This includes familiar modes of transportation and communication—from plans for
airplanes and bridge construction to designing fiber optic cables and cellphone tow-
ers. It also includes how engineers design control systems, which are used in such
diverse areas as robotics, aerospace engineering, and biomedical research.
Why is there such a demand for applied mathematicsin the processing of
images?
The field of image processing has grown immensely in the past few decades. There is a
great demand for an increase in efficient processing of images, especially for multime-
dia, biology, and medicine, such as enhancing the quality of electron microscope and
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) images. In addition, there is a great need to devel-
op ways to store more and more information, especially regarding methods in trans-
mitting and processing the information used in computers and networks. All of these
things require the use of several mathematical techniques—and, thus, the use of
applied mathematics.
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APPLIED MATHEMATICS
One of many practical applications for mathematics includes processing images, which enhances the ability of
electron microscopes like this one to produce more detailed visual information. The Image Bank/Getty Images.