Maths covers a wide range of subjects, from geometry to algebra to statistics, and is involved in subjects including accounting, engineering, and computer science. For students who enjoy maths, this means that there are many options for future careers in academia, science and technology, or business. If this is you, it is good to consider the possibilities open to you and what you might do with your maths skills. But even if maths isn’t your favourite subject, you will find the skills and knowledge you learn in maths class to be useful to a wide range of careers and in everyday life. Here are some of the ways you can use maths outside of the classroom.
Academic Maths
Many students who enjoy maths choose to study maths at university and beyond. Mathematics courses at university offer a range of maths subjects, including algebra, statistics, mechanics, and geometry, and grow in complexity and specificity as the course progresses. University mathematics allows for a lot of flexibility so that university students can discover and purse what interests them most, such as more abstract or applied mathematics. Or, they may decide to study maths alongside another subject, such as physics, business, computer science, or music.
Some students continue beyond undergraduate study to develop new research and teach mathematics in academia. Like undergraduate maths courses, maths research in academia covers a wide range of topics, areas, and methodologies. Recent maths research varies from fluid mechanics to population studies to philosophical investigations into reality and the nature of being. It expands our understanding of mathematical proofs and investigates our relationship with AI. By building on the maths skills learned at school and university, mathematics researchers in academia push the boundaries of abstract and applied knowledge in the twenty-first century.
Careers
There are plenty of career options outside of academia for a mathematics-minded student. Two avenues—technology and business—are particularly popular routes for graduates with mathematics and related degrees. Maths skills are crucial for understanding technology and computer science, and for working in jobs such as computer engineering and IT. Other students may choose to pursue more traditional sciences, such as mechanical or civil engineering, or physics. Strong maths skills are also needed for studying chemistry, biology, and medicine. Enjoying maths in school sets you up for a variety of careers in STEM, many which will be discussed in later blog posts.
If you enjoy maths but are less enthused about science, you may consider going into business or finance. Accounting and banking are both popular career paths for mathematics graduates, and some universities pair a mathematics degree with subjects like business management. Maths underpins the stock market, and is valued by accounting, marketing, and management at companies in many different industries. Like accounting, statistics is another form of mathematics that is widely applicable in many fields. Statisticians work in medicine, education, politics, media, and the civil service, studying changes in population, shifts in public opinion, or the effects of government and educational policies.
Everyday Maths
Even if you don’t make a career out of maths, you still will use the skills you learn in school throughout your life. The ability to gather and interpret data, for example, is useful for organising meetings at school and work, as you decide which times are best for the most people. Arithmetic and algebra are both used for budgeting, and the ability to work with spreadsheets and graphs are prized by many jobs including managing projects and events, marketing and entrepreneurship, and producing content. Hands-on jobs, like manufacturing, and positions that require working with people, such as teaching, involve problem solving skills that are developed in maths classes.
Outside of work, you use maths when ‘adulting’—completing the everyday tasks that lead to a successful adult life. Budgeting is crucial when shopping for groceries, managing bill payments, or saving for a car or holiday. You use probability when looking at the weather forecast and planning to bring an umbrella or sunglasses. When you move into a new house, you use geometry and arithmetic to measure spaces and decide on the furniture and finishings that will make your new space feel like home. Maths is also important for games and hobbies—it is fundamental to board games and video games, sports, cooking, and crafts. Having a strong grasp of maths concepts will help you excel at and enjoy a wide variety of activities throughout your life.
Problem Solving
Many of the skills learned in maths class seem like they will never appear outside of school. But, just like running drills before football, these lessons build important muscles that will help you with problem solving in many situations. A simple algebraic equation requires you to read the problem in detail, understand what information you have and what you need, choose the best method for solving, and apply the method to the specific problem at hand. If you make a mistake, you then have to read through and look for your error, using another important set of skills. These problem solving skills are useful when you are reading information online, answering important emails, or socialising with friends—none of which require numbers. By building these skills in a maths classroom, you are equipping yourself to handle the complicated interactions that make up everyday life.
Whether you are thinking of studying maths or a related subject in university, or you never want to set foot in a maths classroom again, maths is an important part of your education. Maths is key to a wide variety of careers, including academic research, science and technology industries, and business and finance. Maths skills are also useful in planning, budgeting, and problem solving in any field. Moreover, the ability to work with numbers, think logically, and solve problems is useful in everyday life, from running a home to playing games with friends. Regardless of what career you choose, you will find many ways to use maths outside of school.
