Other Should I Become a Mathematician?

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Becoming a mathematician requires a deep passion for the subject and a commitment to problem-solving. Key areas of focus include algebra, topology, analysis, and geometry, with recommended readings from notable mathematicians to enhance understanding. Engaging with challenging problems and understanding proofs are essential for developing mathematical skills. A degree in pure mathematics is advised over a math/economics major for those pursuing applied mathematics, as the rigor of pure math prepares one for real-world applications. The journey involves continuous learning and adapting, with an emphasis on practical problem-solving skills.
  • #751
i would think that writing a thesis with taking courses and working from 9 to 5 to be a little bit hard on oneself, don't you J77?
 
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  • #752
I am very happy to have all these diverse ideas about how to use math in life and career, to balance off my narrow discussions of life in the "ivory tower" and classroom.

Keep em coming! What other careers are appealing?
 
  • #753
to learn what it feels like to be a mathematician, watch "the twilight samurai". [warning: it is rather violent. The point was that it concerns someone of superior ability and integrity but low social status.]
 
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  • #754
I spend between 8 and 9 hours a day studying mathematics. I do not go outside. I do not watch TV. I do not have much time for anything.

Does that qualify me as a "mathematician"?
 
  • #755
Kummer said:
I spend between 8 and 9 hours a day studying mathematics. I do not go outside. I do not watch TV. I do not have much time for anything.

Does that qualify me as a "mathematician"?

All that for one course?

If not, don't compare my one course idea to a 2 course or 3 course schedule.
 
  • #756
marlon said:
Great choice on the financial field but why care about doin' research in your spare time. Use it to grow in the financial areas. There is a lot to learn there is well. In your case, don't waste your time doing some obscure research that will get you noweher. Most "fulltime" PhD's out there are not even able to produce something useful so why bother ?

Really, stick to the financial maths and your life will be much nicer !

marlon

I really enjoyed the Topology and Algebra that I have learned. So, that's why I will do it on my spare time.

If it does consume too much time, I'll just audit courses and do my own thing. I never plan on stopping. I just want to live in poverty doing it. It's not worth it.
 
  • #757
All that for one course?
I have Summer break now, no University. I self-study for fun all those hours.
 
  • #758
Kummer said:
I have Summer break now, no University. I self-study for fun all those hours.

I guess no offsprings for you.
 
  • #759
fanatic, kummer aren't you?
I mean i also in my vacation would learn on my own some stuff, but still i would go sometimes outside my house, especially when in the semester I don't have time to do so.
 
  • #760
JasonRox said:
I guess no offsprings for you.

he can always go the near sperm bank... (-:
but he first needs to go outside the house.
 
  • #761
loop quantum gravity said:
fanatic, kummer aren't you?
Yes, I am. But that is because there are certains areas of math I wish to know which are not taught in the University and there is also a lot of stuff which I want to know. If I do something else with my time then I will not know what I want.
 
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  • #762
remember to get some exercise, good food, and sunlight kummer, if only because you can do more math if you stay physically healthy.
 
  • #763
Im not sure sunlight in the summer is a good idea.
preferablly you should go in the morning or the evening.
 
  • #764
loop quantum gravity said:
Im not sure sunlight in the summer is a good idea.
preferablly you should go in the morning or the evening.

Well, he needs to get some Vitamin D that's for sure.

I personally think you need to live a little (like get out of the house). I noticed, on here and elsewhere, people think that hardcore mathematicians have no active social life and all they do is work all day. I would say that's not true at all although there are exceptions like Gauss and Riemann. But look at Galois, Hardy, Littlewood, Halmos, Erdos, Galileo and so on. So where these ideas come from, I don't know but I do know they're far from accurate.
 
  • #765
JasonRox said:
people think that hardcore mathematicians have no active social life and all they do is work all day. I would say that's not true at all although there are exceptions like Gauss and Riemann.

That's true, and it's what people thing about other scientists too, not just mathematicians.

In general, I don't interact with people who believe in stereotypes.
 
  • #766
the problem is that mathematicians have to be careful when they go out, so as not to be mobbed by women and paparrazzi.
 
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  • #767
JasonRox said:
Well, he needs to get some Vitamin D that's for sure.

