Math as Storytelling

I once heard a quote from a math professor who said “math is storytelling”. His perspective was surprising but seemingly logical when you considered the roots of mathematics. To me, math means sharing information about the world, analyzing useful data and ultimately painting a picture to understand our world. A large part of this process is done through mathematical modelling which uses math to simulate responses to real-world systems.

The idea of “modelling” is really abstract and has many applications in multiple different industries. During the covid-19 pandemic as an example, scientists heavily relied on modelling to predict rates of transmission and to help health officials decide the most effective allocation of resources.

However, covid-19 is not the only application of modelling. In recent years modelling has been used to greatly benefit countries, especially those where infectious diseases are prevalent. For example, in India, models have been used to predict the impact of a proposed new highway on the spread of HIV/AIDS. Similarly in Kenya, models have been used to help understand the spread of malaria and decide actions to take in the pervention of the disease.

Ultimately, math is much more than questions you are forced to answer on a test. Instead, math, when applied properly, truly has the potential to change the world and make a meaningful impact on the lives of others.