For as long as there have been civilizations, mathematics has been a driving force of change. From practical advancements that help to aid society to the theoretical developments that allow us to ponder the very nature of reality, mathematics has played a critical role in furthering innovation and discovery around the world. In this article, we’ll look at how math has helped to shape the world in which we live.
1. Mathematics in Physics and Astronomy
Mathematics forms a fundamental basis for physics and astronomy, allowing scientists to model and understand the physical universe. The equations and formulae of mathematics provide the building blocks for understanding the behaviour of matter, energy, forces and physical constants.
From the ancient Greeks to Einstein, Isaac Newton and Stephen Hawking, mathematical equations have helped change the way humanity understands the universe and our place within it. At a most basic level, this includes our understanding of motion and the interplay of gravity and acceleration. Thanks to mathematical modelling and equations, we now understand how the sun, other planets and stars operate, how the universe is expanding, the concept of dark energy, and the likely fate of the universe.
Mathematics has come in handy for engineering feats such as landing the Curiosity Rover on Mars and, more generally, for the exploration of space. Furthermore, mathematics plays a role in quantum mechanics. Here scientists use mathematics to model the probability and properties of sub-atomic particles and forces.
Due to our increased understanding of nature’s fundamental components and forces, this in-turn has led to the invention of a variety of ever-advancing technologies, such as LED lighting, medical imaging, and mobile phones.
2. Mathematics in Economics and Finance
Mathematics has a vital role to play in economics and finance, helping to pave the way to financial breakthroughs and market trends. Traders and investors use mathematics to better understand stocks and market movements, and to develop algorithms that can interpret and even predict the market.
Math is also critical for funding, creating risk profiles and calculating acceptable losses. Mathematics helps individuals, companies and banks to make wiser investments with greater returns. Mathematics also helps to understand economic behaviour and financial markets.
At a micro-level, this includes the study of consumer preferences, purchases and decision-making—a field known as behavioural economics. At a macro-level, economic mathematics is applicable for understanding the global economic activity, exploring big data to generate insights, and integrating financial markets.
In addition, mathematics is the driving force behind modern banking systems, automatic teller machines, and the technologies that allow for digital payments, transfers, crypto-currencies, and other financial technologies. Essential elements of economics and finance, such as pricing, taxation, and even the global trade system, require the understanding of mathematical equations and algorithms to carry out successfully.
3. Mathematics in Technology and Computing
The words “math” and “technology” have long been intertwined. From Isaac Newton to Charles Babbage and Alan Turing, mathematics has played a defining role in the development of modern computing.
Algebra, calculus, geometry and even basic arithmetic are applicable to programming and software design, forming the basis of app development, game development, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. Mathematics is also at the heart of robotics, where algorithms help designers to create autonomous machines such as self-driving cars and robots that are more responsive and self-sufficient. Math-driven modelling is at the foundation of 3D printing, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence (AI), and is used to power facial recognition technology, motion detection systems, and facial mapping.
Furthermore, due to our increased understanding of mathematics, modern-day networks, wired and wireless, overall benefit from faster transmission speeds and greater capacity. This is due to mathematical approaches such as probability theory, which helps in the study of packet switching and data congestion.
4. Mathematics in Chemistry and Biology
Mathematics is instrumental in many fields of life sciences today, such as chemists and biologists, as they develop new drugs, create methods of diagnosing diseases, and even use mathematics to study a variety of evolutionary processes. Molecular biology, genetics and even neuroscience have each benefited from a greater understanding of mathematics, allowing scientists to better chart pathways and processes. Math is used to study protein folding and unfold in the body, allowing us to develop a multitude of new drugs to treat illnesses from cancer to Alzheimer’s.
It also has a role to play in nutritional science, understanding macronutrient composition, insulin release properties and absorption, and even diet-related diseases like diabetes. Mathematics modelling is also employed in the study of ecology and animal behaviour, helping to track the behaviour of disease-carrying organisms, understand how two species interact, and even map the gene lineages of species.
5. Mathematics in Medicine and Healthcare
Medicine has benefited from significant leaps forward due to the development of mathematics and algorithms. From genomics to medical engineering, mathematics has enabled us to understand biology on a vastly different level.
Equations enable us to study anatomical structures, mathematically-modelled drug dosage, and diagnose illness based on medical records and patient data. Patients’ medical conditions can now be diagnosed faster, more accurately and with a greater degree of confidence, thanks to mathematics. This also applies to patient monitoring, and how physicians can track patients’ vital signs, medication and even lifestyle in real-time from a remote location.
Mathematics has also had a significant impact on surgery, even enabling robotic surgeries to be performed autonomously. New forms of medical imaging, such as X-rays, MRIs and CT scans, have all benefited from the developments in mathematics and data storage. Furthermore, mathematics is playing a major role in the field of healthcare by helping doctors and medical professionals to understand the spread of infectious disease, and to better track incidence and mortality rates.
