Math - It adds up to your future.
"How am I ever going to use this stuff?"
In response to this nagging question, these real-world math problems were contributed by a variety of area businesses and demonstrate the relevance of math in today's world.
The intent of these lessons is to excite students about mathematics, to expose students to professions that employ mathematics, and to demonstrate the relevance of mathematics in solving real-world challenges. Clearly, students who do not see a reason for studying a subject, apply little effort to that endeavor. Connecting learning to the world of work helps students see how knowledge is applied and acts to motivate them. It helps students see how what they learn relates to life beyond school so that young people can be better prepared for the rapidly changing world.
Math in the Workplace problems are aligned with both the National
Standards for School Mathematics and the Idaho State
Mathematics Achievement Standards. Learn more about the alignment
and find links to these organizations here
These lessons were contributed by parents of students involved in the project. They have been field tested by 10 teachers involved in a pilot of the project.
Feel free to make copies of these materials. If you would like to submit problems for future publication, contact Micron's K-12 Programs, 208-368-4000.
* Businesses and organizations are all located in the communities of Southwest Idaho, including Boise, Nampa, Caldwell, Meridian, and Eagle.
Idaho Mathematics Standards for Geometry Problems
This index provides a listing of the Geometry Problems by grade level reference and then alphabetically. Grade four relates to numbers 297 through 303; grade five, numbers 307 through 313; grade six, numbers 317 through 323; grade seven, numbers 327 through 333; grade eight, numbers 337 through 343; grades nine through twelve, numbers 347 through 353. Idaho Math Standards can be found at Idaho Achieves.
Hewlett-Packard Co. Current Product Manager (1)
Grades 5, 6, 7
• Mathematical Reasoning and Problem Solving
Understand and use a variety of problem-solving skills.
308.01, 318.01, 328.01
Use reasoning skills to recognize problems and express them mathematically.
308.02, 318.02, 328.02
• Concepts and Principles of Measurement
Understand and use U.S. customary and metric measurements.
309.01, 319.01, 329.01
• Concepts and Principles of Geometry
Apply concepts of size, shape, and spatial relationships.
311.01, 321.01, 331.01
Idaho State Tax Commission GIS Analyst
Grades 6, 7, 8
• Mathematical Reasoning and Problem Solving
Understand and use a variety of problem-solving skills.
318.01, 328.01, 338.01
• Concepts and Principles of Measurement
Understand and use U.S. customary and metric measurements.
319.01, 329.01, 339.01
• Concepts and Principles of Geometry
Apply concepts of size, shape, and spatial relationships.
321.01, 331.01, 341.01
Lori Purcell Homemaker
Grades 6, 7, 8
• Mathematical Reasoning and Problem Solving
Understand and use a variety of problem-solving skills.
318.01, 328.01, 338.01
Use reasoning skills to recognize problems and express them mathematically.
318.02, 328.02, 338.02
• Concepts and Principles of Measurement
Understand and use U.S. customary and metric measurements.
319.01, 329.01, 339.01
• Concepts and Principles of Geometry
Apply concepts of size, shape, and spatial relationships.
321.01, 331.01, 341.01
Dan Roman Construction Carpenter
Grades 7, 8, 9-12
• Mathematical Reasoning and Problem Solving
Understand and use a variety of problem-solving skills.
328.01, 338.01, 348.01
• Concepts and Principles of Measurement
Understand and use U.S. customary and metric measurements.
329.01, 339.01, 349.01
• Concepts and Principles of Geometry
Apply concepts of size, shape, and spatial relationships.
331.01, 341.01, 351.01
Apply the geometry of right triangles.
331.02, 341.02, 351.02
Hewlett-Packard Co. Current Product Manager (3)
Grades 7, 8
• Mathematical Reasoning and Problem Solving
Understand and use a variety of problem-solving skills.
328.01, 338.01
Use reasoning skills to recognize problems and express them mathematically.
328.02, 338.02
• Concepts and Principles of Measurement
Understand and use U.S. customary and metric measurements.
329.01, 339.01
• Concepts and Principles of Geometry
Apply concepts of size, shape, and spatial relationships.
331.01, 341.01
Hewlett-Packard Co. Electrician
Grades 7, 8, 9-12
• Mathematical Reasoning and Problem Solving
Understand and use a variety of problem-solving skills.
328.01, 338.01, 348.01
Use reasoning skills to recognize problems and express them mathematically.
328.02, 338.02, 348.02
• Concepts and Principles of Measurement
Understand and use U.S. customary and metric measurements.
329.01, 339.01, 349.01
• Concepts and Principles of Geometry
Apply concepts of size, shape, and spatial relationships.
