Ethnomathematics

Ethnomathematics is when people from different cultures use math for different purposes, and sometimes, they even use different methods or systems to solve problems that are important in their community. It is like having different tools in your toolbox to fix things, but some people have more tools than others, and they are better at using them in a certain way.

For example, let's say your grandma is from a tribe in South America. She does not use the same number system as you do, then say, counting 1,2,3,4… Instead, she might count using the fingers of her hands and feet, or even the steps between trees on a path. She might also have a different way of measuring time or distance, using the sun, the moon or the stars.

That does not mean your grandma is not good at math - on the contrary, she possesses a unique form of mathematical knowledge that is essential to her community, like calculating crop yields, trading goods or navigating through the forest. This type of math is passed down through generations, much like a family recipe, and it varies from culture to culture around the world.

So, ethnomathematics is a way of recognizing and valuing diverse forms of mathematics, and incorporating them in education, research, and society. By doing so, we can learn from each other and appreciate the beauty and richness of mathematics across cultures.