Abstract
<p>The goal of this paper is to reveal how we can use data modeling and decision engineering as a unifying language of mathematics for narratives of discovery and insight. We start by collecting data records relevant to problems of interest. Next, we organize the records by discovering patterns in the data. We then infer from these structures domain-specific models that summarize the data. Finally, we analyze these models to determine what might happen for predictions and what should happen for decision-making.</p> <p>This paper introduces simple examples to illustrate how various mathematical tools contribute to the larger fields of statistics and operations research. These ideas can build useful frameworks for interdisciplinary research collaborations. They can also inspire ongoing motivational classroom dialogues about the mathematical sciences.</p>