What is Math?
Mathematics is the field of science that deals with numbers, shapes, structures, sets, and their relationships and changes. It uses logical reasoning and abstract concepts to analyze problems, recognize patterns, and formulate laws.
There is a big difference between mathematics and the other natural sciences, as mathematics does not work with observations or experiments, but only through pure logical thinking and proofs. However, it is also a fundamental discipline for many other sciences such as physics, computer science, engineering, or biology and plays a central role in modern technologies, data analysis, and modeling.
The central topics that mathematics deals with are arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, stochastics, linear algebra, logic and set theory, and numerical and applied mathematics.
What is a mathematician?
A mathematician is someone who has studied mathematics at university. Nowadays, there are Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD degrees. This requires studying at university for three, five, or eight years and passing various exams.
A mathematician engages in abstract thinking, logical work, and modeling the world in numbers and structures to understand, solve problems, or apply them to other sciences and technology. A mathematician develops theories, performs proofs, analyzes problems, and develops applications. Mathematicians deal with the central topics already mentioned in the first block. Mathematicians work in research & teaching, in industry & technology, in finance, in medicine & life sciences, and in ecology & environment.
Math as a school subject / Math in the workplace
Math is one of the core subjects in Germany and is taught continuously from the first grade until the end of schooling. After school, there is the option of studying as a mathematician or engineer. Furthermore, there are many vocational training professions in the field of math. There is no pure vocational training profession as a mathematician, but very many where mathematical skills are used. These include training as a bank clerk, tax assistant, mathematical-technical software developer, technical assistant for computer science and physics, architectural draftsman, and technical product designer.