WHY STUDY MATHEMATICS?
"The reason I'm back is to explain the value of my math
background in my business career. I started eleven years ago in the
industry as a production planner. My math background was invaluable
to me in many ways. One key to success in business is to know your
product! My product is somewhat technical in nature. My mathematics
background helped me easily acquire product knowledge. My background
in geometry allowed me to read blueprints easily — the ability to go from
a two dimensional plan to envision the three dimensional object!
I understood dimensional tolerances, so I could converse with our engineers
intelligently. As I get more involved in finance, mathematical dexterity
is a plus. Most of all, math gave me the powers of deductive reasoning
and rational thought. Sure you can learn about deductive reasoning
in a logic class, but you use deductive reasoning in every math problem
you solve. Problem-solving skills are another key to business success,
and deductive reasoning is at the heart of problem solving. Why are
problem-solving skills important? Because part of our job in business
is to create problems! Problems of growth and change are expected
and hoped for. If you are not creating problems, then your business
Understand that your math background is not just giving
you experience with numbers, theorems, rules, . . . . It's giving
you the experience in deductive reasoning and rational thinking.
Rational thought and deductive reasoning skills are the keys to problem
solving! It's giving you the key to problem solving in life.
Being a math major at Elmhurst College is a tough road
to choose. I chose that road and I'm glad I did. Appreciate
your math classes. I do now more than I ever did when I was in school."
From a presentation to Mathematics and Computer Science
Majors at a Career Night by a National Sales Manager for an electronic
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Last modified: June 1998 by Jon L.