Can Equations Be Purely Aesthetic?

[kith]

Regarding aesthetics in quantum mechanical expressions, we had a thread from a tattoo artist in the Quantum Physics forum not too long ago which may be of interest to the readers here.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Reminder the contest is about the aesthetical beauty of an equation, not it's meaning or significance!

 

[TeethWhitener]

Well, if it's just aesthetics and not significance, then how about this:
1+\frac{1}{1+\frac{1}{1+\frac{1}{1+\cdots}}} = \sqrt{1+\sqrt{1+\sqrt{1+\sqrt{1+\cdots}}}}

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Well, if it's just aesthetics and not significance, then how about this:

Very cool!

 

[TeethWhitener]

Very cool!

http://mathworld.wolfram.com/GoldenRatio.html
It's funny because it's probably more significant to aesthetics than to math/physics.

 

[ShayanJ]

Reminder the contest is about the aesthetical beauty of an equation, not it's meaning or significance!

Hard to tell the difference, and actually to be honest, the feeling is more about the things you know about that equation. A very good example is the Cauchy's integral theorem(mentioned by Samy_A). What I(and he and certainly many others) feel about that equation is not at all related to how it looks, e.g. that it has a $\pi$ downstairs and the integral sign has a circle in its middle. This equation is a reminder of all the beauty in complex analysis (So I should double what Samy_A said "Complex Analysis is pure poetry") and that's why he chose it and I voted for it.
Otherwise you should show the equations to people who don't know what they mean and ask them which is more beautiful!

 

[micromass]

Reminder the contest is about the aesthetical beauty of an equation, not it's meaning or significance!

But the beauty IS the meaning!

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

But the beauty IS the meaning!

Not this time Think of these equations on a painting shown to people who don't know math.

 

[micromass]

Not this time Think of these equations on a painting shown to people who don't know math.

Then I honestly see no beauty in the equations. It's like showing me a book written in russian (I don't know any russian) and asking me to pick the most beautiful book based on the arrangement of the letters. I'm like: "ok...".

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Then I honestly see no beauty in the equations. It's like showing me a book written in russian (I don't know any russian) and asking me to pick the most beautiful book based on the arrangement of the letters. I'm like: "ok...".

Then don't participate. I don't know math, but I find the equations interesting and beautiful like calligraphy. Be a designer not a mathematician.

 

[ShayanJ]

Then don't participate. I don't know math, but I find the equations interesting and beautiful like calligraphy. Be a designer not a mathematician.

Why don't you participate?

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Why don't you participate?

I'm the one giving out the prize! Let's please get back to the contest. This thread is going to be very muddled.

 

[Isaac0427]

$$\frac{b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} + x = 0$$
I find that rearranging the quadratic formula gives a very appealing result.

 

[Amrator]

No idea what it means, but it's pretty.
$φ(λ_i)=z_i$

 

[Ssnow]

The pre-quantization condition on $M$ (manifold):

\int_{\Sigma}\,\omega \,\in\, 2\pi \hbar\cdot \mathbb{Z}

where $\Sigma$ closed 2-surface in $M$ and $\omega$ the symplectic structure, is very nice!

 

[axmls]

The wave equation is quite aesthetically pleasing: $$\nabla^2 y = \frac{1}{v^2} \frac{\partial^2 y}{\partial t^2} $$

 

[Jeff Rosenbury]

An equation is an equality containing one or more variables. Here's an odd one I "borrowed" from an advertisement:

 

[DaTario]

An equation is an equality containing one or more variables. Here's an odd one I "borrowed" from an advertisement:

This should be taken as an infinite set of equations... It is not fair...

 

[QuantumQuest]

Perturbation Hamiltonian (low intensity limit) for the interaction of radiation with atomic systems (semiclassical treatment):
$$H' (t)= -\frac{e}{mc}Ap -\frac{e}{mc}SB$$

where $$\text{m = particle mass}\\
\text{e = particle charge}\\
\text{S = particle spin}\\
\text{A = vector potential}\\
\text{B =} \nabla \times\text{A the magnetic field}$$

 

[micromass]

This should be taken as an infinite set of equations... It is not fair...

Due to the Hilbert basis theorem, you can often make an infinite set of equations into one equation

 

[DaTario]

Due to the Hilbert basis theorem, you can often make an infinite set of equations into one equation

But we are seeing equations involving different quantities of physics (forces, angular momentum, photographic blurring, etc) the candidate should be asked to present the equation.

Besides the fact that the photo also presents inequalities.

 

[.Scott]

The contest will close next Thursday the 24th.

You posted this yesterday, Thursday the 24th.
I think you meant it would close next Thursday, the 31st.

 

[Mondayman]

Good old Pythagorean's Theorem.

a²+b²=c²

So simple, I always imagine its drawn in crayon.At the other end of the spectrum, there's this clunky, unwieldy thing...

 

[couragerolls]

i\hbar\frac{\partial \psi(r,t)}{\partial t}=-\frac{\hbar^2}{2m}\nabla^2\psi(r,t)+V(r)\psi(r,t)
with the beautiful \psi and its curves . Ta-da! The nefarious Schrödinger equation!

 

[.Scott]

Mandelbrot (in equation form):
For any c; z_0=0; and z_n=z^2_{n-1}+c:
\lim_{n\rightarrow +\infty} {(z_n-z_{n-1})} = 0

 

[CynicusRex]

Then I honestly see no beauty in the equations. It's like showing me a book written in russian (I don't know any russian) and asking me to pick the most beautiful book based on the arrangement of the letters. I'm like: "ok...".

Thats a loss on your part sadly. The beauty of formulas is one of the main reasons I decided to study science this 'late' in life. I have always been astonished by the look of complex formulas, knowing it's all logical and every part is crucial. I even use it as an argument when people ask me why I want to study physics:
"While many men look at cars in admiration, I look at formulas the same way even without understanding them. But now I do want to understand them."

I'll enter the contest by summoning the Devil's curve:

which produces things like:

Both the formula and result are beautiful. Knowing people were doing math, science, etc., so many years ago, inspires me to do the same. It stupefies me how people like Newton were able to do all of their superfly work. It also saddens me that education is helping so little in making math and science inspirational and fun. I talk too much. Awesome contest.

 

[Student100]

Isnt that just a function?

Depends on how you look at it.

 

[ProfuselyQuarky]

Good old Pythagorean's Theorem.

a²+b²=c²

So simple, I always imagine its drawn in crayon.

Hey, that was mine . . .

 

[samalkhaiat]

Reminder the contest is about the aesthetical beauty of an equation, not it's meaning or significance!

I thought one needed to "make up" one "true" and "beautiful" equation and not just "pick up" one known equation!

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

I thought one needed to "make up" one "true" and "beautiful" equation and not just "pick up" one known equation!

Either or :)