331.01, 341.01, 351.01
Idaho Barns Job Estimator
Grades 7, 8
• Mathematical Reasoning and Problem Solving
Understand and use a variety of problem-solving skills.
328.01, 338.01
• Concepts and Principles of Measurement
Understand and use U.S. customary and metric measurements.
329.01, 339.01
• Concepts and Principles of Geometry
Apply concepts of size, shape, and spatial relationships.
331.01, 341.01
James Gipson Associates Architect
Grades 7, 8
• Basic Arithmetic, Estimation, and Accurate Computations
Understand and use numbers.
327.01, 337.01 Mathematical Reasoning and Problem Solving
Understand and use a variety of problem-solving skills.
328.01, 338.01
Use reasoning skills to recognize problems and express them mathematically.
328.02, 338.02
• Concepts and Principles of Measurement
Understand and use U.S. customary and metric measurements.
329.01, 339.01
• Concepts and Principles of Geometry
Apply concepts of size, shape, and spatial relationships.
331.01, 341.01
Apply the geometry of right triangles.
331.02, 341.02
Micron Technology, Inc. Technical Writer
Grades 7, 8
• Mathematical Reasoning and Problem Solving
Understand and use a variety of problem-solving skills.
328.01, 338.01
• Concepts and Principles of Measurement
Apply the concepts of ratios and proportions.
329.03, 339.03
• Concepts and Principles of Geometry
Apply concepts of size, shape, and spatial relationships.
331.01, 341.01
• Concepts and Language of Algebra
Use algebraic symbolism as a tool to represent mathematical relationships.
330.01, 340.01
Solve algebraic equations and inequalities.
330.03, 340.03
Midgley-Huber, Inc. Administrative Assistant & Sales
Grades 7, 8
• Mathematical Reasoning and Problem Solving
Understand and use a variety of problem-solving skills.
328.01, 338.01
Use reasoning skills to recognize problems and express them mathematically.
328.02, 338.02
• Concepts and Principles of Measurement
Understand and use U.S. customary and metric measurements.
329.01, 339.01
• Concepts and Principles of Geometry
Apply concepts of size, shape, and spatial relationships.
331.01, 341.01
MONROC Supervisor
Grades 7, 8
• Mathematical Reasoning and Problem Solving
Understand and use a variety of problem-solving skills.
328.01, 338.01
Use reasoning skills to recognize problems and express them mathematically.
328.02, 338.02
• Concepts and Principles of Measurement
Understand and use U.S. customary and metric measurements.
329.01, 339.01
• Concepts and Principles of Geometry
Apply concepts of size, shape, and spatial relationships.
331.01, 341.01
Pacific Star Cabinetry Carpenter
Grades 7, 8
• Mathematical Reasoning and Problem Solving
Understand and use a variety of problem-solving skills.
328.01, 338.01
• Concepts and Principles of Measurement
Understand and use U.S. customary and metric measurements.
329.01, 339.01
• Concepts and Principles of Geometry
Apply concepts of size, shape, and spatial relationships.
331.01, 341.01
Power Plus Inc. Electrician
Grades 7, 8
• Mathematical Reasoning and Problem Solving
Understand and use a variety of problem-solving skills.
328.01, 338.01
Use reasoning skills to recognize problems and express them mathematically.
328.02, 338.02
• Concepts and Principles of Measurement
Understand and use U.S. customary and metric measurements.
329.01, 339.01
• Concepts and Principles of Geometry
Apply concepts of size, shape, and spatial relationships.
331.01, 341.01
John Sawyer Excavation Excavator
Grades 8, 9-12
• Mathematical Reasoning and Problem Solving
Understand and use a variety of problem-solving skills.
338.01, 348.01
Use reasoning skills to recognize problems and express them mathematically.
338.02, 348.02
• Concepts and Principles of Geometry
Apply the geometry of right triangles.
341.02, 351.02
• Functions and Mathematical Models
Understand the concept of functions.
343.01, 353.01
Lamm Construction Building Contractor
Grades 8, 9-12
• Concepts and Principles of Geometry
Apply the geometry of right triangles.
341.02, 351.02
• Functions and Mathematical Models
Understand the concept of functions.
343.01, 353.01
Micron Technology, Inc. Plumber (1)
Grades 8, 9-12
• Mathematical Reasoning and Problem Solving
Understand and use a variety of problem-solving skills.
338.01, 348.01
Use reasoning skills to recognize problems and express them mathematically.
338.02, 348.02
• Concepts and Principles of Geometry
Apply the geometry of right triangles.
