Real-Life Math
Computers have transformed this field and made the day-to-day math work a lot easier. But you still have to understand the principles behind the math.
"It is the analytical thinking that is taught in math courses that is more important than specific skills taught in math," says designer Wendie Siverts.
Industrial designer Yani Roumeliotis gives an example of how math can still trip you up in your work.
"Very early on in my design career, I was working for a metal manufacturer," he says.
"On 1 item, a measuring mistake of 1 inch meant that a series of 20 or more units had to be reworked at extra expense, losing profitability. I of course admitted the mistake, but it again taught me that double- and triple-checking is the rule, apart from the fancy stuff designers do. We are responsible for making and planning products that work right from the manufacturing level."
You are working on a project where you have to design 3 racks to display canned cat food in the same 3-yard space in 10 stores. How wide would the racks each have to be to fit into that space with a 1.5-inch gap around the middle rack and at each end?