Kerry Whisnant, an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan and professor of physics at Iowa State University, may be on to something that will greatly impact team winning percentages. Mathematical models that he and other fanatic baseball statisticians have helped produce may accurately predict teams' successes. Whisnant and other members of the Society for American Baseball Research have analyzed...
Animator
An animator is an artist who creates multiple images called frames and key frames that form an illusion of movement called animation when rapidly displayed. Animators can work in a variety of fields including film, television, video games, and the internet.
Low-end Salary:
$31,570/yr
Median Salary:
$56,330/yr
High-end Salary:
$100,390/yr Education:
Although formal training, such as a Bachelor or Master degree in Fine Arts isn't always required, it can help one who wants to work as an animator develop sought after skills. These programs often include course work in mathematics, art history, studio art, and computer techniques.
Math Required:
College Algebra
Trigonometry
Geometry
Calculus I and II
Linear Algebra
When Math Is Used:
An animator has to have knowledge of many applied math subjects. It allows the animator to find unknowns from a simple set of equations and to work out aspects of geometric figures when you are dealing with objects that move and change. An animator uses linear algebra to show the way that an object is rotated and shifted and made larger and smaller—all major actions in animation.
Potential Employers:
There are only so many jobs at Disney and Pixar, and not every 3D animator wants to work on motion picture cartoons. Animators also find success in computer and console game development, television programming, broadband internet animation, broadcast and web advertising, education, research, and military and corporate training.
Facts:
Generally, an animator will average about a hundred frames a week (that's 4 seconds of actual screen time).
Citations:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animator
http://careerplanning.about.com/od/occupations/p/animator.htm
http://www.skulpt.com/3d-animator-career-options.htm
http://www.pixar.com/artistscorner/gini/interview.html
http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes271014.htm
http://www.animationschoolreview.com/sketches/2005/09/3d-computer-animat...
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Quote Of The Day
"I feel my training in mathematics provided me with the invaluable ability to apply logic, reason, and careful quantitative, as well as qualitative, analysis to my work. These thought processes are desired and applicable to almost any field."
Senior Engineer
Figures represent salary potential.
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Additional support provided by:
Mathematical Association of America