Mathematics is an arduous journey. It is cruel and exhausting. Mathematics, by its very nature, threw me hard problems that stressed me out. I would spend hours, days, even months solving one. For example, I spent two weeks teaching myself the computing program—Mathematica, because I was curious to see the accurate phase portraits after I learned the techniques that enabled me to sketch phase portraits in my Ordinary Differential Equation class. Nevertheless, sometimes I could not find any solution even though I had worked on it for a long time. I struggled to prove Wright’s Theory, which is widely applied in Graph Theory, but I still could not figure it out without the help of my professor. However, Mathematics is also pleasant and exhilarating. Nothing offers me more joy than solving a difficult mathematical problem. When I work on problems in Mathematics, I am immersed in the problems. Mathematics grants me the serenity to escape daily hassles and gives me the will to follow my curiosity and look for the answer. The serenity and will are magical electricity energizing me to forge ahead relentlessly and strive for greatness at any cost.
I was determined to develop my skills further in Applied Mathematics after taking a Numerical Analysis class. I was intensely exposed to mathematical computing techniques for the first time. I instantaneously became enchanted with methods in data interpolation and error elimination. Computational Mathematics, a branch of Applied Mathematics, has so many mathematical properties that I love. For me, the computing process is building my own empire in the air: I manipulate data by devising appropriate strategies. I am the emperor who formulates the rules to derive desirable results.
My initial exci...
... middle of paper ...
...y Dr. Zhilin Zhu. I am sure that the stimulating academic environment and interactions with excellent faculty at NCSU will well prepare me for my future career. In the near future, I would like to devote myself to the pursuit of a career in research and teaching. For me, it would be immensely satisfying to contribute something to the understanding of my beloved Mathematics. It would also be satisfying if I could share the knowledge through teaching. My teaching experiences as a tutor for several Calculus classes have evoked favorable responses and have been enjoyable to me. With the long-term goal in mind, my immediate objective is to work towards a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics. It would be a great fortune if I could pursue a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics at NCSU and at the same time, I would be able to make positive contributions to the ongoing research work at NCSU.
The math/science program at PWC Governor’s School presents challenging learning opportunities and well as motivated classmates and professors that can further my curiosity and devotion for the mathematical and scientific world around me. It also withholds a window of opportunity for me to move closer in attaining my career aspiration. In return, I can provide collaboration, leadership, and most importantly, an intelligent mind capable of creating pioneering, innovative, and inspiring ideas. Together, the students/faculty of PWCS Governor’s School and I can collaborate to form the most ground-breaking solutions.
... relationship in one problem that doesn’t appear in others. Among all of this, there is such vastness in how one person might approach a problem compared to another, and that’s great. The main understanding that seems essential here is how it all relates. Mathematics is all about relationships between number and methods and models and how they all work in different ways to ideally come to the same solution.
The contemporary world is full of marvels. Technological advances have enabled mankind to fly in the heavens, instantaneously communicate with distant relatives thousands of miles away, construct buildings that are able to withstand many natural disasters, cure deadly diseases, and even travel to and study areas beyond the confines of planet Earth. While there are many factors that contributed to man’s ability to overcome what many once thought were impossible feats, it is the study of engineering that has enabled one to study the elements and leverage all that they have to offer. Mathematics lies at the heart of all science, including engineering. Without progressions in mathematical concepts, engineering principles and applications would not have advanced as quickly as they have throughout history.
Math is not a scary thing. It can be fun and highly useful. In researching adult learners who return to college, I found a quote by Einstein saying (2015), “Do not worry about your difficulties in mathematics. I can assure you that mine are still greater.” In Einstein’s humility, it was heartening to know we all have our weaknesses. It was even more hopeful knowing his historical mathematical strengths. According to Erskine (2015), “While the overwhelming majority of Americans, 93 percent, agree that strong math skills are essential to being successful in life, nearly a third say they would rather clean the bathroom than solve a math problem.” We all know how socially acceptable and funny it is to be bad at math. Although Erskine stated it too, she is right. However, I feel the tide is turning. It is becoming increasingly acceptable to improve oneself. I am looking forward to using the EdReady program for my Algebra, Calculus and Trigonometry skills. In bringing this essay to a close, there is always a practical and approachable way to have better math comprehension. Math does not have to be scary. This is my math life
My first opportunity to use math outside the academic world was in my part time job with United parcel Service. It was an eye-opener for me in that mathematical techniques, in combination with computers, could be used for solving very complicated real-life problems, such as predicting and controlling the continuos flow of 300 million packages per day. I was deeply impressed by the numerical masterpieces of Jim Gilkinson and Dick Marga, the project managers. They led the way in showing how one could overcome some serious limitations of computers for solving linear systems of equations.
