Thursday, March 14, 2024

I’ll Take That Slice of Pi

Math is all around us and is an essential skillset for the modern worker

By Robert Schmidt, Representative

Today, March 14, is known as Pi Day. This is because the month (3) and day (14) strung together sequentially are the first three digits of the number pi or π: 3.14.

Pi is an important mathematical concept. It describes the ratio of the circumference of a circle compared to its diameter. Furthermore, its digits don’t repeat and continue infinitely. Cool, eh?

Businesses of course have leapt onto this day as an opportunity to market a host of products including pizzas and pies. But besides getting a deal, Pi Day is also a great time to reflect on the importance of math, especially in our work. As a math major who works for a multisector union, I see firsthand how having a good handle on math can help workers in every industry imaginable.

First, every one of us earns a paycheque. Have you ever had to ensure your employer gave you the proper raise or your pension amounts were correct? Math skills.

How about understanding how marginal tax rates impact your earnings and that you don’t lose money by entering a higher tax bracket? More math skills.

And figuring out if you were paid overtime correctly on a weekly or daily basis? Again, math skills.

Is this starting to compute?

Second, every company uses numbers to ensure that they remain viable. Being able to budget, to determine such things as profit margins or the most effective shift cycles to get work done all involve a degree of mathematics. When your organization says they are doing poorly and can’t afford that raise, are you able to navigate their financials to verify?

Another major way that workers have been faced with math lately is calculating the cost of living. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) uses a host of numbers in the background to compute consumer inflation.

Do you know what the percentage increase reported means, how it impacts you, and how it compares to the annual average CPI, which many organizations use to determine increases? Can you calculate how your raises over the course of several years compare to the cost of living?

I often use this to show an employer how far behind inflation wages have fallen to make a case for an increase.

Finally, as someone who also helps to hire in our organization, I am faced with the prospect of determining if a candidate will be a good fit long term. Coming across employees who have worked with software tools such as spreadsheet programs or who have demonstrated math skills gives me a comfort level.

I know that they will likely be able to handle details, be strong at logical thinking, and most importantly have a degree of creative problem-solving skills to attack complex issues. These are all qualities that being adept at mathematics teaches.

So, the next time you are trying to determine if you really did get that five percent premium on top of your four percent raise or are asked to slice that pie or pizza into sixteenths at lunch break, remember that math is all around us and is an essential skillset for the modern worker. ? Go π go, π go, π go . . . (infinitely)!

I’ll Take That Slice of Pi

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