When it comes to math, students in Taiwan must have quite a lot to say.
It is a required subject in K-12 school curriculum, and it is included in
significant entrance exams. Now, with the implementation of the so-called
"108 new curriculum guidelines," senior high school students are faced with
the choice between "Math A" (mainly for natural science and medicine majors)
and "Math B" (mainly for humanities and social science majors). Despite the
rough distiction, some departments in school of business or management choose
Math A as an assessment tool. That's why some humanities and social science
majors who decide to major in business-related areas are worried that they
may not have advantages over natural science majors in terms of math.
As can be expected, math may be a nighmare to many students. I even had a
nightmare where I found my calculus was flunked. In the dream, somehow I
suddenly realized that well, this is just a dream. I am now a college student
in the field of liberal arts, and math is no longer required. Then, I was once
again embraced by slumber with relief.
With that being said, math has its undeniable usage. In films like _A Beautiful
Mind_ and _Hidden Figures_, we see the influence of math on economics and
space technology. Permutation, combination, and probability are also essential
in our daily life. Besides these pragmatic concerns, math has its own glamor.
It can be a way of thinking and observing the world. Presumably in the near
future, people can deal with complex interpersonal relationships with a certain
adaptive function. Who can tell?