Applied Mathematics is concerned with the use of mathematics to help solve problems in the real world. This means that applied mathematics is involved in innumerable human activities. Three important areas of applied mathematics are modelling, design and analysis.

In mathematical modelling we try to incorporate the essential features of a complex system (such as ocean currents, the national economy, or the human nervous system) into a series of manageable equations. A good model will show how the system works, will predict the future, and will suggest further aspects for study. In the courses MATH2260 Dynamical Systems, and MATH2240 Introduction to Oceanography and Meteorology you can learn about modelling in many contexts, including ecology and economics.

In design you might consider questions such as "What is the best way to locate six ice-cream factories around Australia?" or "How can we help Australia Post with its scheduling problems?" These questions take you into the realms of optimization and operations research, which you can study in the second year courses MATH2140 Operations Research. Questions like "What is the best way to design a robot, or the automatic control system of an aircraft?" lead into control theory, which you can study in the third year course MATH3181 Optimal Control.

Analysis in applied mathematics includes analysis of how best to achieve accuracy in numerical calculations or to use a computer to solve differential equations and other types of equations or to use a supercomputer to evaluate the gigantic integrals that arise in atomic physics. The first such course is MATH2301 Mathematical Computing.

If you are planning to study a major in Applied Mathematics there are some subjects that you must take and a few electives that we would recommend. The two programs available in Mathematics are for Maths Majors and for Math Majors in Advanced Science which includes an honours year. For some subjects you have the option of taking the higher version, for example MATH1141 Higher Maths 1A or MATH1131 Maths 1A. We encourage you to choose the higher option where you feel you are capable especially students in the Advanced Science Program. Our recommended subjects will not fill your total requirements for each year so you are free to choose further subjects within Maths and Science. We suggest you do this in consultation with a member of staff to get the most out of your degree.

See the programs page for all the details of Mathematics study programs, and the undergraduate course descriptions page for details of the courses.