Real-Life Math
Audiometric technicians record sound waves and patterns using computers. Generally, the technicians don't need to actually do the math required to produce the sound waves. But it's important that they understand the math.
"Math skills are not typically used much," says Dean Harris. He is an instructor of audiometric testing. "It may be used to help read results and to set up the tests."
At a job site, technicians may need to know what sounds are in an environment. A computer can calculate the frequency of these noises. But it's important to know the calculation that is used to determine the frequency of a sound.
This information is needed because some frequencies can be damaging to a person's hearing.
How to calculate the frequency of a sound:
f = 1 / t
f = frequency, which is measured in hertz
t = period of time. Sound is recorded in something called sine waves. A time period in a wave is the distance from 1 peak of the wave to the next.
If the noise being recorded shown on the screen takes 0.5 seconds to get from 1 peak of the wave to the next, what is the frequency of the noise?