HOW MATHS CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE Chris Budd Degree opportunities in Mathematics and Statistics

SOME COMMON VIEWS OF MATHEMATICS MATHS IS HARD MATHS IS BORING MATHS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH REAL LIFE ALL MATHEMATICIANS ARE MAD! None of this is true! Mathematics and statistics are great subjects to study at university and lead to a huge number of careers INCLUDING HOLLYWOOD!!!!!!!!!

MATHS AND CRIME A short mathematical story Burglar robs a bank Escapes in getaway car Pursued by police GOOD NEWS Police take a photo BAD NEWS Photo is blurred

Original Blurred

SOLUTION Take the photo to a mathematician Original f(x) Blurring h(x) = f(x)*g(x) Maths gives a formula for blurring convolution By inverting the formula we can get rid of the blur g(x)

Processed image : Image Processing

Maths has made the modern world possible …. None of the following would work without maths … Mobile phones GPS Ipods SATNAV CDs Radar Digital TV

Linear algebra, graph theory, SVDGoogle: Error correcting codes: Galois theory Internet: Network theory Security: Fermat, RSA Mathematicians really have made the modern world possible Medical imaging: Radon Transform Communications: FFT, Shannon Medical Statistics: Nightingale A few other examples ….

This could be you: Maths is important in a huge number of careers including: Finance and banking IT Management Insurance+Risk Weather forecasting Environmental science Code breaking Medical imaging Teaching Transport planning Government Social services Supermarkets and Food Computer Games Film industry!

So.. Why might you want to study maths at university Because you like doing maths, maths is fun!!! This is the best reason Because the challenge of doing hard mathematical problems teaches you problem solving and logic skills which are of great value to employers Because you want to be a leader in the technology of the future Because you want to get a great job … 70% of all jobs want people with good mathematical skills Mathematicians have greater earning potential than nearly all other degrees

What to expect in any university maths degree Lots of maths!!!! Pure, Applied and Statistics Computing and IT Possible industrial placement Possible placement overseas Training in thinking logically, to construct careful arguments and to use abstract ideas Key skills: Presentations, reports, team work

Bath Degree: Typically 4 years long 2 years study + one year in industry + 1 years study (BSc) : most popular 2 years study + one year study overseas + 1years study 4 years study (Mmath) After your degree you can: Get a job (Maths students are very employable) Travel the world Do further study: MSc eg. In Climate Science Do research in maths: PhD eg. In differential equations

Courses in the first year (Most maths courses are like this) All students do 5 courses per semester, two semesters Each course = 3 lectures + one tutorial per week 20 Contact hours + Personal tutor time 100 hours per course including personal study 1. Algebra: Sets, groups, numbers 2. Analysis: Series, limits, continuity 3. Methods + Applications: Calculus and mechanics 4. Probability + Statistics 5. Programming + Discrete Maths: All in Matlab, Codes Algebra and Analysis are new material with heavy emphasis on PROOF

Huge choice of courses in years 2,3 and 4 (other universities are similar) Modular assessment Geometry Mechanics Discrete maths Group Theory Mathematical Biology Computing Numerical Analysis Mathematical Finance Cryptography Chaos Theory Topology Fluid mechanics Partial Differential Equations Probability Control Theory Medical Statistics Galois Theory Logic You can nearly always do courses in other subjects too, eg. Economics, Chinese

Assessment: Most universities are very similar Weekly: Problem sheets in each course Each Semester: Exam for each course Some courses have some course work eg. Programming Some final year courses are ALL course work Eg. Final year project Usually have opportunities for retaking exams or doing extra work After 3 or 4 years you get a degree!!

Your degree is managed by a Director of Studies team You are also assigned a Personal Tutor What if I get stuck? Lots of other students to ask Tutorial sessions: Groups of about 10 Drop in help sessions: Informal, varying in size On line notes and guidance and to lecturer Personal tutor help: Individual Student Counseling + Student Support: Individual

How Do I Apply? All students apply through UCAS Entry Grades vary Bath: A* (Maths), A (Further Maths), B (other), and 2 in STEP A* A A (other) and no STEP A* A*,A (other) and 2 in STEP Other universities may or may not require Further Maths and/or STEP But ALL will require a good performance in A level Maths You MUST check on the University website Also.. DO go on Open Days and ask lots of questions Personal Statement: We want to see evidence of raw mathematical ability and a genuine interest in doing maths at university Not much else matters

What Happens Next? If you stay on at university then you can go on to do research in mathematics in a PhD. Lots of students do this! Many universities spend a huge amount of their effort doing research My own current research is into the mathematics of weather and climate But you could do number thoery, differential equations, financial maths, networks, …. Maths: Limitless possibilities and unlimited career opportunities

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