Is Number Theory useful to physicists

[hylander4]

So I'm stil deciding whether or not I want to do a math/physics major (as opposed to just a physics major), and I was wondering if Number Theory is at all useful to physicists.

I ask this because it's the easiest of the three classes I have left for my math major, which would make it perfect for my schedule next semester. Still, I don't want to take a class that may be useless if I ever decide to drop the Math major entirely.

 

[Kevin_Axion]

Yes, number theory is used a lot in physics, here is a review of some of its applications: http://www.math.fsu.edu/~marcolli/NTphysFinal.pdf.

 

[capandbells]

What are you other options? While I don't want to contend that number theory is unimportant, there are other subjects that will probably be more generally useful.

 

[Shackleford]

What are you other options? While I don't want to contend that number theory is unimportant, there are other subjects that will probably be more generally useful.

Like PDE and linear algebra.

 

[hylander4]

What are you other options? While I don't want to contend that number theory is unimportant, there are other subjects that will probably be more generally useful.

Right, I probably should have mentioned those.

The three classes I have left for my math major are Analysis, Number Theory, and Advanced Algebra. I had been interested in taking PDE's, but given that I only have three semesters left before I graduate I was thinking that I would benefit more from taking Physics electives, research credits, and possibly a few engineering electives.

I also just found this awesome class about controlling spacecraft , lol, so that's competing against Number Theory as well...

EDIT: I've also already taken Calc II, Calc III, Lin Alg, Diff Eq, and Complex Analysis.

 

[MathematicalPhysicist]

Isn't linear algebra mandatory anyway?

I wonder how can someone get a degree in math or physics without it.

 

[Vanadium 50]

Yes, number theory is used a lot in physics

I've been in physics for many years, and have never had cause to use number theory. While it's possible that certain esoteric theoretical subfields might have some small connection, I think it's fair to say that the vast majority of physicists don't use it.

That said, does something have to be immediately useful to be worth learning about? There is such a thing as knowledge for knowledge's sake.

 

[DrummingAtom]

I've been in physics for many years, and have never had cause to use number theory. While it's possible that certain esoteric theoretical subfields might have some small connection, I think it's fair to say that the vast majority of physicists don't use it.

That said, does something have to be immediately useful to be worth learning about? There is such a thing as knowledge for knowledge's sake.

Hi Vanadium 50, you seem to pop up in a lot of these type of threads and contradict the general consensus. Seeing that you've been in Physics for a while, you bring a refreshing change. If I listened to a lot of people in Academic Guidance for recommendation of classes I would taking every single Math and Physics at my University.

With that being said, are you an Experimentalist or Theorist? Also, what Math classes do you recommend for a Physicist that have a direct application to Physics? Thanks.

 

[Vanadium 50]

I'm an experimenter.

I do tend to contradict people, but on the other hand, I suspect a lot of the advice for grad school is given by undergrads and high school students.

I think you should take classes that you think are interesting, not based on whether you think they will be useful. Do you know who Martianus Capella was?

 

[DrummingAtom]

I agree with taking classes you're interested in. Although, being a non traditional student, I feel my time is limited and would rather gain skills to correlate directly with my career.

I don't know who Martianus Capella was, I did a quick internet and found he's the guy that pioneered general education. I think I see where you're going with that.

 

[Vanadium 50]

Martianus Capella lived in the 5th century, a time when the Roman empire was well in its decline. People had to worry about disruption of trade, perhaps for years at a time, getting captured by barbarians and transported hundreds of miles away among people who spoke a different language, and even, as unlikely as it once sounded, the whole Empire falling. What do you learn when you don't know what problems you will face ten or thirty years from now?

Capella's answer was what we today call a liberal education. If you don't know what you need to know, try and learn as much as you can, both because the knowledge itself may be important but also because the ability to learn quickly will surely be important. If you're carried off by a band of Vandals, this might be the difference between life and death.

Now, of course today there is little chance of being abducted by Vandals and Visigoths. Instead, we call it "downsizing".

 

[Dembadon]

Right, I probably should have mentioned those.

The three classes I have left for my math major are Analysis, Number Theory, and Advanced Algebra. I had been interested in taking PDE's, but given that I only have three semesters left before I graduate I was thinking that I would benefit more from taking Physics electives, research credits, and possibly a few engineering electives.

I also just found this awesome class about controlling spacecraft , lol, so that's competing against Number Theory as well...

EDIT: I've also already taken Calc II, Calc III, Lin Alg, Diff Eq, and Complex Analysis.

PDE is a required course for a physics major at my university, so it's probably useful.

Taken from the course description:

MATH 488/688 PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
Lecture+Lab: 3+0
Credit(s): 3

Partial differential equations; first order equations, initial and mixed boundary-value problems for the second order Laplace, heat and wave equations; finite difference approximation.

 

[Shackleford]

PDE is a required course for a physics major at my university, so it's probably useful.

Taken from the course description:

MATH 488/688 PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
Lecture+Lab: 3+0
Credit(s): 3

Partial differential equations; first order equations, initial and mixed boundary-value problems for the second order Laplace, heat and wave equations; finite difference approximation.

Intro. to PDE is required at my university. They do have a senior-level sequence of PDE, though.