Those at research institutions conduct both pure and applied research in addition to their teaching and administrative duties. Many of the growing number of mathematicians in business, government or industry have a secondary area of specialization to which they apply their mathematical knowledge. This secondary area may be economics and finance, as in the case of the actuary who designs insurance policies and pension plans and evaluates the financial risks a company takes in implementation. The secondary area could be physical science. Mathematicians at General Motors use computer models to predict whether a specific type of metal can be shaped into a particular design and to forecast how different materials will wear under various types of stress.
Statistics is yet another useful secondary field.
They found that the results of just one short engine test were statistically equivalent to the results of the 40 longer tests previously required. And of course, mathematics and computer sciences is a very marketable combination. Mathematicians with this specialization work on computer methods, systems and software. For example, they may provide support to others on the application of software to mathematical problems. Thus, there are varied opportunities for mathematicians who understand the problems of another field and are willing to use their skills in modeling and analyzing them.