The World of Work in Maths

The renowned mathematician Loo-Keng Hua once said, "Maths is everywhere, from the grand cosmos to the tiniest particles, from the speed of rockets to the intricacies of chemistry, from the changes of our planet to the mysteries of biology, and to the tools for daily chores." 

Mathematics is intricately intertwined with almost every subject and has a profound connection to our daily lives. Whether it's calculating prices during shopping, creating train schedules, or even launching spacecraft, mathematics permeates numerous aspects of our existence. 

While many are aware of the broad applications of maths in natural sciences, economics, and social sciences, few realise that designing a cake or composing a piece of music may also entail mathematical wisdom. 

Maths can be found in food, music, and economics. 

On April 29th, BBSG invited three experts from different industries to take our students on a journey into a mathematical world beyond textbooks in a World of Work workshop. (World of Work, or “WOW”, is one of the four Signature Programmes at BBSG).  

The importance of maths is indisputable. Despite examination purposes, is maths still useful? Is maths not only rational but also romantic and artistic? Through this workshop, we aim to help BBSG students discover more perspectives on "Why we learn maths?" beyond grades. 

The cylinder, force, vectors, and equilibrium in a cake 

A typical cake may involve fundamental solid geometry and familiar shapes such as cylinders and cubes. However, crafting more intricate cakes often demands a command over advanced concepts like quadrangular prisms, spheres, irregular geometric shapes, and even higher-level mathematical and scientific principles such as force, vectors, and equilibrium. 

* A cake in the shape of BBSG Primary building

Yvette from Hong Kong is a talented individual who excels both as an architect and a cake designer. She has earned a reputation as the finest cake designer within the realm of architecture. It comes as no surprise that her extensive knowledge serves as a solid foundation for the creation of her vibrant and breathtaking cakes. 

* Designed by Yvette

It is her flexible grasp of mathematical and physical principles, along with artistic innovation that elevates Yvette's cakes beyond mere edible treats to astonishing, admirable pieces of art that you can even interact with. 

"It's not just cake design; mathematical principles may also be applied in other artistic realms," Yvette shared with BBSG students, emphasising the infinite possibilities that come with learning maths. 

* Ms Yvette sharing her story at BBSG

Logical thinking, the greatest value of learning maths 

Mr Dai Jun, a financial science writer for kids and author of the bestselling book The Amusing Economics on Campus, is also an animation scriptwriter. 

Marx once said that science can only be regarded as a true science when it successfully uses maths. Maths provides a rigorous theoretical foundation for economics. In return, mathematical models are widely used to explain economic phenomena. 

After graduating from Sun Yat-sen University with a major in management, Mr Dai Jun devoted himself to creating educational finance books that children could understand, offering children the chance to learn about the basic principles of economics from a young age.

* Mr Dai Jun sharing his story at BBSG

Jun Dai told the students that studying economics requires an understanding of advanced maths, and researching economics needs the application of various mathematical tools. "If you want to better understand the world, you’ll need a bit more knowledge and training in maths." 

During his days as a student, Jun Dai also grappled with maths, spending a week tirelessly solving a difficult problem. The moment he arrived at the correct answer, the significance of learning maths became more than improving grades; it was a sense of self-achievement. 

Mr Dai Jun vividly demonstrated how to use mathematical logic to uncover scams and consider animation budgets. He believes that nurturing and honing logical reasoning skills is the utmost value of mathematics. Thus, maths holds a position of importance not merely as a tool, but as an indispensable component of a well-rounded individual. 

Maths in music? 

Three advices for life from a musician

Mr Deng Cheng, a Tsinghua University graduate, former finance director at P&G, and musician, exemplifies the infinite possibilities of interdisciplinary talents once again. 

Mr Deng Cheng took the stage with a guitar and led our students into a mathematical music world that many are unaware of. 

* Mr Deng Cheng sharing his story at BBSG

The three major elements of music - melody, rhythm, and harmony – actually adhere to mathematical principles. From the geometric progressions in beats to the arithmetic progressions in harmonies, the allure of music encompasses not only its artistic beauty but also its mathematical elegance. 

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree, Mr Deng Cheng once worked in finance and learned the importance of mathematical knowledge on the job. This motivated him to overcome mathematical obstacles in his postgraduate studies and rise as a maths expert in the eyes of his peers. 

Mr Deng Cheng is the author of hit songs like "When the Spring Breeze Blows" for singer Hacken Lee and "Handsome Boy Diary" for Yichun Shan. He also has his own music company. What’s the story behind the transformation from a finance director to a successful musician? 

Mr Deng Cheng wholeheartedly shared his journey with BBSG students, offering them three "nuggets" of wisdom: Find what you truly love and pursue professional excellence in it, never give up, be result-oriented and boldly seize opportunities. 

World of Work (“WOW”) at BBSG: 

Breaking the boundaries of education 

The three pieces of advice for life shared by Mr Deng Cheng resonate with BBSG's core values: "Purpose," "Courage," and "Talent." We encourage students to find their passions, bravely pursue their dreams, and become outstanding talents. 

* Q&A session with BBSG students

We believe that when "passion meets purpose," every child can create unlimited possibilities in their lives. 

As one of BBSG's four Signature Programmes, the World of Work (WOW), in collaboration with the Education Hub of CTF Education Group (CTFEG), breaks the boundaries of school walls and offers unlimited learning opportunities outside the classroom. It enables students to go from textbooks to the real world, drawing from both academic knowledge and industry insights. 

Connected with high-quality resources from various industries, WOW allows BBSG students to visit university laboratories, hospitals, art institutions, biological farms, automobile factories, and more. Through project-based learning and other pedagogies, students have the chance to explore the real workings of the world, engage with experts and professionals face-to-face, discover the true meaning of learning, and ignite their passion for their learning and future careers. 

* BBSG Honourable Principal Dr Wang and Chinese Principal Ms Shen presenting the BBSG "WOW" (World of World) Mentorship Certificate to Ms Li, Mr Dai and Mr Deng

How do we teach maths at BBSG? 

Hidden in food, music, and economics, maths can be fun in unexpected ways. 

Hidden in food, music, and economics, maths can be fun in unexpected ways. 

"Only with a solid foundation can maths be linked and applied to other disciplines," explained Dr Wang Dianjun. In terms of teaching language, BBSG teachers use students' first language to teach maths, ensuring thorough understanding. While bilingual maths classes are provided for primary school students, they become fully English-based in Junior Secondary school. Our goal is for students to truly understand concepts, master core principles, and possess transferable skills to solve mathematical problems. 

* Dr Wang Dianjun was sharing BBSG Maths Pedagogy

"Practice makes perfect," said Dr Wang Dianjun. More importantly, students are encouraged and guided by teachers to overcome their fear of maths and develop an interest in maths from real-world scenarios.