Mathematician
By: Philip Bourque
For: Mrs. Bland – Period 1
GLC 205
Submitted: Wednesday March 26, 2014
Introduction
I have selected the career path of a mathematician. Up until recently I have wanted to
become a forensic scientist. My decision was altered due to the fact that I would much rather
follow a career based on mathematics, a subject that I take the most joy from. A
mathematician is a career that I can imagine myself doing because I like to find the
correlation between data and work out numerical equations.
Purpose
The reason I selected the career of a mathematician is because of my love for math. The
appeal lies in the purely logical sense of the correlations and solutions. There is always an
answer and a reason for that answer. Not only do I enjoy the subject of mathematics, I excel in
it as well. I have consistently shown an aptitude for solving problems and understanding the
processes that were undergone.
Career Description
A mathematician “Conducts research in fundamental mathematics and in application of mathematical
techniques to science, management, and other fields, and solves or directs solutions to problems in various
fields by mathematical methods: Conducts research in such branches of mathematics as algebra,
geometry, number theory, logic, and topology, and studies and tests hypotheses and alternative theories.
Conceives and develops ideas for application of mathematics to wide variety of fields, including science,
engineering, military planning, electronic data processing, and management. Applies mathematics or
mathematical methods to solution of problems in research, development, production, logistics, and other
functional areas, utilizing knowledge of subject or field to which applied, such as physics, engineering,
astronomy, biology, economics, business and industrial management, or cryptography. Performs
computations, applies methods of numerical analysis, and operates or directs operation of desk calculators
and mechanical and electronic computation machines, analyzers, and plotters in solving problems in
support of mathematical, scientific, or industrial research activity. Acts as advisor or consultant to research
personnel concerning mathematical methods and applications. May be designated according to function as
Mathematician, Applied (profess. & kin.); Mathematician, Research (profess. & kin.).”1
1"Mathematician." Dictionary
of Occupational Titles. N.p., 23 May 2003. Web. 20 Mar. 2014.
<http://occupationalinfo.org/02/020067014.html>
Where the University Program is
Offered
University in Ontario
Location
Queen’s University
Kingston
University of Waterloo
Kitchener
University of Toronto
Toronto
University in other provinces
Location
University of British Columbia
Kingston
McGill University
Montreal
University of Alberta
Edmonton
University in the U.S.A
Location
New York University
New York
Yale University
New Haven
University of California
Los Angeles
High School Requirements
Grade 9
Grade 10
Grade 11
Grade 12
Principles of Mathematics
MPM1D1
Principles of Mathematics
MPM2D1
Functions
MCR3U1
Advanced Functions
MHF4U1
Science
SNC1D1
Science
SNC2D1
Biology
SBI3I1
Calculus and Vectors
MCV4U1
Geography of Canada
CGC1D1
Canadian History in the 20th
Century
CHC2D1
Chemistry
SCH3U1
Biology
SBI4U1
English
ENG1D1
English
ENG2D1
Physics
SPH3U1
Chemistry
SCH4U1
Core French
FSF1D1
Career and Civic Studies
GLC2O1/CHV2O1
English
ENG3U1
English
ENG4U1
Religious Education
HRE1O1
Religious Education
HRE2O1
World Religions: Beliefs,
Issues, and Traditions
HRF3M1
Religious Education
HRE4M1
Dramatic Arts
ADA1O1
Dramatic Arts
ADA2O1
Intro to Anthropology,
Psychology, and Sociology
HSP3U1
Philosophy: Questions and
Theories
HZT4U1
Healthy and Active Living
Education
PPL1O1
Technological Design
TDJ2O1
American History
CHA3U1
Canadian and International
Law
CLN4U1
Prerequisites for a
Mathematic Major
Prerequisites for
Science
Electives
University Path
First Semester
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Linear Algebra