I personally think you need to live a little (like get out of the house). I noticed, on here and elsewhere, people think that hardcore mathematicians have no active social life and all they do is work all day. I would say that's not true at all although there are exceptions like Gauss and Riemann. But look at Galois, Hardy, Littlewood, Halmos, Erdos, Galileo and so on. So where these ideas come from, I don't know but I do know they're far from accurate.

There could be genuine reasons why past great mathematicians interact and socialise so much less then today's mathematicians. In the past traveling would have been expensive and time consuming and education was poor so not many people had the expertise so meeting other mathematicians were harder and not that beneficial. Knowledge didn't spread that quickly as not many were doing it so one can afford to work alone. Moreoever Copy right was a servere issue back then. So it would have been more beneficial for the best to be alone. Hence no need to develop one's social skills in order to succeed at maths.

Today things are much different as fields are more specialised so collaboration is more important and is cheaper to do due to cheap communication costs. However there are still a handful of elites who can and choose to do it alone like Perelman. For the rest its more beneficial to collaborate so more social interactions for mathematicians today.
 
  • #768
Well, my take is that the percentage of introverts in the mathematical community far exceeds that of the normal population since introverts tend to spend more time thinking than extroverts and thus have greater affinity for heavily abstract subject such as mathematics.
 
  • #769
Werg22 said:
Well, my take is that the percentage of introverts in the mathematical community far exceeds that of the normal population since introverts tend to spend more time thinking than extroverts and thus have greater affinity for heavily abstract subject such as mathematics.

The most intelligent student in our math departments are introverted/extroverted or extroverted. Probably one the best things about the department. I would hate to hang out with an introvert.
 
  • #770
pivoxa15 said:
There could be genuine reasons why past great mathematicians interact and socialise so much less then today's mathematicians. In the past traveling would have been expensive and time consuming and education was poor so not many people had the expertise so meeting other mathematicians were harder and not that beneficial. Knowledge didn't spread that quickly as not many were doing it so one can afford to work alone. Moreoever Copy right was a servere issue back then. So it would have been more beneficial for the best to be alone. Hence no need to develop one's social skills in order to succeed at maths.

Today things are much different as fields are more specialised so collaboration is more important and is cheaper to do due to cheap communication costs. However there are still a handful of elites who can and choose to do it alone like Perelman. For the rest its more beneficial to collaborate so more social interactions for mathematicians today.

I have no idea what you're talking about because I mentionned mathematicians of the past and today.

Perelman is not choosing to be alone. I believe he's anti-social, so that's not a choice at that point. It's a disorder.
 
  • #771
Do you guys have those moments where you are so demotivated you want to quit with mathematics?
 
  • #772
Darkiekurdo said:
Do you guys have those moments where you are so demotivated you want to quit with mathematics?

Are you crazy?! No way!
 
  • #773
  • #774
Darkiekurdo said:
So if you study mathematics you understand everything immediately?
No. I am had/having a bad experience with modular forms. They are very hard for me.
 
  • #775
i have been demotivated lots of times, thinking i would never grasp something, or never solve something, that i must be in the wrong business. now its more from inactivity. getting back to work after a lull is also hard but usually cures the blues now.

for modular forms, have you tried reading gunning, or serre?
 
  • #776
JasonRox said:
The most intelligent student in our math departments are introverted/extroverted or extroverted. Probably one the best things about the department. I would hate to hang out with an introvert.

And what does you hating to hang out with an introvert have anything to do with his mathematical abilities? Aside from that, I did not exclude exceptions.
 
  • #777
mathwonk said:
for modular forms, have you tried reading gunning, or serre?

It is just I do not have any algebraic geometry skills. It seems to me that I must learn that now, important in number theory.
 
  • #779
JasonRox said:
Perelman is not choosing to be alone. I believe he's anti-social, so that's not a choice at that point. It's a disorder.
just because someone isn't sociable makes it a disorder?
 
  • #780
Darkiekurdo said:
Do you guys have those moments where you are so demotivated you want to quit with mathematics?

Yes. The university business seems to be dumb and frustrating, and I don't understand why I keep aiming at getting there.
 

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