As a refrigeration technician, how important is an understanding of basic mathematical relationships? In my opinion, very important. It makes a technician a better technician.
There are many times we, as technicians, rely on math to help us understand the operation of an HVAC system. We use it to properly size and install equipment and, many times, troubleshoot common problems. We don’t need to be math scholars, but we do need to be able to understand basic mathematical principles and solve equations. We need to know how to work with fractions, decimals, squares, and square roots. Understanding algebra, geometry, and trigonometry is also extremely beneficial. Algebra can help us rework a formula to solve a problem. Geometry and trigonometry can help us install equipment more precisely by allowing us to work with slopes and angles.