What is Mathematics? Mathematics is everywhere and in everything we undertake. It is a common misconception that math is just arithmetic, calculations, and computations, however, it is so much more than that. Mathematics is the ability to explore and use unrevealed patterns to become aware of the world around us. Since the world is always developing and advancements are constantly being made, the demand for people who understand and use mathematics has never been greater and will continue to increase as time goes on.
The study of mathematics enables individuals to develop various qualities and skills that can be useful in any profession, including: critical thinking, problem solving, communication, teamwork, organization, adaptability, and time management. The most important skill, however, is the ability to take the knowledge acquired and apply it to real life situations. Although we are not expected to know the answer to every question in life, being able to understand, analyze, and manipulate questions to find optimal solutions, similar to a basic math problem, is such a valuable quality that every person should obtain; a quality rooted from mathematical thinking.
In the field of finance, knowledge and skills acquired from a mathematical background is essential. The ultimate goal in finance is to help businesses and other organizations make money and to be successful today, tomorrow, and even thirty years from now. Making investments, for instance, is a prominent way for businesses to make the most out of their profits or savings by putting money into real estate, stocks, bonds, and/or other sound investments. Doing this will allow the amount of money to grow year after year, which could potentially build contentment and stability for businesses. However, all investments involve some degree of risk, which can be rewarding if the proper approach is taken. Since market conditions are constantly changing, it may cause one asset category to do well, but often causes other asset categories to have poor returns. By “putting your eggs in separate baskets,” you can eliminate the chance of losing money. The ability to use models, calculating future profits of investments, and communicating findings with higher-ups in an effective and clear manner will enable individuals to make the best investments, which can help ensure the long-term financial goals of a business.
As you can probably see, mathematics can be applied to any field of study and in any aspect of life. The study of mathematics goes beyond addition and subtraction; math contributes to our ability to think analytically and logically about any given situation. Mathematics allows us to solve problems and look for solutions in our everyday lives.