Kunle Adelabu
A retired Professor of Mathematics, Prof. Michael O. Ajetunmobi, has stated that Mathematics is an abstract and an art subject and never a science as wrongly hold by many.
He made this clarification while lamenting the loss of interest in the study of Mathematics, especially among students.
The Professor of Mathematics spoke with THE IMPACT on Sunday.
Ajetunmobi, who lectured Mathematics for 45 years in Lagos State University (LASU), University of Ibadan (UI) and Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile – Ife, also stated that the horrific perception of the subject stemmed from the misconception that it is a science.
“I think that we all are making a mistake. Mathematics is abstract. I think that the problem is from our upbringing, we were not taught to think abstractly. People think science and science is not Mathematics”, Prof. Ajetunmobi said.
“In science, you see things and make observations but nothing like that in Mathematics. It’s purely abstract and anybody can do Mathematics.
“Let me again correct this impression, Mathematics is not science. It’s an Art; it’s like dancing, music and not science at all. That is the beginning of the error we have with Mathematics”, he emphasized.
Ajetunmobi, who stated that he lectured the course many students considered dreadful for 45 years in the universities, expressed his disappointment at the dearth of students studying Mathematics and prefer to study other courses.
He also clarified that Statistics is no way Mathematics because of its process.
“I lectured for 45 years in Lagos State University, University of Ibadan and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile – Ife. Coming back to what we have now, Mathematics is changing face. People are running away from abstract Mathematics. They rather do some other things”, the Professor of Mathematics stated disappointedly.
“I am a Geometer, unfortunately, we don’t have any again. People are now doing other forms of Mathematics that relate to Computer Science which is just ordinary science”, he lamented.
“Secondly, Statistics is not Mathematics. It is a different course on its own. In Statistics, you will take data and try to analyse it. There is nothing like taking data in Mathematics”.
