MATHEMATICS IN RELATION TO 

 PURE AND APPLIED SCIENCE 



By E. W. HOBSON, F.R.S. 



Sadleirian Professor of Pure Mathematics in the 

 University of Cambridge. 



The part which Mathematics plays at present, 

 and may be expected to play in the future, in the 

 progressive development of Pure and Applied 

 Science, and in the actual applications of scientific 

 methods and knowledge to the work of the world, 

 can be adequately estimated only after some 

 survey of the genesis of Mathematics, and of its 

 historical relations with Physical Science. Accord- 

 ingly some necessarily brief remarks will here be 

 made on these matters, with a view to a clarification 

 of ideas as to the functions of Mathematics regarded 

 as an indispensable instrument both in the develop- 

 ment of the Sciences and in the actual work of 

 applying them to the needs of modern life. The 

 services which Mathematics may be expected to 

 render by co-operation in various departments of 

 Science can be best estimated by considering its 

 past achievements of this sort. It will appear 

 that these services are likely to become of increased 



