Mathematics Mathematics was a field of study using signs and numbers . One who studied mathematics was known as a mathematician . ( ) Some species were better in mathematics than others . The Qomar in particular were a species of mathematicians , to the point that the number of digits of Pi one could calculate was of social interest on their homeworld . Taresian s also claimed to have a gift for math . ( ) Vulcan brain wave s were described as " mathematically perfect " by Leonard McCoy . ( ) Perhaps aware of this fact , Charles Tucker once commented that he would be the last to question T ' Pol ' s mathematics . ( ) Applications . Math was a powerful tool with broad applications in science and engineering . A holographic representation of already noted that a bird was just a mechanical instrument ruled by mathematical laws . From this he theorized that he too could build a flying machine . During the 20th century , Jack wanted to study mathematics in college so that he could go into mechanical engineering . ( ) Nella Daren tried to predict how an emerging star system would look in two million years using a mathematical model . A mathematical probability of three million inhabitable planets in the galaxy was suggested by Leonard McCoy . Two of Nine ( real name Lansor ) also recalled working with mathematics and equations before he became a Borg drone . ( ) A more tragical application of mathematics was in the Eminiar - Vendikar War , where computers used mathematical models to select casualties . Some problems were beyond the possibilities of mathematics . For example , the Traveler told Wesley Crusher that in order to free his mother , Beverly Crusher , from a static warp bubble , they had to leave the equations behind and go beyond mathematics . ( ) On the plus side , unsolvable math questions sometimes proved to be useful in defeating rogue computers . ( ) In communications . According to the great linguist Hoshi Sato , math was just another language , a view she demonstrated by easily decrypting the locking sequence to a decontamination chamber . ( ) Indeed , math could be key to establishing communications with alien civilizations ; When attempting to communicate with the , Nomad sent out a mathematical message , requesting language equivalence as a basis for learning how to communicate with the ship . ( ) Similarly , the pre - warp inhabitants of a Weird Planet Displaced in Time in the Delta Quadrant attempted to use math to communicate with a sky ship trapped in their planet ' s orbit . ( ) Jean - Luc Picard also tried to demonstrate his knowledge of math when he found himself captured by an unseen species . ( ) Education . Due to its importance , math was widely taught to children in the Federation and other civilizations . Keiko O ' Brien considered it her job as a teacher to open children ' s minds to , amongst other things , mathematics . ( ) When Uhura was undergoing the process of re - educating herself , Nurse Christine Chapel commented on her progress , saying that the communications officer " " seems to have an aptitude for mathematics . " " ( ) Some children enjoyed math more than others . While Kathryn Janeway kept solving math problems even while other children were playing , William T . Riker spent many math classes dreaming of being on a starship . Even so , Janeway claimed to still have nightmares about her calculus classes at Starfleet Academy years later . ( , ) Joshua Albert also struggled with math while at the Academy . ( ) Dr . Arik Soong taught his augment s math , and once had held Lokesh back in the subject . In 2154 , Soong expressed disbelief of his earlier action when the Augment explained a complicated algorithm he was creating . ( ) While playing Lucille Davenport in the holonovel " Janeway Lambda one " , Kathryn Janeway assured Henry Burleigh that he ' ll find her mathematics and sciences lessons very challenging , after he doubted she could teach him because of her incomplete knowledge of Latin . ( ) According to his his daughter , mathematics was never one of Forra Gegen ' s strong points . ( ) For a while , Kamin ' s son wanted to be a mathematician . ( ) The artificial intelligence member of the Think Tank was described by Kurros as having " " the mind of a mathematician and the soul of an artist . " " ( ) Cultural relevance . While some considered mathematics boring , it also inspired great passion in many people . Earth astronomer Tycho Brahe lost his nose in a duel over a math equation . ( ) . Stano Riga , thought to be one of the greatest comedian s , specialized in jokes about Quantum mathematics . ( ) Jean - Luc Picard enjoyed trying to prove Fermat ' s last theorem , because to him " " it puts things in perspective , " " clarifying that , " " in our arrogance , we feel we are so advanced , and yet we cannot unravel a simple knot tied by a part - time French mathematician , working alone , without a computer . " " ( ) Seven of Nine seemed to enjoy music mainly because of its " intriguing mathematical properties " . three - dimensional chess was also based on basic mathematical principles . ( ) Apocrypha . In the " " novel " The Lives of Dax " , Skon is portrayed as a mathematician .