Mathematics in the Modern World
Module 1 – Lesson 3
Functionality of Mathematics
Edgar M. Adina
Lesson 2: Functionality of Mathematics
According to the German philosopher Immanuel Kant, “Mathematics
is the indispensable instrument of all physical researches.”
This section presents the link between mathematics and other
fields focusing particularly on its diverse applications as far as
patterns on nature and in the world are concerned.
Intended Learning Outcomes: At the end of the section, students
should be able to:
1. discuss the usefulness of mathematics in a specific field;
2. explain why mathematics is the proper tool for exploring nature;
and
3. identify current socio-political, economic, technological or
scientific issues or problems concerning human behavior, and
explain how mathematics can be used to resolve them.
Introduction
The most important nature of mathematics is its
relevance to a broad spectrum of human concerns.
Knowledge is futile if it is not applied to daily life
situations. Mathematics is a rich body of knowledge, and
with its distinctive use of abstraction consequently
formulating advanced natural concepts, the areas in
which it can be applied have been expanding at an
unexpected pace.
Application: Mathematical Physics
A branch of mathematical analysis that emphasizes tools
and techniques of particular use to physicists and
engineers.
Some basic axioms about mass, momentum, energy,
force, temperature, heat etc. are abstracted from
observations and physical experiments and then the
techniques of abstraction, generalization and logical
deduction are used.
Application: Mechanics
A particle is a point-like, perfectly rigid, solid object.
Particle mechanics deals with the results of subjecting
particles to forces. It includes celestial mechanics — the
study of the motion of celestial objects.
Mechanics heavily rely on the role of Space Dynamics
mechanics. Here, we consider the trajectories which are
time-optimal, i.e. which take the least time in going from
one point to another and in which the object starts and
reaches the destination with zero velocity.
Application: Engineering (Civil, Mechanical)
Numerical analysis is one of the basic tools in modelling
engineering problems (e.g., phenomena involving heat,
electricity, and magnetism)
\relativistic mechanics, quantum mechanics, and other
theoretical constructs were created to extend and
improve the applicability of earlier ideas.
Application: Fluid Mechanics
Mathematics is important in Atmospheric Sciences, in
dynamic meteorology and weather prediction.
It is useful in the study of diffusion of pollutants in the
atmosphere(e.g. to find out what proportion of pollutants
emitted from chimneys or refineries reach hospitals and
other buildings, or on the effect of leakages of poisonous
gases)
Application: PHARMACEUTICALS FIELD
Mathematicians work on clinical data about the
effectiveness or dangers of new drugs.
Pure scientific research in chemistry and biology also
need mathematicians, particularly those with higher
degrees in computer science, to help develop models of
complicated processes.
All chemical combinations and their equations are
governed by certain mathematical laws.
Application: BIOMATHEMATICS
Biomathematics is a rich fertile field with open,
challenging and fascination problems in the areas of
mathematical genetics, mathematical ecology,
mathematical neuron- physiology, development of
computer software for special biological and medical
problems, mathematical theory of epidemics, use of
mathematical programming and reliability theory in
biosciences and mathematical problems in biomechanics,
bioengineering and bioelectronics.
Application: POPULATION DYNAMICS
Mathematics is useful in the study and formulation of
deterministic and stochastic models for growth of
population of micro-organisms and animals, subject to
given laws of birth, death, immigration and emigration.
The models are in terms of differential equations,
difference equations, differential difference equations
and integral equations.
Application: INTERNAL MEDICINE
Mathematics is used in the
➢ Studyof flows of blood and other fluids in the
complicated network of cardiovascular and other
systems.
➢ Study of the flow of oxygen through lung airways and
arteries to individual cells of the human or animal body
and the flow of synovial fluid in human joints.
Application: ECOLOGY
Mathematics is used to
➢study the prey-predator models and similar models
where species in geographical space are considered.
➢Model and control epidemics in plants and animals
➢Model and design pest controls
Application: GENETICS
Mathematics is an important tool in studying the
inheritance of genetic characteristics from
generation to generation and the method for
genetically improving plant and animal species.
Decoding of the genetic code and research in
genetic engineering involve considerable
mathematical modeling.
Application: DRUG KINETICS
Mathematics helps in
➢the study of the spread of drugs in the various
compartments of the human body.
➢modelling cancer and other diseases
➢developing mathematical models for the study of
the comparative effects of various treatments.
Mathematics is also an essential tool in Solid
Biomechanics which deals with the stress and strain
in muscles and bones, with fractures and injuries in
skulls etc. and is very complex because of non
symmetrical shapes and the composite structures of
these substances.
Application: AGRICULTURE
Agriculture needs a direct application of
mathematics, such as, measurement of land or
area, average investment and expenditure,
average return or income, production per unit
area, cost of labor, time and work, seed rate etc.
Progress of the farm can be judged by drawing
graphs of different items of production.