The Mathematics Laboratory is a place, rich in manipulative material, to which children have ready access to handle them, perform mathematical experiments, play mathematical games, solve mathematical puzzles and become involved in other activities. A mathematics laboratory is activity-centred; the child is placed in the problem-solving situation and through self-exploration and discovery, he or she provides a solution based on his or her experience, needs, and interests.
Mathematics is essential in many fields, including natural science, engineering, medicine, finance and the social sciences. Applied mathematics has led to entirely new mathematical disciplines, such as statistics and game theory.