341.02, 351.02
Micron Technology, Inc. Engineer - Shrink (1)
Grades 8, 9-12
• Concepts and Language of Algebra
Use algebraic symbolism as a tool to represent mathematical relationships.
340.01, 350.01
Solve algebraic equations and inequalities.
340.03, 350.03
• Concepts and Principles of Geometry
Apply concepts of size, shape, and spatial relationships.
341.01, 351.01
Micron Technology, Inc. Engineer - Shrink (2)
Grades 8, 9-12
• Concepts and Language of Algebra
Use algebraic symbolism as a tool to represent mathematical relationships.
340.01, 350.01
Solve algebraic equations and inequalities.
340.03, 350.03
• Concepts and Principles of Geometry
Apply concepts of size, shape, and spatial relationships.
341.01, 351.01
U.S. Department of Interior Geologist
Grades 8, 9-12
• Mathematical Reasoning and Problem Solving
Understand and use a variety of problem-solving skills.
338.01, 348.01
Use reasoning skills to recognize problems and express them mathematically.
338.02, 348.02
• Concepts and Principles of Measurement
Understand and use U.S. customary and metric measurements.
339.01, 349.01
Apply dimensional analysis.
339.04, 349.04
• Concepts and Principles of Geometry
Apply concepts of size, shape, and spatial relationships.
341.01, 351.01
• Data Analysis, Probability, and Statistics
Understand data analysis.
342.01, 352.01
Apply simple statistical measurements.
342.03, 352.03
Make predictions or decisions based on data.
342.05, 352.05
Bureau of Land Management Geologist
Grades 9-12
• Mathematical Reasoning and Problem Solving
Understand and use a variety of problem-solving skills.
348.01
Use reasoning skills to recognize problems and express them mathematically.
348.02
Apply appropriate technology and models to find solutions to problems.
348.03
• Concepts and Principles of Measurement
Understand and use U.S. customary and metric measurements.
349.01
Apply dimensional analysis.
349.04
• Concepts and Principles of Geometry
Apply the geometry of right triangles.
351.02
• Data Analysis, Probability, and Statistics
Understand data analysis.
352.01
Apply simple statistical measurements.
352.03
Make predictions or decisions based on data.
352.05
C. Allen Residential Design Studio Architectural Technician
Grades 9-12
• Mathematical Reasoning and Problem Solving
Understand and use a variety of problem-solving skills.
348.01
• Concepts and Principles of Measurement
Understand and use U.S. customary and metric measurements.
349.01
Apply concepts of rates and other derived or indirect measurements.
349.02
Hewlett-Packard Co. Machinist
Grades 9-12
• Mathematical Reasoning and Problem Solving
Understand and use a variety of problem-solving skills.
348.01
• Concepts and Principles of Measurement
Understand and use U.S. customary and metric measurements.
349.01
• Concepts and Language of Algebra
Use algebraic symbolism as a tool to represent mathematical relationships.
350.01
Evaluate algebraic expressions.
350.02
• Concepts and Principles of Geometry
Apply graphing in two dimensions.
351.03
Idaho Farm Owner Owner/Manager
Grades 9-12
• Mathematical Reasoning and Problem Solving
Understand and use a variety of problem-solving skills.
348.01
Use reasoning skills to recognize problems and express them mathematically.
348.02
• Concepts and Principles of Measurement
Understand and use U.S. customary and metric measurements.
349.01
• Concepts and Principles of Geometry
Apply the geometry of right triangles.
351.02
Idaho Power Facility Representative
Grades 9-12
• Mathematical Reasoning and Problem Solving
Use reasoning skills to recognize problems and express them mathematically.
348.02
• Concepts and Language of Algebra
Use algebraic symbolism as a tool to represent mathematical relationships.
350.01
Evaluate algebraic expressions.
350.02
• Concepts and Principles of Geometry
Apply the geometry of right triangles.
351.02
J. Siding Lay-out Man
Grades 9-12
• Mathematical Reasoning and Problem Solving
Understand and use a variety of problem-solving skills.
348.01
Use reasoning skills to recognize problems and express them mathematically.
348.02
• Concepts and Principles of Measurement
Understand and use U.S. customary and metric measurements.
349.01
Apply concepts of rates and other derived or indirect measurements.
349.02
• Concepts and Principles of Geometry
Apply the geometry of right triangles.
351.02
Micron Technology Plumber (2)
Grades 9-12
• Mathematical Reasoning and Problem Solving
Understand and use a variety of problem-solving skills.
348.01
Use reasoning skills to recognize problems and express them mathematically.
348.02
• Concepts and Principles of Geometry
Apply the geometry of right triangles.
351.02