6. Mathematics in Education and Language
Mathematics is widely considered a language of its own, a universal form of communication. It is taught in classrooms around the world and forms a key part in the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Mathematics can be used to greatly simplify, refine and often automate everyday tasks, from designing cars and rail systems to shopping and budgeting, due to its ability to solve complex problems.
It is also starting to play a major role in language and linguistics, helping to automate the translation of many foreign languages. Utilising natural language processing (NLP), combined with mathematical algorithms and equations, more intelligent translation services are being developed available that not only understand language, but also provide context.
Automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems also rely on mathematical statistical models that can recognise words and commands to produce accurate translations. Mathematics is also applicable to understanding the way words form and the mechanics of syntax, which book-ended by machine learning and AI technology, has driven natural language processing to its current state.
7. Mathematics For Cybersecurity
Mathematics is the driving force behind most encryption and cryptography systems, providing a foundation of trust that is being used to secure digital transactions, communications and even computer hard drives. Algorithms based on mathematics can generate passwords, protect user accounts, and even validate digital identities.
In addition, mathematics plays an important role in cybersecurity systems, including anti-virus and malware protection, by using algorithms to detect and mitigate threats. Logarithmic analysis, for example, is used to detect deviations from normal behaviour, identify malicious activities and predict future threats. Mathematics can also help to detect suspicious patterns, such as the criminal activity of Crimeware and fraud.
This includes detecting transactions before they have been completed, a system that is employed by major credit card companies to detect suspicious or fake activities.
8. Mathematics and Music
Mathematics has long been associated with music, a connection which has helped us to create music instruments, develop rhythms, and better understand the mathematical properties of sound. From the Pythagoreans who sought to understand the principles that governed the scales of sound, to the more modern advances of recording and synthesising, mathematics has been applied in a variety of ways to produce music.
Mathematics has also been employed for producing instrumental effects, such as the vibratone and phaser effects. Reverbs, delays and echoes were able to be modelled using a mathematical equation to produce a convincing synthetic response. Finally, mathematics has been used to devise a variety of digital synthesisers over the decades, from text-based music languages to algorithmic entertainment.
In the modern era, sound design programs are packed with mathematical equations, allowing us to artificially produce sound and music of a quality never before seen.
9. Mathematics in Design and Architecture
Modern-day architecture, engineering and interior design have all benefited from mathematics, allowing us to understand the architecture of the great cathedrals, bridges and monuments which span the world. Without mathematics, these insights and theses creations would never have been possible, as designers and architects have long relied on mathematical equations to design, build and achieve their visions.
Mathematics is also used to design computer programs to model and map out interiors such as corporate offices, helping complex processes like organising the wiring for electricity and data-cables, along with HVAC and ventilation systems. Mathematics is also employed for analysing city infrastructure and inferring traffic patterns. Graphic designers, architects, interior designers, stereo and audio designers all use mathematics to create the logical and visual structures which make up our everyday environment.
Without mathematics, bridges, skyscrapers and other impressive creations are all impossible.
10. Mathematics in Business and Management
Mathematics has helped to revolutionise business and management practices, allowing us to make informed decisions, design better and more effective systems, and better understand the industries we operate within. From international banking systems to logistics management, mathematics has helped shape and improve the way we do business.
Mathematics helps us to carry out market and risk analysis, allowing us to better understand investments, nonlinear pricing, discounting, interest rates and principle-agent problems. Through mathematics, we are able to create models to manage and track financial performance, regulations, and even prepare for future scenarios. In the world of supply chain management, mathematics helps us to estimate arrival times, optimise routes and the way warehouses run, and even the way inventory is managed.
Mathematics is also used in the fields of HR, analytics, and decision-making through predictive models and analytics.
11. Mathematics and The Weather Forecast
Weather forecasting heavily relies on mathematics, allowing us to accurately predict the timing, location and intensity of storms, down to the size of hail stones and the amount of rainfall to expect. To do this we utilise mathematical models to predict the atmosphere’s state, fed by data such as sea-temperature, wind speed, global temperatures and model altitude. The goals of the models are to accurately project the changes in pressure and the movement of various elements within the atmosphere.
Furthermore, mathematics has been used to predict the effects of El Niño and La Niña, and even the result of climate change over the years. These are just a few of the many examples of how mathematics has been used to shape the world.
Every day we benefit from the groundbreaking findings and advances mathematics has enabled, often without realising it. It goes without saying that mathematics is a powerful and influential force that has been part of our history and will continue its role in the future of society.
Conclusion
From life-saving medical advances to new modes of transport, cutting edge technology and even the way we view the universe, mathematics has been the driving force behind so much of what we have achieved. Its influence is beyond any doubt, and its potential to shape the world of tomorrow remains unlimited.
Whether improving existing technologies or uncovering new frontiers, mathematics is the language of change, and its impact on making the world a better place is incalculable.