10 Ways we Use Geometry in Real Life

POSTED ON JULY 4, 2011 BY ADMIN

When we are in the middle of our school years, we often wonder why we have to learn all this information, that ‘we are never going to use’. For some of us, geometry was one of those classes where we simply didn’t see the point of learning the formulas related to cubes and triangles and circles. However, if we look around us, we see that geometry is being used all the time during our everyday lives.

Sewing – When preparing to do a sewing project, the first thing you need to calculate is how manysquare yards of fabric that you are going to need. Without a knowledge of geometry, you aren’t going to be able to make that calculation.
Floor cover – Carpet and vinyl flooring are also sold by the square yard. You’ll need to be able to calculate the total square footage of your room and then convert it into square yards in order to order the correct amount.
Lawn work – If you plan to plant grass seed or apply fertilizer to your lawn, you’ll find that the bags will provide you with a measurement of square foot coverage. You will have to determine the number of square feet in your yard in order to calculate the number of bags you’ll need to buy.
Concrete – If you’re planning to pour a concrete slab, you’ll definitely need your geometry. Concrete is sold by the cubic yard. You’ll need to know the formula necessary to calculate the number of cubic yards needed for that 12 ft. x 12 ft. x 4 inch slab. Can you do that?
Roofing – Shingles are sold by the ‘square’. One square of shingles covers 100 square feet. Again, you’ll need to know how many square feet of roof you need to cover, in order to purchase the right amount of shingles.
Carpentry – Door trim needs to be mitered at the proper angles. Square footage calculations are being done on a regular basis. Corners need to be ‘square’ and walls need to be ‘plumb’. All of these things involve geometry.
Furniture – Buying and placement of furniture also requires some geometry calculations. How much area do we have to place the couch in? Is there really room for that corner hutch?
Luggage – Depth x height x width = square area. Yes, even calculating the correct size of your suitcases to take on the airplane requires geometry.
Appliances – Refrigerators and freezers are listed by cubic footage for the storage capacity. If you don’t know what a cubic foot means, then this information becomes useless jargon to you.
Egress windows – Bedrooms are required by code in most places to have an egress sized window. If you ask for the definition of what constitutes an egress window, you’ll be given a size of an opening. This answer won’t mean much to you if you don’t understand basic geometry.