The Mathematics of Everyday Life

Course Overview

Course No. 40030

What good is math in our daily lives? Professor Mohamed Omar of Harvey Mudd College shows how basic math skills can solve real-world problems in personal finance, health, and social action. Using only high school math concepts, this practical 12-lesson course helps you:

• Plan for retirement and college savings
• Decide whether to rent or buy housing
• Optimize weight loss and diet plans
• Reduce your environmental impact
• Detect financial fraud and gerrymandering
• Divide assets fairly among heirs

Video Lectures

01: The Magic of Compound Interest (31 min)

Discover why Einstein called compound interest “the eighth wonder of the world.” Learn retirement planning strategies and why average returns can mislead.

02: How Mortgages Really Work (28 min)

Compare 15-year vs. 30-year mortgages, analyze payment formulas, and weigh renting vs. buying costs.

03: How to Get Out of Credit Card Debt (27 min)

Understand compound interest’s dark side for borrowers and strategies to eliminate credit card balances.

04: The Real Cost of Commuting (29 min)

Calculate true commuting costs including real estate prices, vehicle expenses, and psychological impacts.

05: Understanding Your Health Data (30 min)

Interpret BMI, blood pressure, and medical statistics while recognizing Simpson’s paradox in treatment data.

06: The Math of Environmental Friendliness (32 min)

Calculate your carbon footprint and compare the impact of recycling, driving, and air travel.

07: Health and Life Insurance Wisdom (29 min)

Compare term vs. whole life insurance and HMO vs. PPO health plans using mathematical analysis.

08: Optimizing Your Diet through Math (25 min)

Use math to create weight loss plans by calculating metabolic rates and balancing macronutrients.

09: Making Great Estimates with Little Data (27 min)

Apply Fermi estimation techniques and normal distribution analysis to solve problems with limited information.

10: The First-Digit Law and Fraud Spotting (32 min)

Use Benford’s Law and logarithmic analysis to detect financial fraud and election cheating.

11: Voter Math and Gerrymandering (31 min)

Measure gerrymandering with Polsby-Popper scores and efficiency gap calculations.

12: Dividing a Cake or Inheritance Fairly (27 min)

Learn mathematical methods for equitable asset division using geometric techniques.