TalkOrigin
Feb28-10, 11:27 PM
I'm clueless on mathematics and will soon begin the long road into its academic study. I saw this statement on the following website:
http://everything2.com/title/the+difference+between+mathematics+and+physics
the last poster says this:
"sometimes mathematics makes assumptions different to what holds in the real world. If I draw a triangle around the sun, the angles will add up to more than 180° because gravity curves space. Mathematics works only within the assumptions you put into it."
Is this true? Kind of goes against what I would assume is the purpose of mathematics (I thought mathematics was a expression of reality not dependent upon variables of reality?)
Thanks, and yes I know this is basic!
http://everything2.com/title/the+difference+between+mathematics+and+physics
the last poster says this:
"sometimes mathematics makes assumptions different to what holds in the real world. If I draw a triangle around the sun, the angles will add up to more than 180° because gravity curves space. Mathematics works only within the assumptions you put into it."
Is this true? Kind of goes against what I would assume is the purpose of mathematics (I thought mathematics was a expression of reality not dependent upon variables of reality?)
Thanks, and yes I know this is basic!