Basic Math for the Workplace

24 Hours / Access Length: 180 Days / Delivery: Online, Self-Paced

Course Overview:

In today's economy, working professionals are required to possess a wide array of skills in order to successfully complete tasks assigned to them. Whether they are front-line employees or owners of a company, business mathematics is an important skill to acquire. In this course, students will learn workplace math skills used on a daily basis. This includes the review of basic arithmetic skills, bank services, payroll, and the buying and selling of goods and services.

Students will:

  • Gain an understanding of arithmetic fundamentals - including whole numbers, decimals, fractions, percents, and equations
  • Accurately explain and apply the concept of PEMDAS, a common tool for doing calculations
  • Review core business math skills to efficiently operate a business (e.g. bank services, payroll, product procurement)

Course Outline:

Lesson 1: Arithmetic Basics

In order to gain the fundamentals of different math concepts used in the workplace, one must have a firm understanding of basic concepts. This lesson takes walks students through a comprehensive review of the foundations of workplace math: whole numbers, decimals, fractions, and percents. To successfully complete the course, one will need to study these carefully so everything else going forward will be easier to learn.

Lesson 2: Equations and Formulas

Building on the foundation from the previous lesson, equations and formulas are, by far, the most important techniques used in workplace math on a day-to-day basis. Decisions made at a company are dependent on the results of the outcomes of these calculations. Knowing how to do them properly is critical to the success of a business and often more than people know. In this lesson, students will gain comprehension on how to set up equations and formulas using data provided and through critical thinking skills. One of the most important takeaways from this lesson is the Order of Operations (or also known as PEMDAS) as all equations depend on this technique to obtain accurate answers. Additionally, various types of equations will be explored that are likely to be used in the workplace each day.

Lesson 3: Basic Business Operations

What is the main goal of a business? This question may seem trivial in the grand scheme of things but of course, it is to make a profit and be successful. In order to do that, a company needs to have a place to put money earned from their customers or clients and pay expenses. This lesson reviews workplace math concepts that strictly focus on bank services and payroll. Bank services aren't just putting money into an account. Rather, it is a little more complex than that. Payroll, often one of the biggest expenses, is an important concept to understand as well so proper compensation can be given to all that work for a business.

Lesson 4: Mathematics of Buying and Selling

Funds flowing through a business much like water going down a stream. In order to make those funds that are deposited into bank accounts, goods and services have to be sold to customers to clients. In this lesson, students will gain knowledge of the mathematics of buying and selling. Students should pay special attention to different discounts and dating methods that can be used to calculate net costs that customers may pay and revenues the business is apt to receive when a transaction closes.

All necessary course materials are included.

System Requirements:

Internet Connectivity Requirements:
  • Cable and DSL internet connections are recommended for the best experience.
Hardware Requirements:
  • CPU: 1 GHz or higher
  • RAM: 2 GB or higher
  • Resolution: 1280 x 720 or higher
  • Speakers / Headphones
  • Microphone (Webinar / Live Online sessions)
Operating System Requirements:
  • Microsoft Windows 7 or 10 (Home, Pro)
  • Mac OSX 10 or higher.
  • Latest Chrome OS
  • Latest Linux Distributions

NOTE: While we understand that our courses can be viewed on Android and iPhone devices, we do not recommend the use of these devices for our courses. The size of these devices do not provide a good learning environment for students taking online or live online based courses.

Web Browser Requirements:
  • Latest Google Chrome is recommended for the best experience.
  • Latest Mozilla FireFox
  • Latest Microsoft Edge
  • Latest Apple Safari
Basic Software Requirements (These are recommendations of software to use):
  • Office suite software (Microsoft Office, OpenOffice, or LibreOffice)
  • PDF reader program (Adobe Reader, FoxIt)
  • Courses may require other software that is denoted in the above course outline.