Mathematics in Advancements of Science and Technology "Boon for Society"

Abstract

Literally, mathematics means “science of measurement and counting”. It is clear that counting plays a vital role in our daily life; just imagine that if there were no mathematics at all, how would it be possible for anyone to count members of the family, number of students in the class, rupees in the pocket, runs in a cricket match, goals scored in a hockey match, days in a week , in a month, in a year , for a beggar to count the coins collected or even for a shepherd to count his sheeps ? On a basic level, you need to be able to count, add, subtract, multiply, and divide. To a scientist, mathematics is an analytic tool applied to experimental data, hoping to generate a formula describing some basic tendency of nature. Also, mathematics can be used with existing theory to deduce an unknown quantity. Mathematicians resolve and find out the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proof.When mathematical structures are good models of real phenomena, then mathematical reasoning can provide insight or more precisely, predictions about nature.. The research required to solve mathematical problems can take years or even centuries of sustained inquiry ,systematic thinking,objective reasoning and sincere effort.

Roger Bacon (1214-1294), an English Franciscan Friar, philosopher, scientist and scholar of the 13th century, once stated: "Neglect of mathematics works injury to all knowledge, since person being ignorant of it cannot know the other sciences or the things of the world."

Mathematics has not only played an important role in the development of modern technology but it still continues to play a critical role in expanding fields of science and technology because of the basic requirement that research needs to be able to quantify and precisely evaluate the results of changes/advances in a field of undertaking. Doctors not only have to use basic arithmetic to calculate what dosage of a particular drug will be effective for your height and body over a specific period of time. As research is done to develop new treatments for medical conditions, knowing the amount of medication administered is critical when evaluating the effect of the treatment, just as knowing exactly how much of what chemicals went into creating the medication. As soon as amounts are adjusted and the outcomes are analysed , the mathematical data thus created may be used to extrapolate further possible treatment procedures or doses for the patients. Medical scientists working with cardiologists use differential equations to study blood flow dynamics.  As new methods of building or manufacturing goods are developed, mathematical formulae and models can be applied to test the structural and functional stability of the design before it is produced on large scales, thus saving millions of dollars and precious time. Computer-aided design is becoming more and more important in this type of use and it is all based on application of mathematics. The areas like advanced semi-conductor devices, bio-technology, digital image technology, Nano-technology, artificial satellites, and rockets all are based on mathematical concepts. The recent success of  ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle is also based on mathematics.

Mathematics continues to lead the way in many scientific and technological developments. Architecture, navigation and mechanics are all examples of core components of our civilization that rely heavily on mathematics.