# What Will Majoring in Math Do For You?

Many uses:

"Mathematical careers outside of academia rarely carry a simple title of 'mathematician.'" According to the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics there are many jobs that utilize mathematics in our modern society, from engineering, data analysis, to actuarial and accounting work.

Getting a degree in mathematics shows employers that you are logical and good at solving problems, as well as showing a desire to take on difficult challenges.

It pays.

Actuaries are among the top paying jobs in America, according to Forbes actuaries have a mean salary of over $80,000. Mathematicians have an average salary of over$100,000.  According to research from the University of Vanderbilt adding a second major in mathematics to any degree can raise the average salary by up to 25 percent!  Mathematics based jobs were 3 of the top 4 jobs according to this CNBC article, with Mathematician taking the top spot.

It's fun!

Can you resist a puzzle when you see one? No. Great!  If you like solving problems, puzzles, or using logic just for the fun of it Mathematics may be right for you.

Mathematics can teach you new ways to solve puzzles, win games, and succeed at difficult problems.  Not to mention, just how far away from the practical logic can take you.

Say you go to a party and the host asks you to play a game by completing certain tasks.  One task is to shake hands with two different people, and only two different people.  If everyone who comes to the party is playing will everyone be able to shake the hands of exactly two other people?  Or will someone be left out?

The answer to this question is given by the Hand-Shaking Lemma, which is taught in MTH 438/538 (Theory and Application of Graphs).

Have you ever seen the game Chomp before?   if you are tired of losing to the computer MTH 437/537 (Game Theory and Related Topics) might help you understand the computer’s strategy.

Did you play Dots and Boxes with your family and friends when you were younger?  MTH 437/537 (Game Theory and Related Topics) might help you find a winning strategy. (Forget what it is, search online or click here:)

Like games? Here’s one you might learn how to win in MTH 437/537 (Game Theory and Related Topics).  It’s called Nim

Want to figure out how much of a two different vitamin supplements to take in addition to your multivitamin sot that you don’t go over a healthy amount of any given vitamin but get the most of each possible?  MTH 432/532 (Optimization) will teach you how to solve the problem with math!

Math-related extracurriculars:

Miami University has many mathematics related clubs:

Pi Delta Mu