Historically speaking, applied mathematics was always concerned with using mathematics to solve problems in physics, chemistry, medicine, engineering, the physical sciences, technology, and biology. In fact, applied mathematics is older than pure mathematics, as it was used in areas that formed the core of early physics research, such as mechanics, fluid dynamics, and optics. As mathematical tools became more powerful, these areas of physics became more mathematically based. This mathematical analysis tie to science and engineering has always had a great place in history and has led to some of its greatest discoveries.