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Sara
Student
Jackson, Mississippi
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What exactly is a mathematician?
What do they major in? How many years do they go to school for? Is it considered a PhD or what? Can you give me the basics. #science #mathematics #math #mathematician
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3 answers
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity.
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Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Dear Sara,
Let's delve into the world of a Mathematician!
A mathematician is a specialist in the realm of mathematics. Their work involves exploring and researching mathematical concepts, creating new theories, and utilizing mathematical methods to address real-life challenges. They find employment across various sectors including academia, research facilities, government bodies, and private corporations.
Education Pathway and Specialization
To embark on the journey of becoming a mathematician, one usually opts for a major in mathematics or a closely related field such as applied mathematics, statistics, or theoretical physics. Undergraduate studies encompass courses in calculus, algebra, geometry, number theory, among other advanced mathematical subjects. Some mathematicians further their education with graduate studies to secure a master’s or doctoral degree in mathematics or a specific branch of mathematics.
Educational Timeline
The educational journey to becoming a mathematician can differ based on the level of expertise one aspires to reach. Generally, a four-year undergraduate degree in mathematics or a related field is the first step. A master’s degree typically requires an additional two years, while a Ph.D. in mathematics might demand an extra three to six years of rigorous study and research.
The Value of a Ph.D.
A Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) is often viewed as the pinnacle of education for mathematicians aspiring to undertake advanced research, teach at a university, or specialize in certain areas of mathematics. Although not all mathematicians possess a Ph.D., holding this degree can pave the way for more career progression and research roles.
In a nutshell, mathematicians are experts in the domain of mathematics, conducting research, formulating theories, and applying mathematical concepts to tackle intricate problems. They usually major in mathematics or related fields, undergo extensive education at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and may opt for a Ph.D. to access advanced research and academic opportunities.
Top 3 Credible Resources:
American Mathematical Society (AMS) - The AMS is a professional society committed to fostering mathematical research and education.
Mathematical Association of America (MAA) - The MAA is an organization dedicated to enhancing the comprehension of mathematics at all levels.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) - The NCTM is a valuable resource for educators and professionals engaged in teaching mathematics at diverse levels.
May God bless you!
James Constantine Frangos.
Let's delve into the world of a Mathematician!
A mathematician is a specialist in the realm of mathematics. Their work involves exploring and researching mathematical concepts, creating new theories, and utilizing mathematical methods to address real-life challenges. They find employment across various sectors including academia, research facilities, government bodies, and private corporations.
Education Pathway and Specialization
To embark on the journey of becoming a mathematician, one usually opts for a major in mathematics or a closely related field such as applied mathematics, statistics, or theoretical physics. Undergraduate studies encompass courses in calculus, algebra, geometry, number theory, among other advanced mathematical subjects. Some mathematicians further their education with graduate studies to secure a master’s or doctoral degree in mathematics or a specific branch of mathematics.
Educational Timeline
The educational journey to becoming a mathematician can differ based on the level of expertise one aspires to reach. Generally, a four-year undergraduate degree in mathematics or a related field is the first step. A master’s degree typically requires an additional two years, while a Ph.D. in mathematics might demand an extra three to six years of rigorous study and research.
The Value of a Ph.D.
A Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) is often viewed as the pinnacle of education for mathematicians aspiring to undertake advanced research, teach at a university, or specialize in certain areas of mathematics. Although not all mathematicians possess a Ph.D., holding this degree can pave the way for more career progression and research roles.
In a nutshell, mathematicians are experts in the domain of mathematics, conducting research, formulating theories, and applying mathematical concepts to tackle intricate problems. They usually major in mathematics or related fields, undergo extensive education at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and may opt for a Ph.D. to access advanced research and academic opportunities.
Top 3 Credible Resources:
American Mathematical Society (AMS) - The AMS is a professional society committed to fostering mathematical research and education.
Mathematical Association of America (MAA) - The MAA is an organization dedicated to enhancing the comprehension of mathematics at all levels.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) - The NCTM is a valuable resource for educators and professionals engaged in teaching mathematics at diverse levels.
May God bless you!
James Constantine Frangos.
Kirandeep Kour
PhD student
1
Answer
Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
Updated
Kirandeep’s Answer
The simplest definition for a mathematician could be, "A person who provides a language and support to any scientific idea by doing some numerical implementation or providing proofs, for it being right or wrong under given constraints". There are many engineers, who start with different degrees in distinct fields and end up being mathematicians by doing a Ph.D. in the mathematics department of the university. Also, there are some people who studied psychology and end up being a mathematician. So, my point is there is no certain degree you start with to become a Mathematician. As mathematics is a language to science, while it is important to learn the basics of this language no matter what course you are studying.
Although a standard path would be, doing bachelor's, master's in mathematics, and then if you like going for Ph.D. that would also be in mathematics. Many universities provide degrees like BSc in mathematics, BTech in mathematics, and closely related fields (Computational maths, etc). At a later stage, a mathematician can be divided into two possible categories, pure mathematician and applied mathematician. Mathematicians who work in Pure mathematics like Algebra, Number theory and Analysis, work more toward building theorems and proofs to enhance the theoretical research in the field. While Applied mathematician works more towards engineering side like doing numerical implementations for some technical models.
I hope this answers your question. Feel free to ask anything in return. I am doing a Ph.D. in applied mathematics at Max Planck Institute. Therefore, this answer is from my personal experience.
Although a standard path would be, doing bachelor's, master's in mathematics, and then if you like going for Ph.D. that would also be in mathematics. Many universities provide degrees like BSc in mathematics, BTech in mathematics, and closely related fields (Computational maths, etc). At a later stage, a mathematician can be divided into two possible categories, pure mathematician and applied mathematician. Mathematicians who work in Pure mathematics like Algebra, Number theory and Analysis, work more toward building theorems and proofs to enhance the theoretical research in the field. While Applied mathematician works more towards engineering side like doing numerical implementations for some technical models.
I hope this answers your question. Feel free to ask anything in return. I am doing a Ph.D. in applied mathematics at Max Planck Institute. Therefore, this answer is from my personal experience.
Suresh C
Tech Support at Dell
5
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
Suresh’s Answer
In mathematics, differential refers to infinitesimal differences or to the derivatives of functions. In calculus, the differential represents a change in the linearization of a function.The total differential is its generalization for functions of multiple variables. In traditional approaches to calculus, the differentials are interpreted as infinitesimals. There are several methods of defining infinitesimals rigorously, but it is sufficient to say that an infinitesimal number is smaller in absolute value than any positive real number, just as an infinitely large number is larger than any real number.