Kate [Loop] Hannon
[Originally published as Math, Christmas Lights, & the Creator]
Watching Christmas light shows has become a holiday tradition for many. But few of us stop to think of all the math that goes into these spectacular displays.
Strands per Outlet, or Lights per Circuit
When hanging a lot of lights, you want to make sure you don’t blow a circuit! Bonfe offers this formula to help you figure out how many strands can go in each outlet:
# of strands = circuit amperage ÷ strand amperage.
We could also use algebra to write the same thing like this:
n = c/s or y = z/x
We’re just using letters to stand for the different values, and a fraction to stand for division. Other people remind us it is safer to stay at no more than 80% of the lights your circuit can handle. This adds the aspect of thinking in percentages!
Timing
Syncing music with a light show requires the kind of precision only possible by using various software programs. These use math to determine when to turn the different effects and lights on and off during the different moments in the show. This adds programming the time in seconds to sync the lights with the music!
Cost & Number
The financial cost of Christmas decorations can add up fast! Setting a budget and keeping track of how much money is spent uses addition and subtraction as well as some rounding skills to keep an approximate total in the store.
And how many lights do you need to decorate that garage anyway? Math can help you answer that!
Remember…
As you drive by the Christmas light displays this year, remember you are seeing how math applies outside of a textbook. Even artistic displays require mathematical help.
More importantly, let’s think about why math applies
How can we even know how many amps a string of light will require? It’s because electricity operates in a consistent fashion.
Why?
Because God created and sustains an orderly universe.
And that same Creator and Sustainer became a man to make a way for us to know Him by paying for our sin Himself.
Now that’s something to remember this Christmas and always.
