It’s the dreaded subject that most schoolchildren hate.
With fractions, percentages and algebra to learn, most youngsters breathe a sigh of relief when school ends and they no longer need to study maths.
But for one Highland graduate, she has spent the last four years studying the subject intensively – and even wants to train to be a teacher so she can go back to school and teach children the wonders of sums.
Tanya Calder, who is originally from Invergordon, moved to Aberdeen four years ago to start an MA in Mathematics.
And yesterday, as the 21-year-old picked up her degree, she said all the hard work had been well worth it and that she couldn’t wait to start her teacher training course in Edinburgh so she can share everything she has learned.
But she admitted that her friends often say she is crazy for embracing one of their most-hated subjects.
“I get told that I must be mad all the time, but I love it,” she said.
“The last four years have been tough – especially the last couple – but it’s not put me off at all.
“University has been a lot of fun. Most importantly, I’ve made lots of new friends who have made the experience incredibly worthwhile.”
Miss Calder – who is the youngest of five children and went to Invergordon Academy and the local primary school – said that numbers run in the family, with numerous accountants already practising. She is the last of her siblings to graduate.
She said it was a nice feeling to keep the tradition going.
“I’m so pleased I moved down to Aberdeen and now have my degree,” she said.
“I’ll definitely celebrate before the hard work starts again.”