1.

3 The
Functionality of
Math
MATHEMATICS AND THE OTHER
SCIENCES
“Mathematics is the
gateway and key to all
sciences”
Bacon
“We cannot overstress the importance of
mathematics in relation to science
education research. This has always
been so, but at not time has the
significance of mathematics been
greater than today”

Kothari Commission
MATHEMATICS AND
PHYSICS
MATHEMATICS AND PHYSICS
• All laws and principles in physics are expressed as equations and
formulae using the mathematical language and symbols.
• A few examples are given below.
• V = u + at
• V2 = u2 + 2as
• S = ut + 1/2at2
• (Laws of Motion)
• F = ma
• (Newton’s Second Law)
• D = m/v
• (Density Quantified)
• PV = RT
• (Boule’s Law)
• In order to understand the above mentioned laws and principles, a
student needs a thorough understanding of equations, direct
variations, inverse variations and so on.
• While studying equations and variations we can make use
of examples from physics.
• Such an approach will make mathematics learning more
significant.
• The quantitative measurements and their manipulations
are very essential for understanding physics.
• For example, a mere knowledge of facts like ‘steam can
generate power’ or ‘light changes its directions in going
from a rarer to a denser medium’ are meaningless till they
are quantified and applied to practical situations.
• This is possible only through applying mathematics.
MATHEMATICS
AND CHEMISTRY
MATHEMATICS AND CHEMISTRY
• Mathematics is an indispensable tool for a better
understanding of chemistry.
• In the words of J W Mellor, “it is almost impossible to
follow the latest developments of physical or general
chemistry without a working knowledge of higher
mathematics”.
• Mathematics gives form, shape and definiteness to the
properties of matter.
• All chemical combinations are governed by certain
mathematical laws.
• In chemical compounds, the constituent elements are
combined in a definite ratio.
 MATHEMATICS AND CHEMISTRY
• In chemical reactions, the chemical equations
are balanced by balancing the number of atoms
on either side of the equation.
• The structure of an atom, the atomic weight,
valences of an element are all mathematically
based.
• The amount of heat generated or required in
various chemical reactions are not empirical but
mathematically based.
MATHEMATICS
AND BIOLOGY
MATHEMATICS AND BIOLOGY
• John Perry has correctly estimated the value of mathematics in
the study of Natural sciences saying “in these days, all men ought
to study natural sciences, such a study is practically impossible
without the knowledge of higher mathematical methods”.
• The Indian Education Commission has also emphasized the
importance of mathematics in the development of biological
sciences in the following lines.
• “apart from its (mathematics) role in the growth of physical
sciences it is now playing an increasingly important part in the
development of biological sciences.”
• Thus biology and medicine which seemed to have practically no
use for advanced mathematics at the beginning of the last
century, are benefiting immensely from the intervention of
sophisticated mathematical tools.
MATHEMATICS AND BIOLOGY
• Statistical methods and techniques are widely used
for analyzing complex problems relating to
physiology, genetics, heredity, metabolism and so
on.
• Bacterial growth is expressed as an exponential
function.
• It is now thought that the area of topology can be
used in describing the surface of the living cell.
• A new kind of algebra to represent the thinking
process is being sought by neurophysiologist.
MATHEMATICS WITH
ENGINEERING
MATHEMATICS AND ENGINEERING

• Mathematics forms the basis for all

engineering courses.
• A great deal of mathematics used in
engineering is in the area of differential
equations, an off shoot of the calculus.
• Probability theory is another area with
profound applications to engineering
problems.
MATHEMATICS AND
SOCIAL SCIENCES
MATHEMATICS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

• Economics, psychology and many other subjects are

mathematically oriented.
• In economics, mathematical language and methods
are frequently used to interpret social phenomena,
generalize laws governing economic policy and
predict economic growth.
• The theory of probability is applied to many of the
economic issues to draw inferences and predict
outcomes.
• Statistical analysis is the only scientific method to
deal with social and psychological phenomena.
• History and Geography are also related to mathematics.
• The history of mathematicians and their contributions
provide useful background for the teaching of mathematics
and history
• Mathematics helps in calculating the dates and days of
various historical events and in predicting the future based
on the past events.
• Mathematics helps in drawing the maps to the scale and
locating the distance between places.
• Mathematics provides the basis for computing the longitude
and latitude, in predicting the weather conditions and
climatic changes, and planning the transportation system and
so on.