A poor man’s defense about mathematics

Because if you don’t do mathematics any more I may be the last mathematician who you will ever meet and I hope I deserve 3

minutes of your time to explain to you what we do and why we care…

What you know about math already

• It’s hard?

• It’s boring?

• It’s non-sense?

Hopefully there’s a bit more than that…

• You already know a good deal about algebra, geometry and calculus – the three main pillars of mathematics

• Well, that’s a slight lie :p

• What are these subjects good for?

• Geometry: The Egyptians used it to measure the height of a pyramid, and Plato thought it is essential to pursue it purely for the sake of knowledge…

• Calculus: Newton invented it just to calculate how stars and planets moved!

• Algebra: It is about the simplest kind of structures that you have in mathematics and a good mastery of this helps you solve a lot of other (mathematical) problems (think partial fractions and factorization!)

What’s next in math?

• Advanced calculus and analysis: - Integrals and differentiations involving functions of

several variables- Essential for engineers: for describing mechanics,

fluid motion, probability, financial calculus, etc• Differential and algebraic geometry:

- Not only study triangles and circles now- Can study general surfaces, formulate ways to measure how things curve, etc- Useful in studying space-time (relativity, Einstein!)

• Number theory: Cryptography, Internet security…

Are there outstanding problems in math, and why does one care?

• Fluid mechanics: studying wind and motion of water (for building aircrafts?!)

• Particle physics (for understanding the universe!)

• Distribution of prime numbers (for improving internet security!)

• These are just a few of the 7 mathematical problems that was proposed at the turn of the century (Incidentally, anyone who solves one of them gets a million dollar prize)

• All in all, to develop theories to understand (mathematical) objects and phenomena

• Just like what you do in any other subject• Certainly deserves the intelligence of some of

the best minds in the world (of course this applies to any other disciplines)

• A very good place to develop logical thinking and problem solving skills

• So I hope you will appreciate a little better what mathematicians do from now on!