How is Discrete Math Used in Physics?

[Moonshine]

Anybody know of any uses of discrete math in physics? I learned proof by induction in discrete math. Is that used to prove anything in physics? Any other examples that you can think of?

 

[tiny-tim]

Hi Moonshine!

I'm not sure what discrete math covers, but I think there's plenty of uses of recurrence relations (P_n+1 is a function of P_n and/or P_n-1 etc) in physics …

for example, the proof of the quantum number going from -m to +m starts at one end, and relies on vanishing somewhere along the way.

 

[Klockan3]

Discrete maths is everywhere. For example a sum has a discrete amount of terms, everything that is countable is in fact discrete. So you are constantly working with discrete objects so it would be strange if things learned in discrete maths never occurred. But for example in statistical mechanics you do a lot of discrete things.

And if nothing else learning discrete maths teaches you how to think, like all maths does, and knowing how to think in new ways is never bad ever. Also discrete maths courses are usually pretty easy since the advanced courses are named after the sub categories of discrete.