In your journal, you identified careers that involve irrational numbers. You brainstormed or researched jobs that use pi or Euler’s number to do their work.

Question

Imagine that your friend loves to plan parties, and he wants to be an event planner someday. He does not think he needs to know how to find a number between two rational numbers. He also says he will never use pi again in his life after math class. You think of some of the tasks he might need to do as an event planner:

Decide how many cakes to order when a party could have as few as 50 people and as many as 100 people.
Choose a round table that is the correct size to fit six people.
Make a prediction about how much to budget for the decorations at a party when the customer is still deciding between $10 floral arrangements and $30 floral arrangements.
In your post, explain to your friend how he will use the skill of finding a number between two rational numbers in his dream career:

Choose one of the examples from the list above, and represent the example with a mathematical statement.
Summarize to your friend why he will need both rational and irrational numbers as an event planner.

Answer 1

Dear Friend,

I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to talk to you about your ambition to become an event planner and share some insights regarding the importance of understanding how to find a number between two rational numbers in your dream career. While you may not think this skill is necessary, it actually plays a significant role in several aspects of event planning.

Let's take a closer look at one of the tasks you might encounter as an event planner. Imagine you have been assigned to decide how many cakes to order for a party that could have anywhere from 50 to 100 people attending. To make sure that you have enough cake for everyone, you need to find the right number that falls between these two rational numbers.

Mathematically, this can be represented as:

50 < number of cakes < 100

By finding a number between these two rational values, you can ensure that enough cake is available for all the party attendees without wasting any excess. This skill allows you to make informed decisions based on the specific circumstances of an event.

Now, let me emphasize the importance of both rational and irrational numbers in your career as an event planner. Rational numbers, such as the number of people attending a party or the cost of floral arrangements, provide you with clear and precise information that you can work with. These numbers help you make accurate calculations and decisions based on concrete data.

On the other hand, irrational numbers, like pi, will continue to play a role in your career as well. While it may seem unlikely that you'll need pi after math class, it is actually a fundamental constant used in various aspects of event planning. For example, when choosing a round table to accommodate six people, you'll need to consider the diameter of the table. Pi is involved in calculating the appropriate size so that everyone can comfortably sit around it.

Additionally, irrational numbers are commonly used in measurements and calculations related to aesthetics, such as determining the right proportions for decorations or spacing between elements in a venue. Having a grasp of irrational numbers will enable you to design visually appealing and harmonious event arrangements.

In conclusion, it's important to recognize the significance of finding numbers between two rational values and the continued relevance of irrational numbers, like pi, in your future career as an event planner. These mathematical skills will empower you to make well-informed decisions and create memorable and well-executed events.

I hope this explanation helps you understand the practical application of these mathematical concepts in your desired profession. If you have any further questions or need more clarification, please feel free to reach out.

Best regards,
[Your Name]