Mathematics is often considered one of the most challenging subjects in school, but whether you enjoy the subject or not, it is a fundamental part of our everyday lives, and it is the language of science, technology, and engineering. From calculating the tip on a restaurant bill to designing the latest smartphone, mathematics is integral to many aspects of modern society.
However, its influence extends beyond just practical applications. Mathematics can also help us understand the deeper complexities of the world, such as patterns in nature, social dynamics, and economic systems.
In this article, we'll explore the importance of mathematics in the modern world, including its relevance in everyday life, business, as well as science and technology. We'll also discuss the change in how the subject is perceived in nowadays in comparison to before.
Why Is Maths Important?
Maths is a field of study that drives progress across some of the most innovative industries out there and is also used to solve some of the biggest issues we are faced with today.
🌍 Solving Global Issues
👩🔬 Technological Progression
📈 Business Efficiency
For instance, we can all agree that one of the biggest problems that faces the world today is the climate crisis.
Well, mathematics is likely one of the tools that will help us to navigate and hopefully solve this problem.
Maths is being used to help us understand climate change dynamics by analysing global warming effects on Earth's climate patterns.
It is Maths that has brought order to the communities across this planet and prevented chaos and catastrophes.
Many of our inherited human qualities are nurtured and developed by Maths theories, like our spatial awareness, our problem-solving skills, our power to reason (which involves calculated thinking) and even our creativity and communication.
| Sector | Number of Jobs (2023) | Female Representation | Notable Math Skills in Demand |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEM (Overall) | 9.4 million | 25% | Statistics, Calculus, Linear Algebra, Probability |
| Critical Technologies | 2.6 million | 23% | Quantum Mathematics, Algorithm Design, Cryptography |
| Programming | 585,000 | 15% | Discrete Mathematics, Logic, Number Theory |
| Business and Finance | 1,170,000 | 46% (for Actuaries, Economists, Statisticians) | Financial Mathematics, Statistical Analysis, Probability Theory |
| Engineering | 540,000 | 8% (for Engineering Technicians) | Applied Mathematics, Differential Equations, Numerical Analysis |
You can see from the table above how maths skills are required across a number of industries across the UK, each requiring knowledge of different topics and mathematical concepts.
You can also see the female representation in each sector, a number that has been growing at an incredible rate in light of the changed perception of the subject, something we'll discuss further at the end of the article!
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Application of Mathematics in the Modern World
It is only with an understanding of the different topics that make up the subject of mathematics that you begin to see it in the world around you.
It’s no wonder why the GCSE and A-level curricula have been amended in recent times to help students develop practical mathematical skills that prepare them for their future careers and everyday life.
At its core, math is about problem-solving and critical thinking. It teaches us to analyze data, identify patterns, and develop creative solutions to complex problems. These skills are essential in today's fast-paced, data-driven world and are highly valued in many industries, including finance, healthcare, and technology.
Nowadays, Maths is used in more areas than you may have even considered. The next time you hit the road in your car or take the bus, if you take a look out the window, you’ll see that it has even been used in designing infrastructure like roads or bridges and managing systems such as power grids.
If you have your eyes peeled the next time you find yourself in an office, you’ll likely notice its influence on business strategies.
As a maths student or someone interested in learning more about the subject, when you think about its applications or where you might be able to work if you were to earn a maths degree, there are likely a handful of sectors that come to mind, right?
Well, you may be a little shocked to learn that in today’s day and age even governments use mathematic models to shape policies and address social justice issues effectively.
The more you begin to see the application of mathematics in the modern world, you’ll begin to see the importance of the subject and how crucial it is for students to pursue qualifications in the subject.
The Ubiquity of Mathematics in Daily Life
Now that we have covered the application of mathematics in the contemporary working world, you may be just as surprised to hear about the role of maths in everyday life. Without thinking twice about it, you likely use maths to some extent every single day.
So, by improving your math skills, not only will you be setting your sights on some exciting career prospects, but it will also help you navigate your daily life.
Mathematics plays a crucial role in our daily lives, from managing finances, making shopping decisions, and effectively organising our schedules!
You can use a variety of the different topics that make up mathematics across different aspects of your life, as each topic has its own respective use case. Say you’re talking a morning stroll to the shops and you are strook with a strong sense of curiosity as to how tall a street light is, well you can use maths to figure it out.
All you’d need to do is remember back to your geometry classes and pull out the log tables. By measuring your distance from the street light and using an angle finder to get the angle of elevation, you could form a simple equation to solve for the height and put your curiosity to rest!
Had a bad fall? Medical imaging can be used to determine any fractures with an x-ray, developed using maths, or an MRI scan, which exists thanks to calculus.
You don’t neeed to be a maths wizard in order to see it’s applications in every day life. As an added bonus, maths is a great way to play the odds in poker and come out the winner!
Even some of the preliminary teachings of the subject such as addition, subtraction and times tables come in handy can with your shopping and budgeting. When you are walking through the aisles of the supermarket, these skills can be used when comparing prices, computing discounts, or estimating your expenses.
