Mathematical Habits of Mind: Connections
Connections involves noticing and thinking about the connections between different math concepts, other math ideas, and the world around us. It's about looking for connections between math concepts in different areas, different contexts, and different ways of representing them. It also involves using what we know to solve more complex problems and see connections between different problems.
To develop this Mathematical Habit of Mind (MHoM), it's important that we recognize and use connections among math ideas, try to understand how they fit together, and build a strong network of understanding. It's also important to use the relationships between math concepts to generate solutions and make predictions. Overall, connections is a key MHoM in math that helps us see the bigger picture and understand how math connects to the world around us.
Connections between different math concepts can be noticed and applied to what we know to solve problems, allowing us to use math to make better decisions and understand the world around us. When planning a party for example, you need to order enough food to feed all of your guests. You use the mathematical concept of ratios to determine the correct amount of food to order based on the number of guests you expect. You also use the concept of proportions to adjust the amounts of different types of food based on the preferences of your guests. By noticing and reasoning about the connections between these two math concepts, you are able to effectively plan the amount of food to order for your party.