Money Math

Background

Investigating the Link between Mathematical Literacy and Financial Well-being 

You can’t turn on the news without hearing about mortgages, credit, or the economy. Mortgages seem to be ground zero for the massive credit crunch, and mortgages are heavily based in math. The researchers are interested in determining whether or not an individual’s understanding of mathematics has any impact on the financial decisions they make. Accordingly, the researchers created a study in which participants will take a standardized math exam as well as a comprehensive financial survey. The data will be thoroughly analyzed for any correlations and links that exist. 

The researchers hypothesize that superior mathematical literacy correlates with better financial health. If the data supports this conclusion, efforts can be made to educate the community about this connection, and that knowledge can act as a motivator for people to pursue better mathematical literacy or at least be more careful with their financial decisions.