If you find yourself stuck deciding between putting a bag containing six apples for £4.50 or apples at £0.80 in your trolly, then a quick calculation of the per unit price will help you arrive at the most cost-effective option!
Through these few examples, we can see the extent of mathematics in our daily life, on individual, societal, planetary and galactic scales.
Mathematics in Science and Technology
When you start studying maths at school, you’ll likely hear a great deal about its importance in STEM fields.
From analysing data to driving progress, the subject serves as a driver behind many of the everyday innovations we encounter. This is evident from the focus placed on maths across most science courses here in the UK and beyond.
- Data analysis: Scientists use mathematical tools to analyze data and identify patterns and trends. This is crucial for making accurate predictions and understanding complex systems.
- Modelling: Mathematical models allow scientists to simulate real-world phenomena, such as climate change or the spread of disease. These models can help us understand the impact of different variables and predict how the system will behave in the future.
- Quantitative reasoning: Math helps scientists think logically and systematically, making it easier to design experiments, interpret results, and draw conclusions.
One of the fastest growing implementations of mathematics over the past decade would be in data analysis, where statistical models are instrumental in summarising, interpreting and drawing conclusions from otherwise meaningless sheets of data.
They use regression analysis models to establish connections between variables, making them ideal for trend analysis and forecasting!
The probability chapter of your maths book has more applications than calculating the chances of a coin flip, helping to grasp randomness and uncertainty within datasets and enabling us to make informed decisions.
The subject is also central to innovation, seeing as the topic of linear algebra is heavily leaned on when it comes to machine learning principles fueling data analysis and artificial intelligence efforts.
For biologists, it is also used to further our understanding of the dynamics between predator-pray relations and enhance conservation efforts. The predicted course of a pandemic is also determined by studying the pathogen's rate of transmission. It's even useful for doing homework or revising for a maths exam! The list of uses is endless.
Mathematics is very much the focal point when it come to computer science and programming domains, where basic arithmetic operations like addition and multiplication lay the groundwork for computer functions.
Of course it can get a lot more complicated than this when it comes to the more advanced computer algorithms such as searching and sorting are developed based on some of the more challaning concepts such as graph theory and recursion.
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The Impact of Mathematics on Business and Economy
Given that the focus of businesses it to maximise profits and satisfy their shareholders, it’s no wonder why mathematics is used in order to enhance efficiency and squeeze out a competitive advantage over competitors.
In fact, it is used across a variety of areas in the business world, helping companies make informed decisions through conducting analysis, market research and economic modelling.
- Statistics: Businesses use statistics to analyze data and make informed decisions. This can include everything from market research to forecasting sales.
- Accounting: Accountants use math to prepare financial statements, balance budgets, and ensure compliance with tax laws.
- Investing: Investors use math to analyze market trends and make investment decisions. This can include calculating risk and return, analyzing stock prices, and predicting market movements.
While it might be a topic that most students roll their eyes at the sight of, calculus is used to analyse the rate of change in variables, which helps assess investment risks a great deal.
Linear algebra is also used to create models that represent investment portfolio performance effectively by determining the optimal strategy when it comes to maximising returns while minimising risks.
One of the main things that dictates whether a company is successful or not is its understanding of its target consumer and how they go about targeting them.
Mathematics serves to mend the gap when it comes to analysing and interpreting data sets that have been from primary research methods.
No matter how long you spend staring at a page of consumer data that you’ve collected, you could never surface the trends and patterns that statistical methods are capable of shedding light on.
Even when it comes to managing a company, it can be used to monitor the output of various teams within the business to determine if resources are being used efficiently and setting attainable targets for employees to hit.
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Why Is Maths Important In Professions?
Maths allows us to make calculated decisions, create, construct and progress. The best way to drive home how important the subject is to show you a list of possible jobs you could pursue with strong maths skills.
Below is a recap of just some of the industries and related posts that you could be working in if you pursue Maths as a subject to a high degree.
| Sector | Role |
|---|---|
| Financial | Accountant Actuary Banker Analyst Statistician |
| Engineering | Computer engineer Mechanic |
| Science | Researcher Statistician Meteorologist |
| IT | Computer engineer Designer |
| Medical | Doctor Nurse |
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What is the Modern View of Mathematics?
With an abundance of applications of the subject in the world around us, it’s only natural that the perception of the subject in today’s day and age has seen a significant change from how it was once viewed as an abstract system.
This change in attitude is even noticeable in education, where there has been a surge of students pursuing the subject at the third level.
This can be attributed to both the subject being viewed in a more positive light among learners, the increase in the application of its learnings and the career prospects that come with attaining a maths degree. Of course, the many maths equations that changed the world also have a part to play in this!
In the past, mathematics was often considered abstract and disconnected from use. Fast forward to today, the viewpoint has changed to understand that maths is deeply connected to experiences and solving real-world problems. It's an area that keeps expanding and evolving, welcoming new concepts and methods.
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