1. A poor man’s defense about mathematics Because if you don’t do mathematics any more I may be the last mathematician who you will ever meet and I hope I deserve 3 minutes of your time to explain to you what we do and why we care…

2. What you know about math already It’s hard? It’s boring? It’s non-sense? Hopefully there’s a bit more than that…

3. You already know a good deal about algebra, geometry and calculus – the three main pillars of mathematics Well, that’s a slight lie :p What are these subjects good for?

4. Geometry: The Egyptians used it to measure the height of a pyramid, and Plato thought it is essential to pursue it purely for the sake of knowledge… Calculus: Newton invented it just to calculate how stars and planets moved! Algebra: It is about the simplest kind of structures that you have in mathematics and a good mastery of this helps you solve a lot of other (mathematical) problems (think partial fractions and factorization!)

5. What’s next in math? Advanced calculus and analysis: - Integrals and differentiations involving functions of several variables - Essential for engineers: for describing mechanics, fluid motion, probability, financial calculus, etc Differential and algebraic geometry: -Not only study triangles and circles now -Can study general surfaces, formulate ways to measure how things curve, etc -Useful in studying space-time (relativity, Einstein!) Number theory: Cryptography, Internet security…

6. Are there outstanding problems in math, and why does one care? Fluid mechanics: studying wind and motion of water (for building aircrafts?!) Particle physics (for understanding the universe!) Distribution of prime numbers (for improving internet security!) These are just a few of the 7 mathematical problems that was proposed at the turn of the century (Incidentally, anyone who solves one of them gets a million dollar prize)

7. All in all, to develop theories to understand (mathematical) objects and phenomena Just like what you do in any other subject Certainly deserves the intelligence of some of the best minds in the world (of course this applies to any other disciplines) A very good place to develop logical thinking and problem solving skills So I hope you will appreciate a little better what mathematicians do from now on!