MATH 110/6.0
Advanced Calculus
MATH 280/3.0
Mathematical Theory of Interest
MATH 384/3.0
Linear and Nonlinear Optimization
MATH434/3.0
Principles of Economics
ECON 110/6.0
Introduction to Real Analysis
MATH 281/3.0
Real Analysis
MATH 328/3.0
Applications of Matrix Algebra
MATH 405/3.0
Intro to Biochemistry
BCHM 102/3.0
Statistics And Probability I
STAT 268/3.0
Group Theory
MATH 310/3.0
Number Theory and Cryptography
MATH 418/3.0
Introduction to Literary Study
ENGL 100/6.0
Principles of Chemical Reactivity
CHEM 212/3.0
Elementary Number Theory
MATH 311/3.0
Mechanistic Organic Chemistry
CHEM 311/3.0
General Chemistry
CHEM 112/6.0
Main Group Chemistry
CHEM 211/3.0
Organic Reactions
CHEM 223/3.0
Biological Chemistry
CHEM 323/3.0
Second Semester
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Differential and Integral Calculus
MATH 120/6.0
Rings and Fields
MATH 210/3.0
Life Contingencies
MATH 385/3.0
Introduction to Galois Theory
MATH 414/3.0
Microeconomic Theory I
ECON 121/3.0
Differential Equations
MATH 231/3.0
Applied Methods in Statistics
STAT 361/3.0
Algebraic Topology
MATH 443/3.0
Vector Calculus
MATH 211/3.0
Statistics And Probability II
STAT 269/3.0
Linear Algebra
MATH 312/3.0
Information Theory
MATH 474/3.0
Complex Analysis
MATH228/3.0
Differential Equations
MATH 232/3.0
Evolutionary Game theory
MATH 339/3.0
Mathematics with a Historic
Perspective
MATH 381
Introduction to Statistics
MATH 263/3.0
Applications of Numerical Methods
MATH 272/3.0
Differential Geometry
MATH 341/3.0
Graph Theory
MATH 401/3.0
2"Degree
Plans." Queen's University. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.queensu.ca/artsci/sites/default/files/Degree%20Plans.pdf>
2
Salaries
A mathematician’s salary can vary depending upon their experience and field of work. An
actuary typically starts out at $40K to $60K.3 The actuary then must move their way up
through the ranks towards management. Someone in a management position could
potentially earn 150K per annum.4 The average salary for a mathematician is $104,293.5 This
average has been steadily rising by about $2000 per year.6
3,4"Mathematician
Salary." Career Cruising. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2014.
<https://www2.careercruising.com/careers/earnings/529>
5,6"Mathematician." My Blueprint. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2014.
<https://core.myblueprint.ca/Students/Compare-Programs.aspx?id=O.1320>
Related Careers
Software Engineer
Software engineers design, maintain and create
software for almost any kind of job. They write code
for the computers and phones we use. They even
create the safety protocols on the I.S.S.
Actuary
Use numbers and rates to create statistics for
banks, investors, governments, and credit unions.
Meteorologist
Gathers data on the climate of the planet. Study the
effects of global warming on weather patterns.
Employment Opportunities
The hiring outlook for mathematicians is one filled with opportunity. He need for people with a high
level of math education is rising due to the increase in technology, population, and electronics. Who else
would calculate the amount of fuel needed to reach Mars during the upcoming mission to colonize the red
planet Mars? Mathematicians are the brains behind the phones you hold, the lights you see, and yes, even
the cars you drive. According to the University of Waterloo, Mathematician is one of the best jobs that
someone can get with a math degree.
Interesting Facts
It is possible to drill a square hole.
Pi will never repeat itself and never ends.
A mathematician named William Shanks attempted to calculate pi to the 707th
decimal place but made an error at the 528th digit, therefore everything after
was wrong.
• In 1997, a divide by zero error occurred when a crew member entered “a” in the
database on board of the USS Yorktown, a billion dollar navy smart boat,
brought down all the machines on the network causing the ship’s thrust system
to fail.
