About Mathematics

Do you like solving problems?

Are you fascinated by mathematical ingenuity and discovery?
Would you like to contribute to any one of such diverse fields as financial forecasting, space systems, or education?

Mathematics is the language of science

Mathematics relies almost entirely on imagination and discovery that come from the human mind. There are no boundaries to mathematical ideas.

From ancient times to the present age of information

Mathematics is rich in history and application. It is used:

to break codes during war time,
to analyze documents,
to design transportation systems,
to compute missile trajectories and satellite orbits,
to handle complex management scheduling.

From the ancient Egyptians to the robotics scientists of this century, mathematics has been integral to many technical advances in the history of humankind. Visit the American Mathematical Society's Mathematical Moments for a more extensive list of areas in which mathematics impacts our lives.

Mathematicians are in demand!

Career possibilities include work in finance, cryptology, computer graphics, medicine, robotics, economics, statistics, teaching, and management science.

Mathematics teachers are in demand!

The College Board shows that 44 percent of current teachers in Pennsylvania will be eligible to retire in the next six years. The state is expecting an increase of more than four million elementary and secondary students during this same time.

Mathematics Web resources

Through various special projects, the Mathematics Department publishes resources for students, teachers, and anyone else who shares our wonder of mathematics. Numerous other Web sites provide additional mathematical resources.