Believing in Mathematics airs on NPR's "This I Believe"

December 10, 2009

Robert Rodini earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics in the early 1970s and has had a successful career as a well respected software engineer. Now, almost 40 years later, Rodini is back in the classroom studying to become a mathematics teacher. He talked about his career odyssey and the benefits of mathematics to society in a recent episode of "This I Believe" broadcast on radio station WHYY in Philadelphia.

"I believe in mathematics," said Rodini in his essay. "I believe this not because I'm great at math, but because the subject inspires me. It inspired me as an undergraduate 40 years ago, and it inspires me anew as a graduate student. It will continue to inspire me in the future when I begin a second career as a mathematics teacher."

Rodini's essay talked about the life values that one can learn from mathematics; notably, open-mindedness, humility, perseverance, and the avoidance of false generalizations.

In introducing Rodini to the radio audience, the WHYY commentator injected a bit of sarcasm. "While most people, with many exceptions, struggle with math, Rodini says he agrees with Karl Gauss, the 19th century German mathematician, who said that "number theory is the queen of mathematics."

Of course Rodini understands this sentiment. In his essay he said, "I know why some people hate math, but that's just it – there's value in the struggle."

"This I believe" is a public dialogue project that engages people from all walks of life to write essays describing the core values that guide their daily lives. The program is based on Journalist Edward R. Murrow's series that he began in the 1950s. Essays are archived online, heard on public radio, and featured in weekly podcasts.

To read the rest of Rodini's essay, or write your own, visit the "This I Believe" website.

Source: WHYY, November 20, 2009.