Why Study Mathematics?

Vicky Neale

The third title in our Why Study series is Why Study Mathematics? by Vicky Neale.

Considering studying maths at university? Wondering whether a maths degree will get you a good job, and what you might earn? Want to know what it’s actually like to study maths at degree level? This book tells you what you need to know.

Studying any subject at degree level is an investment in the future that involves significant cost. Now more than ever, students and their parents need to weigh up the potential benefits of university courses. That’s where the Why Study series comes in. This series of books, aimed at students, parents and teachers, explains in practical terms the range and scope of an academic subject at university level and where it can lead in terms of careers or further study. Each book tries to both enthuse the reader about its subject and answer the crucial questions that a college prospectus does not.

For orders of five or more copies of this book, or for more than one book from the Why Study series, we would be able to offer a discount if you email lpp@londonpublishingpartnership.co.uk

Praise for Why Study Mathematics?

Why Study Mathematics? is an insightful guide for anyone consider­ing studying mathematics at university. It explains the sort of maths you can expect to find and how it will be taught, and highlights the wide variety of career options that a maths degree opens up. It also includes important examples of where maths is used in the real world. I recommend it to all prospective maths students and their parents.

— Nick Higham, Royal Society Research Professor and Richardson Professor of
Applied Mathematics, University of Manchester

The mystery of a mathematics degree – what it is, where it leads and why it’s useful – is unlocked in this easy read. Detailed, accessible and broad ranging, Vicky Neale refines the  complex and varying nature of high-level mathematics into an understandable, useful and relatable form. An ideal guide for A level maths students when pondering their next steps.

— Kerry Burnham, Headteacher of Exeter Maths School

An essential read for anyone considering studying mathematics at university. Vicky Neale takes you through what to expect in your studies, and explains the practical uses and beauty of a mathematics degree.

— James Grime, lecturer, public speaker and Numberphile presenter

Why Study Mathematics? explores in depth the various options that a maths degree has to offer as well as providing expert guidance on what to expect from a maths degree. Neale addresses all the questions that an enthusiastic mathematician considering a maths degree might have. She refutes the myth that studying maths beyond school/college is restrictive or overwhelmingly challenging. Neale’s book is both informative and engaging: it made me want to study a mathematics degree all over again, or at least revisit certain topics that are discussed. I highly recommend this book to any student or maths enthusiast wanting to study mathematics at university. Being a mathematics teacher myself, this book is definitely a resource I shall be directing A level students to.

— Rebecca Blazewicz, mathematics teacher, Bristol Grammar School

Another great book from Vicky Neale. An extremely useful guide for students (and their advisors!) on studying mathematics at university.

— Dr Kevin Houston, School of Mathematics, University of Leeds

Why Study Mathematics? is superb! It will be the very first book that I will recommend to students who wish to study mathematics at university, as it provides a very easy-to-follow guide to the many fascinating areas and branches of mathematics that could be studied during a mathematics degree and to the ever-growing number of careers that require one. Neale provides compelling insight not just into how useful mathematics is in today’s modern world, but also into what an essential and integral element of everyday life the subject is. The book provides wonderful examples of how mathematics is used in today’s ever-evolving world, from its involvement in online shopping and JPEG compression to the way it’s used to analyse climate change. The beauty of mathematics is also revealed through Escher’s paintings, many elegant equations and the intriguing world of infinities, all of which should inspire students to go and find out more.

— Jason Hudson, Director of Mathematics, Wilson’s School

This book is impressively thorough in its treatment of the factors that a student might consider, both in navigating the intimidating variation of choice in mathematical courses and in exploring the essence of what maths is and the subject’s implications in a wide variety of industrial and research settings. Vicky Neale is clearly someone who not only has a deep knowledge of maths, from SIR models to JPEG compression, but also has extensive experience in helping students both in the lead up to university and beyond. I highly recommend it to any student, including both those who are just exploring their university options and those who are already set on a mathematics degree and want to explore the short-term and longer-term implications of their choice.

— Dr Jamie Frost, teacher at Tiffin School, founder of DrFrostMaths and Top 10 Finalist for the Global Teacher Prize 2020

Why Study Mathematics? is awesome! It’s absolutely the book I wish I’d had as a sixth former, when, truth be told, you don’t really know what studying a maths degree is. It’s beautifully written and really engaging, and it represents a great starting point from which to explore all the different maths courses that are available. Crucially, it helps you formulate the questions you need to ask the tutors on those different courses to help you work out where will be the best place for you to study.

— Sophie Carr, founder of Bays Consulting and Aperiodical’s ‘World’s Most Interesting Mathematician’

This book is essential reading for A level students who are thinking about a maths degree. The reader is given an accurate picture of what to expect on a maths degree course and what employment opportunities may follow. The descriptions and examples are perfectly chosen and do a great job of showing why the subject is so interesting and enjoyable.

— David Ireland, maths teacher, Heyford Park Free School

About the author

Vicky Neale is the Whitehead Lecturer at the Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, and a Supernumerary Fellow at Balliol College. She teaches pure mathematics to undergraduates, and combines this with work on public engagement with mathematics: she gives public lectures, leads workshops with school students, and has appeared on numerous BBC radio and television programmes.

One of her current interests is in using knitting and crochet to explore mathematical ideas.

She is the author of Closing the Gap: The Quest to Understand Prime Numbers (Oxford University Press, 2017).