Mathematics in the Real World

While some people fall in love with the elegance of mathematical thinking and reasoning, others care more about how math applies to real-life challenges. In this course, we aim to capture both perspectives. We’ll introduce six different areas of mathematics—some of which may seem purely theoretical at first—and for each, we’ll highlight one real-life application. The goal of the course is to broaden your understanding of the many fields of mathematics, why they exist, and how the language of math helps us describe, understand, or even improve the world. Along the way, you’ll also get a sneak peek at what university-level mathematics might look like.
In the lectures, you’ll have the chance to participate in discussions and solve problems. The style will vary depending on the topic—when discussing graphs, we’ll explore fun, interactive problems, while in geometry, we’ll focus more on the motivation and intuition behind key concepts. And don’t worry, no prior knowledge is required. All you need is enthusiasm—or maybe just a willingness to give math a chance if it hasn’t caught your interest yet!
Topics:
1. Linear Algebra and Netflix: What are vectors and matrices, and how do they play a role in recommending your next movie to watch?
2. Number Theory and Secure Payments: What do we know (and not know) about prime numbers? And how do their properties keep your credit card payments safe?
3. Group Theory and Molecular Classification: What is a group, and how does symmetry, as a mathematical concept, help us study the properties of molecules?
4. Graph Theory and Google Maps: What kinds of graph problems exist? And how does Google Maps find the shortest route for your next trip?
5. Mathematical Analysis and Music: What does this discipline deal with, and how does it help us understand sound waves?
6. Geometry and the Theory of Relativity: What kinds of geometries are out there, and why are they useful to us?

(The order may change.)

Bára Tížková

Bára has always been captivated by solving puzzles and competing in math contests where only paper and her own mind were permitted. During her studies at Charles University in Prague, she developed a deep passion for the elegance and beauty of mathematics itself. With experience in private tutoring, her greatest joy lies in sharing this excitement with others and finding ways to make seemingly complex concepts more intuitive and accessible. She is also fascinated by the many places where mathematics plays a crucial role and plans to include real-world examples in her course. Currently, she works as an analyst on improving algorithmic trading strategies using statistics and machine learning algorithms. In her free time, Bára enjoys sports and playing the piano (mainly), and she is always eager to discuss the interesting connection between math and music.