You know you are in the right field of study when you look at a complex problem and think “I may not know what the solution is yet but this is truly something amazing”. While most mathematicians may view this sentiment at one time in their academic career, being a mathematician does not necessarily mean the same thing to each mathematician. We all have our nuances and personal experiences and preferences that drive us to be who we are in the world and what skills we have honed to better ourselves. What I will discuss here is an overview of what type of mathematician I am and some of the highlights of my favorite applications.
To be a mathematician is to have a curious and persistent mindset. A lot of perseverance and creativity is needed to work through a complex problem. There is also an element of patience that one must practice. Just take a look at Fermat’s Last Theorem. A simple note in the sidelines of an old textbook sparked a 358-year quest to prove Fermat right. Being a mathematician means we will work on a problem until we come up with some sort of conclusion. The more complex a problem is the more collaboration is utilized in mathematics. Collaboration and communication are requirements to advance in necessary knowledge. Communication in mathematics has to be effective and precise. We have to get our ideas across to each other to voice our conjectures, express our confusions, and to explain our methods.
Think back to the last animated movie you saw. Was it computer generated? If so, you were looking at endless functions, dimensions, angles, and other countless aspects of mathematical modeling and programming that helped animators do their job to tell a story. Analytical thinking skills are needed to think about how to use functions to create realistic or non-realistic models. Mathematicians have to have this type of analytical thinking skills, not only to make a cute bunny seem so real you can feel the fur using functions, but also for the types of math that involve visualizing graphics, as in calculus and the third dimension or in graph theory and the composition of graphs. A certain abstract reasoning and a type of visual spatial awareness is also needed to help analyze diagrams and decide exactly how one point relates to another point in a graphical representation.
Technology is a wondrous tool that mathematicians can use in a number of fascinating ways. While mathematicians have the visual space in their head, knowing how to use programs like Mathematica, GeoGebra, and LaTeX is essential to put those thoughts into a tangible model that others can see. Whether it be using programs, creating programs, or building the electronic devices, mathematics is hardwired into technology. From Boolean Algebra to modular arithmetic, computers are made up of mathematical gateways that create a space for creating physical representations. The analytical thinking skills associated with computers are ones that determine what functions are necessary to operate and manage processes and information quickly and smoothly. After appreciating the content that goes into technology today, take a moment and thank mathematicians like Alan Turning and George Boole for all your computer related needs.
My love for mathematics goes beyond just wanting to understand and research new mathematical ideals. In appreciating the harmony in mathematics, I am compelled to help others better understand the patterns and irregularities that make up mathematics. The more abstract the math is, the more the feeling of accomplishment is sweet for the person understanding something, and for the one who feels proud they have influenced someone’s learning. Being a mathematician means having effective communication, being able to collaborate when things get rough, see the applications of what you work with, and having the passion to share a mathematical outlook with the world.
To be a mathematician is to have a curious and persistent mindset. A lot of perseverance and creativity is needed to work through a complex problem. There is also an element of patience that one must practice. Just take a look at Fermat’s Last Theorem. A simple note in the sidelines of an old textbook sparked a 358-year quest to prove Fermat right. Being a mathematician means we will work on a problem until we come up with some sort of conclusion. The more complex a problem is the more collaboration is utilized in mathematics. Collaboration and communication are requirements to advance in necessary knowledge. Communication in mathematics has to be effective and precise. We have to get our ideas across to each other to voice our conjectures, express our confusions, and to explain our methods.
Think back to the last animated movie you saw. Was it computer generated? If so, you were looking at endless functions, dimensions, angles, and other countless aspects of mathematical modeling and programming that helped animators do their job to tell a story. Analytical thinking skills are needed to think about how to use functions to create realistic or non-realistic models. Mathematicians have to have this type of analytical thinking skills, not only to make a cute bunny seem so real you can feel the fur using functions, but also for the types of math that involve visualizing graphics, as in calculus and the third dimension or in graph theory and the composition of graphs. A certain abstract reasoning and a type of visual spatial awareness is also needed to help analyze diagrams and decide exactly how one point relates to another point in a graphical representation.
Technology is a wondrous tool that mathematicians can use in a number of fascinating ways. While mathematicians have the visual space in their head, knowing how to use programs like Mathematica, GeoGebra, and LaTeX is essential to put those thoughts into a tangible model that others can see. Whether it be using programs, creating programs, or building the electronic devices, mathematics is hardwired into technology. From Boolean Algebra to modular arithmetic, computers are made up of mathematical gateways that create a space for creating physical representations. The analytical thinking skills associated with computers are ones that determine what functions are necessary to operate and manage processes and information quickly and smoothly. After appreciating the content that goes into technology today, take a moment and thank mathematicians like Alan Turning and George Boole for all your computer related needs.
My love for mathematics goes beyond just wanting to understand and research new mathematical ideals. In appreciating the harmony in mathematics, I am compelled to help others better understand the patterns and irregularities that make up mathematics. The more abstract the math is, the more the feeling of accomplishment is sweet for the person understanding something, and for the one who feels proud they have influenced someone’s learning. Being a mathematician means having effective communication, being able to collaborate when things get rough, see the applications of what you work with, and having the passion to share a mathematical outlook with the world.