutureSchool Blog.

References

  1. Games, M. E. (2017, October 16). 5 Tips to Improve Analytical Thinking Skills – MentalUP. MentalUP.co. Retrieved December 8, 2022, from https://www.mentalup.co/blog/what-is-analytical-thinking-ability-and-how-to-develop
  2. Burnett, D. (2013, October 16). Maths is fun (sometimes) | Dean Burnett. The Guardian. Retrieved December 1, 2022, from http://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2013/oct/16/maths-fun-mathematics-humour
  3. Does one have to be a genius to do maths? (2007, May 14). What’s New. Retrieved December 8, 2022, from https://terrytao.wordpress.com/career-advice/does-one-have-to-be-a-genius-to-do-maths/
  4. B. (2021, September 27). Math is a Strange Hobby. Medium. Retrieved December 1, 2022, from https://brendareeves-20923.medium.com/math-is-a-strange-hobby-1866954f162b
  5. Chaudhuri, R. (2011, August 22). Mathematical learning (and math as a hobby) – 3 Quarks Daily. 3 Quarks Daily. Retrieved December 1, 2022, from https://3quarksdaily.com/3quarksdaily/2011/08/mathematical-learning-and-math-as-a-hobby.html
  6. 5 reasons why I love Mathematics – Science | Technology | Engineering | Mathematics. (2020, January 23). 5 Reasons Why I Love Mathematics – Science | Technology | Engineering | Mathematics. Retrieved December 1, 2022, from https://blogs.kcl.ac.uk/nms/2020/01/23/5-reasons-why-i-love-mathematics%E2%80%AF/#:~:text=The%20adrenaline%20rush%20you%20get,you%20can%20look%20forward%20to.
  7. Cambria Linn Rodriguez. (2022). MULTISENSORY ACTIVE LEARNING METHODS TO TEACH NUMBER SENSE: A CASE STUDY IN DIVERSE EARLY ELEMENTARY SETTINGS. ScholarWorks.https://scholarworks.calstate.edu/downloads/cz30pz766   
  8. Davison, S. (2017, November 7). How Card Games Can Improve Math, Memory and Competitive Skills? Medium. Retrieved December 8, 2022, from https://medium.com/@ShawnDavison1/how-card-games-can-improve-math-memory-and-competitive-skills-57bb38e4d80b
  9. Math In The Garden: Learn About Mathematical Garden Activities. (2022, January 11). Gardening Know-How. Retrieved December 8, 2022, from https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/children/tying-math-into-nature.htm
  10. Multisensory games-based learning – lessons learnt from olfactory enhancement of a digital board game | SpringerLink. (n.d.). Retrieved December 14, 2022, from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11042-017-5459-2 
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