• There are just four numbers (after 1) which are the sums of the cubes of their
digits:
153 = 1^3 + 5^3 + 3^3
370 = 3^3 + 7^3 + 0^3
371 = 3^3 + 7^3 + 1^3
407 = 4^3 + 0^3 + 7^3
•
•
•
Budget
Expenses
Year 1 ($)
Year 2 ($)
Year 3 ($)
Year 4 ($)
Food
3600
3600
3600
3600
Tuition 7
5706
5706
5706
5706
Computer/Electronics
2300
Insurance
2200
2200
2200
2200
Books/supplies
1400
1400
1400
1400
Residential 8
12000 (residence)
6600 (apartment)
6600 (apartment)
6600 (apartment)
Transportation
240
240
240
240
Gas
1000
1000
1000
1000
Entertainment
1200
1200
1200
1200
Cell Phone
1440
1440
1400
1400
Shopping
2100
2100
2100
2100
Vacation
2500
2500
2500
2500
Necessities
500
500
500
500
Safety Money
4000
4000
4000
4000
Total per annum
40186
32486
32486
32486
Grand Total
137644
Amount supplied by parent: $38000/a
Personal income: $3000/a
Total Income:41000
Total expenses:40186
7,8"Determining Your
This means I have met the requirements for the expenses
and will not need to take out a loan.
Budget." Queens University. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.queensu.ca/admission/financing/budget.html>
Conclusion
I have learned that going to university is far more complex than I
originally thought. It requires you to micromanage many tasks, whether
they be, with your classes or living on your own.
Yes I would still love to become a mathematician. I would like to do far
more broad research about the career though. I am still unsure about the
intricacies of the job and would like to determine these.
I have not made any changes to my original secondary education
timetable.
Bibliography
"Degree Plans." Queen's University. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.queensu.ca/artsci/sites/default/files/Degree%20Plans.pdf>
"Determining Your Budget." Queens University. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.queensu.ca/admission/financing/budget.html>
"Mathematician." Dictionary of Occupational Titles. N.p., 23 May 2003. Web. 20 Mar. 2014.
<http://occupationalinfo.org/02/020067014.html>
"Mathematician." My Blueprint. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2014.
<https://core.myblueprint.ca/Students/Compare-Programs.aspx?id=O.1320>
"Mathematician Salary." Career Cruising. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2014.
<https://www2.careercruising.com/careers/earnings/529>
https://math.uwaterloo.ca/math/future-undergraduates/careers-mathematics
http://www.queensu.ca/artsci/sites/default/files/Courses.pdf
Reflection
Desires
1.What career are you interested in pursuing?
I am interested in becoming a mathematician.
2.What attracts you to this career?
I love math in general and a career in this field would suit me best.
3. What are the pros and cons to this career?
The pros include doing what I love, great salary, and working around others with the same interests. I can only think of one
con and that would be that I may be required to write theoretical papers.
Skills
1.What are some of the transferable skills that you have presently that are good for this career?
I have a good worth ethic, I love the subject, and am a logical person.
2.Are there any skills that you think you need to develop?
No, I think I am well equipped for this career.
3. What is your learning style?
I am a visual learner.
4. Will your learning style match the career?
Yes I am able to visualize mathematic problems in more than one way. I see more than numbers, but rather the connections
and correlations.
Personality
1. What is your personality style?
I am a slightly introverted person but am bale to socialize well with people.
2 does your personality match the career?
Yes I am able to work on my own to solve the mathematic and numeric problems, but also explain them to others.
Reflections
Experiences
1. What experiences do you have to prepare you for this career?
Math class is the only experience I have with this path.
2. Are there other experiences you need?
I may need experiences in the higher levels of arithmetic and mathematics but that will come in time.
Action plan
1.When completing the orange school course selection sheet, did you discover during your discussion with your guidance councilor that
changes might be required?
I have not met with my guidance councilor yet.