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...
Electrical Engineer
Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacture of electrical equipment. Some of this equipment includes electric motors; machinery controls, lighting, and wiring in buildings; automobiles; aircraft; radar and navigation systems; and power generation, control, and transmission devices used by electric utilities.
Low-end Salary:
$56,256/yr
Median Salary:
$89,268/yr
High-end Salary:
$93,933/yr Education:
Engineers typically enter the occupation with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics or an engineering specialty, but some basic research positions may require a graduate degree. Most engineering programs involve a concentration of study in an engineering specialty, along with courses in both mathematics and the physical and life sciences. Engineers offering their services directly to the public must be licensed. Continuing education to keep current with rapidly changing technology is important for engineers.
Math Required:
College Algebra
Geometry
Trigonometry
Calculus I and II
Linear Algebra
Differential Equations
Statistics
When Math Is Used:
There are three keys reasons why mathematics is important for all types of engineers:
- The laws of nature (e.g., Maxwell's equations for electromagnetics, Kirchhoff's Rules for circuit analysis) are mathematical expressions. Mathematics is the language of physical science and engineering.
- Mathematics is more than a tool for solving problems; mathematics courses can develop intellectual maturity.
- Computers do not make traditional mathematical analysis obsolete! First, computer programs contain mathematical relations; understanding these relations is still necessary. Second, debugging computer programs is a difficult art. One of the best ways to validate a program is to compare the computer simulation to the analytical solution for the same situation. Knowledge of traditional mathematical analysis is essential for this method of validating computer programs. Third, it is relatively easy to write brute-force computer code that requires a long runtime and produces significant error, owing to accumulation of errors from the limited resolution of machine numbers. Great increases in both speed and accuracy can be obtained by using analytical solutions for parts of the problem, or by careful development of appropriate algorithms.
Potential Employers:
About 37 percent of engineering jobs are found in manufacturing industries and another 28 percent in professional, scientific, and technical services, primarily in architectural, engineering, and related services. Many engineers also work in the construction, telecommunications, and wholesale trade industries. Some engineers also work for Federal, State, and local governments in highway and public works departments. Ultimately, the type of engineer determines the type of potential employer.
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Quote Of The Day
"Students often ask me what to take in school… my answer?... follow your natural interests, but take lots of math!"
Vice President and General Manager for GE Medical Systems
General Electric Company
Figures represent salary potential.
© BYU Mathematics Department 2009
Additional support provided by:
Mathematical Association of America