The computing industry as a whole becomes more prosperous, exciting and attractive as an employment prospect each day. It spans a wide range of modern applications, as does my interest in the subject. I see computing science as a gateway into new realms of computing, where the highly challenging and demanding work may reap rewards of an equivalent level.
Mathematics has played an integral part in daily life since the beginning of time. There have been many individuals responsible for paving the road to higher mathematics. Among these individuals is a man who was a physicist and scholar and helped to bring life to modern mathematics. His name was Leonhard Euler. Although he was born in the 18th century, Euler’s mathematic innovations still apply to the world of mathematics that we experience today.
During the first two years of my undergraduate studies, I have devoted to building a solid background in mathematics and physics. I constantly find pleasure in deriving mathematical formulas to experience in my mind the process of turning the physical mechanisms into something of such succinct beauty. And the School of Atmospheric Science at Nanjing University, the top school for this major in China has provided me with a rich environment to excel beyond the curriculum, debating and discussing questions with my professors. My curious and analytical attitude has made me a top student among my peers.
...re encompassing way, it becomes very clear that everything that we do or encounter in life can be in some way associated with math. Whether it be writing a paper, debating a controversial topic, playing Temple Run, buying Christmas presents, checking final grades on PeopleSoft, packing to go home, or cutting paper snowflakes to decorate the house, many of our daily activities encompass math. What has surprised me the most is that I do not feel that I have been seeking out these relationships between math and other areas of my life, rather the connections just seem more visible to me now that I have a greater appreciation and understanding for the subject. Math is necessary. Math is powerful. Math is important. Math is influential. Math is surprising. Math is found in unexpected places. Math is found in my worldview. Math is everywhere. Math is Beautiful.
Towers, J., Martin, L., & Pirie, S. (2000). Growing mathematical understanding: Layered observations. In M.L. Fernandez (Ed.), Proceedings of the Annual Meetings of North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education, Tucson, AZ, 225-230.
I am a person who has always had a profound passion and fascination for areas requiring an analytical approach. Right from early days at school, Mathematics has intrigued me. The most challenging of all problems were my favorites and obtaining solutions to them would leave me with a sheer feeling of ecstasy. I always did and always would thrive on solving the most challenging problems. With a compelling desire to excel, hard work became my second nature. My aspiration for a technical career prompted me to take up one of the most coveted undergraduate program in Computer Engineering at SR Engineering College, the best of such institutions. My own systematic & methodical towards finding a solution to any problem best suits this field.
A somewhat underused strategy for teaching mathematics is that of guided discovery. With this strategy, the student arrives at an understanding of a new mathematical concept on his or her own. An activity is given in which "students sequentially uncover layers of mathematical information one step at a time and learn new mathematics" (Gerver & Sgroi, 2003). This way, instead of simply being told the procedure for solving a problem, the student can develop the steps mainly on his own with only a little guidance from the teacher.
When I graduated from high school, forty years ago, I had no idea that mathematics would play such a large role in my future. Like most people learning mathematics, I continue to learn until it became too hard, which made me lose interest. Failure or near failure is one way to put a stop to learning a subject, and leave a lasting impression not worth repeating. Mathematics courses, being compulsory, are designed to cover topics. One by one, the topics need not be important or of immediate use, but altogether or cumulatively, the topics provide or point to a skill, a mastery of mathematics.
The abstractions can be anything from strings of numbers to geometric figures to sets of equations. In deriving, for instance, an expression for the change in the surface area of any regular solid as its volume approaches zero, mathematicians have no interest in any correspondence between geometric solids and physical objects in the real world. A central line of investigation in theoretical mathematics is identifying in each field of study a small set of basic ideas and rules from which all other interesting ideas and rules in that field can be logically deduced. Mathematicians are particularly pleased when previously unrelated parts of mathematics are found to be derivable from one another, or from some more general theory. Part of the sense of beauty that many people have perceived in mathematics lies not in finding the greatest richness or complexity but on the contrary, in finding the greatest economy and simplicity of representation and proof.
Additionally, the challenge that I came across as I encountered different mathematical and economics problems at my latter stages of life contributed greatly towards cementing my desires to further my education in both mathematics and economics at your prestigious institution. Economics happens to be a fundamental part of humans’ daily living and the current economic crisis have triggered my desire to have appropriate knowledge about the