How can mathematics change the world

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Newsletter Sign up to receive email updates. Sign Up. Think again. The use of counting dates back close to 35 years ago, and the rise of mathematics followed. We now find ourselves in a world deeply influenced by maths. Next time you bite into a delicious meal, give thanks to Sumerian numbers boffins.

As one of the earliest recorded civilisations, they developed their own mathematics to aid agriculture when their civilisation settled. They utilised maths for the measurement of plots of land and the taxation of individuals. It was from mathematics that the Sumerian civilisation, and eventually our own, flourished.

Money was born from the rise of basic arithmetic and bartering, where people would trade necessary items with one another. People needed something they could exchange for goods, as a result money was born. The first form of currency was identified in Lydia, now part of Turkey, as coins made out of gold and silver dating back to BC.

Your email address will not be published. Several people have asked me whether studying math changed my view of the world, and if so how. Related posts Forced to be simple Rewarding complexity Adding simplicity. Previous Post Demonstrating persistence. Jan Galkowski. Shrutarshi Basu. John Venier. Mugizi Robert Rwebangira. Accurate weather forecasts predict when and where extreme weather may strike, whilst climate projections are key to identifying weather patterns changing on a longer time scale.

Our ability to predict weather and climate has advanced in leaps and bounds in the last few decades, thanks to maths. Mathematicians play an important role in this process, working with a set of equations that describe the atmosphere, taking into account temperature, pressure and humidity. Global Circulation Models GCMs describe the interactions between oceans and atmosphere to look at what the average conditions could be in decades to come.

Maths makes these computers far more effective both through contributing to technological improvements in areas like quantum computing, and by rethinking the algorithms used in computer programs. For instance, new research allows the computer to automatically zoom its attention in on areas where the weather is particularly interesting, such as around storms. Renewable energy sources lie at the heart of a low-carbon world.

By choosing optimal locations for wind or solar farms and designing the most effective layouts for tidal and wind turbine arrays, mathematicians ensure that these technologies harvest the maximum energy as efficiently as possible. Mathematicians contribute to research into energy supply and demand that ensures networks incorporate higher proportions of weather-dependent energy sources such as wind or solar power, making sure that the lights stay on in years to come.

The effects of climate change will be felt on many levels, and knowledge is key to safeguarding human health and livelihoods as we adapt to changing circumstances. Mathematicians use their understanding of probability and uncertainty to advise policymakers on the likelihood of heatwaves, floods or other changes in weather patterns, and help them to plan accordingly.