Mathematics is the science of pattern and structure. Like language, religion, and music it is a universal part of human culture. Mathematics has a pervasive influence on our everyday lives, from analysing statistics in medical research to designing safe structures and vehicles, to encrypting personal data to be transmitted securely across the internet. Maths is at the very core of all new technological developments, which include everything from Games Design to Internet Security. Financial transactions and online purchasing systems are underpinned by mathematics, relying heavily on encryption. Two-thirds of the course is pure mathematics including topics such as algebra, functions, trigonometry, and calculus. The remaining content is equally split between the applied topics of mechanics and statistics. Mechanics will involve the study of the physical world, modelling the motion of objects and the forces acting on them. Statistics allows you to work with data from a sample to make inferences about a population, do probability calculations and model real-life data using statistical distributions and hypothesis testing. The Maths department also offers Further Maths and Statistics at A Level - see separate course pages 69 and 82. Please note that Further Mathematics AS Level is available as an additional course in the second year for those students who wish to make competitive entries to maths degree courses and need to extend their mathematical subject knowledge.