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Sagar Limbu
Applications of Mathematics in the Software development
The massive advancement in the field of technology has been huge phenomena in recent
decades. The rapid emergence of new technologies each year have been on the verge of
developing better tools to deal different problems. Developing new operative tools, programs,
software embedded machines via technology is a great achievement of the modern generation.
Application of new technologies gives the ability to handle complex problems more than before.
Today, the features of the technologies are applied in various fields, from modern infrastructures
to daily routine operations. The larger part of our regular activities heavily depends on the usage
of technology. Likewise, advanced technology programs handle massive amounts of day-to-day
tasks. However, building such technical applications and software programs require complex
algorithms and understanding the fragments of the structure. To grasp a better understanding, the
software development programs demands the knowledge of several disciplines. The rigorous
conceptualization of Mathematics will provide deep knowledge in order to conduct and execute
the entire programming software.
Among the wide spectrum of technological discipline, a software program is one of the
vital components in the current generation and for years to come. The implementation of
software programs embedded in the machines can perform complex problem-solving operations.
Software engineers and programmers write the codes to build a software that performs a specific
task in order to achieve the desired output. The theoretical application of mathematics goes hand
to hand during the software development process. Moreover, many scholars believe that the
knowledge of mathematics is important in the developing a precise problem-solving software.
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Thus, building the advanced software programs by the integration of deep-knowledge on
mathematical reasoning and formal methods will enhance the productivity of software programs.
Various studies and research have proven a strong correlation between knowledge of
mathematics and computer science courses. Perhaps, the initial stage of the software developing
practices which requires mathematical background for the effective programming skills. Many
scholars argue that educating the peer with mathematics discipline makes a strong base for any
individuals involved in the software engineering field. Furthermore, most of the operations and
activities that require problem-solving skills lie under the mathematical thinking and concepts.
For example, developing a software program that sorts out the distribution of a limited package
to large number of employees based on their records of achievements and certain traits. It can be
time consuming factor, so, algorithms that performs mathematical operations can be designed in
order to solve common problems.
The entire discipline of engineering demands the employees to have knowledge of
mathematics and its concepts. Learning mathematics and ability to apply the concepts in real-
world applications can be mandatory in some companies. Even several employers could demand
computing researchers and software developers to be reasonable on various problems. Especially
on their presented solutions, in both informal and formal ways. Such reasoning on desired
outcome is solely based on analysis, synthesis, and evaluation, which are the core levels of
mathematical understanding before concluding the event. The workforce achieves the basic
concepts of mathematics and its importance in the real-world applications during the college
period. For this reason, colleges and universities around the world focus in establishing the
mathematical courses along the computer courses before deploying the students into the real
world. Moreover, as an indication of what strong undergraduate computers science programs
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around the worlds consider appropriate mathematics content, “We examined the mathematics
requirements of 25 of the first 26 programs listed in the US News and World Reports best
universities in computer science in 2012.” (Baldwin et.al, 2013) So, it is an important technique
for educational system to integrate the mathematical courses with computer courses, to give an
overall sense of how the core knowledge of mathematics is linked up with the computer science
education.
In-depth understanding of the mathematical concepts paves the foundation of building the
structural design of the entire software program. Further knowledge on mathematical topics
broadens the idea for creating productive software applications. The ability of an individual to
understand the mathematical core concepts and the ability of a software engineer on the
programming concepts are same. Since both, the disciplines elaborate the entire subject based
upon the reasoning of ‘abstraction’. (Baldwin et. al, 2013) The role of reasoning lies in the
ability to deal abstraction or the scenario based upon the abstractive features. Furthermore, the
ability to give reasoning response under the certain circumstances of any obtained outcome can
be learned in a timely manner. It is performed by the rigorous practices and undertaking the core
concepts of the mathematical approach. The underlying concept of mathematics, abstract
reasoning, can improve immensely in the ability of a programmer to reason abstractly on the
programming software as well. A researcher on engineering and mathematics, Keith Devlin,
suggests, “the connection between mathematical and programming ability lies in abstraction’s
essential role in both math and software development.” (Baldwin et. al, 2002) To further explain
on abstract reasoning, formal methods of the mathematical element help in specifying the
software system features. The knowledge of mathematical concepts can be implemented to draw
a logic in defining the abstractive feature in a software program. Such feature can be the design
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itself which can be abstract in nature, or the structural arrangement of the software program built
upon inner abstraction of the large organized structure. One example of similar activity would be
the differences in the system produced using formal specifications and the system with the
absence of formal methods. The system implementing the formal methods detected fewer
defects, ran faster, and had a simpler code structure. In the workplace of air traffic control project
where some parts developed by applying formal methods and some without. (Baldwin &
Henderson, 2002) In the conclusion part, the experts found out that formal methods in
conjunction with other techniques improved software quality.
Today, we hear the terminology ‘machine learning’ more than before. So, what is
