Mathematics and Statistics (DRAFT): Introduction

Mathematics and statistics can feel challenging, and that is entirely normal!

As Michael Brooks notes in his fascinating book The Art of More: How Mathematics Created Civilisation, humans are born with an approximate number sense, essentially 1, 2, 3, more.

“When it comes to a natural ability with numbers, we're no better off than many other species. Humans are born only with what is now known as an 'approximate number sense'. That means that, in its raw state, your brain doesn't bother specifying when there are more than three of something. So, when a human baby sees four apples, the sight is logged as 'many' or 'more'. Our natural system is ‘1, 2, 3, more.’” (Brooks, 2021, p. 2)

In effect, we were all born “bad at maths”!

Maths is something humans have developed - and struggled with - throughout thousands of years, and passed down from teacher to student. 

Maths needs to be learnt. It takes effort, but the rewards are enormous.

Far more than abstract numbers on a page, mathematics and statistics quietly power almost every aspect of our world. Think for example of:

• The internet – a vast, invisible architecture of algorithms and cryptography connecting billions of people every second.
• Mobile phones – a miracle of number theory, signal processing, and encryption, all made invisible yet indispensable.
• Supermarket shelves – behind every piece of fruit and loaf of bread lies a web of calculations in logistics, refrigeration, and pricing.
• Stories and music – cinema, gaming, and streaming exist thanks to the algorithms that turn numbers into experiences.
• Cities that breathe – the geometry of bridges, the flow of traffic, the elegance of skylines are all shaped by mathematical vision.
• Global travel – from soaring aircraft to GPS in your pocket, mathematics charts the skies and guides you across the world.
• Longer, healthier lives – from MRI scans to medical research, mathematics illuminates the body and helps us live decades longer.
• Wealth and security – finance, underpinned by statistics and models of risk, fuels trade and opportunity across the globe.
• Cosmic understanding – equations reveal the birth of stars, the fate of galaxies, and the unfolding story of the universe itself.

Arguably, mathematics is the hidden thread that binds together the fabric of civilisation (Brooks, 2021, p. 286).

Brooks, M. (2021) The art of more: how mathematics created civilisation. London: Scribe Publications.

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Basic numeracy and a grasp of statistics are essential life skills: they help you make sense of the numbers in the news, research, and everyday decisions. But mathematics and statistics also play a crucial role in your degree studies. For example:

• Economics, Finance & Business – analysing markets, investment, risk, and growth.
• Computer Science – algorithms, data science, and AI rely on mathematical foundations.
• Construction & Architecture – precision measurement, structural stability, and design.
• Criminology & Social Sciences – interpreting surveys, crime data, and statistical evidence.
• Biomedical Studies – evaluating medical research, drug trials, and health statistics.
• Law – negotiating settlements, interpreting financial data, and evaluating evidence.
• Fashion & Creative Industries – from sizing and pattern-making to market analysis and logistics.

Whatever you study, maths and statistics give you a sharper, more confident way to engage with the world.

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