What does math have to do with becoming a doctor?


Quick Answer

Math is crucial to becoming a doctor because doctors use math to determine the right dosage for a drug based on a patient's body type and height. Physicians use mathematical models to conduct medical research. Doctors read medical journal studies containing statistical data to stay updated on new findings that can improve their practice and benefit patients.

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Full Answer

Doctors use math in medical imaging to determine the right angles for taking images of a patient, such as x-rays. Medical researchers use math to study the images of various diseases, including cancer, which mutates in response to different drugs. Doctors also use math to calculate the correct angles for radiation beams when treating cancer patients to avoid damaging healthy tissue during radiotherapy.

A student aspiring to become a doctor must take calculus classes in college as well as trigonometry in high school. He must successfully complete college, attend medical school for four years and work in a hospital for at least three years. Doctors are highly paid professionals with a median annual salary of $202,932, as of 2014, which varies depending on years of experience and area of specialization. Demand for doctors within the United States is expected to increase significantly in the next decades.

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