Mathematicians
"A mathematician, like a painter or poet, is a maker of patterns. If his patterns are more permanent than theirs, it is because they are made with ideas."
G. H. Hardy
G. H. Hardy
What is a Mathematician?
What is a mathematician? How you answer this will depend on what experience you have with mathematicians (and probably mathematics). Below is Wikipedia's view of what a mathematician is. I would like to point out that the title mathematician is just that a title. Mathematics is a way of thinking and doing things. Thus in order to "be" a mathematician you must think in mathematical terms and approach problems from a particular (justified) viewpoint. In addition you also need extensive knowledge in your area of mathematics (or more reasonably more than one area in mathematics) and be able to use this knowledge to solve problems, further mathematical knowledge, etc. A analogy could be in order here. Is a person a doctor just because they claim to be? Is a person a doctor if they have no knowledge of medicine? Is a person a doctor if they took some classes? Is your anatomy teacher a doctor or a teacher? Good questions. I would say a person is a doctor because they have been trained by other doctors to be a doctor and have practiced for many years and are currently practicing medicine (the "discipline" of doctors). Hopefully, they have a current license which checks that all of this is true. So a mathematician is one who has been trained by other mathematicians (by some means) and has practiced for many years and is currently practicing mathematics. Usually a Phd. certifies all of this as most professional mathematicians have or eventually get a Phd.
A mathematician is a person with an extensive knowledge of mathematics who uses this knowledge in their work, typically to solve mathematical problems. Mathematics is concerned with numbers, data, collection, quantity, structure, space,models and change.
Mathematicians involved with solving problems outside of pure mathematics are called applied mathematicians. Applied mathematicians are mathematical scientists who, with their specialized knowledge and professional methodology, approach many of the imposing problems presented in related scientific fields. With professional focus on a wide variety of problems, theoretical systems, and localized constructs, applied mathematicians work regularly in the study and formulation of mathematical models. Mathematicians and applied mathematicians are considered to be two of the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) careers.[1]
The discipline of applied mathematics concerns itself with mathematical methods that are typically used in science, engineering, business, and industry; thus, "applied mathematics" is a mathematical science with specialized knowledge. The term "applied mathematics" also describes the professional specialty in which mathematicians work on problems, often concrete but sometimes abstract. As professionals focused on problem solving, applied mathematicians look into the formulation, study, and use of mathematical models in science, engineering, business, and other areas of mathematical practice.
Wikipedia
Mathematicians involved with solving problems outside of pure mathematics are called applied mathematicians. Applied mathematicians are mathematical scientists who, with their specialized knowledge and professional methodology, approach many of the imposing problems presented in related scientific fields. With professional focus on a wide variety of problems, theoretical systems, and localized constructs, applied mathematicians work regularly in the study and formulation of mathematical models. Mathematicians and applied mathematicians are considered to be two of the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) careers.[1]
The discipline of applied mathematics concerns itself with mathematical methods that are typically used in science, engineering, business, and industry; thus, "applied mathematics" is a mathematical science with specialized knowledge. The term "applied mathematics" also describes the professional specialty in which mathematicians work on problems, often concrete but sometimes abstract. As professionals focused on problem solving, applied mathematicians look into the formulation, study, and use of mathematical models in science, engineering, business, and other areas of mathematical practice.
Wikipedia