Strongest well-rounded mathematician on PF

[G037H3]

See title. By well rounded, I mean majoring in a humanities course, or self-studying some significant field in humanities (classics, history, philosophy).

An alternative way to take the term 'well-rounded' is to mean the mathematician who has the best all-around ability within the different subfields of mathematics.

Stupid question, I know, but I'm simply curious.

 

[Doc Al]

And by 'strongest' we can only assume you mean 'able to lift the most weight' under standard olympic powerlifting rules. Right?

 

[G037H3]

i mean strongest as in, strongest calculating ability/most well-rounded knowledge/best problem-solving creativity

 

[Norman]

I think we should stick with Doc Al on this one and have a mathematics power lifting competition. BUT! we use the old round, dumbbell style you see on old black and white Popeye cartoons. YEAH!

 

[Dadface]

I'm sure it must be me.On second thoughts I can't do maths :)

 

[G037H3]

you guys are so funny

-_-

 

[DanP]

And by 'strongest' we can only assume you mean 'able to lift the most weight' under standard olympic powerlifting rules. Right?

you mean, Olympic Weightlifting ?

 

[G01]

you guys are so funny

-_-

We're only 3 months away from the funniest member awards, which, in these parts, is an award second only to the Nobel Prize.

I'm surprised they're not dressed as clown throwing pies at each other.

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

Might be me. I once defeated A. Einstein at Kung Fu fighting. That guy was fast as lightening. But I cleaned his clock.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I once defeated A. Einstein at Kung Fu fighting. That guy was fast as lightening.

That sounds a little bit frightening.

 

[Topher925]

But did he fight with expert timing?

 

[G037H3]

i'm not going to get a serious answer, am i?

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I don't think there is any way to answer your question with confidence.

Marcus seems to have a wide range of interests and knowledge [the self-study part of your question]. Not sure, but I think he is a mathematician.

 

[Norman]

i'm not going to get a serious answer, am i?

On top of what Ivan said, it is completely subjective and unquantifiable as you have stated it. It is simply an opinion about activities of people here on PF (though I know some members interact with each other elsewhere) which is hardly an accurate measure of the question you are asking.

 

[G037H3]

i'm mainly asking because i feel that not having anyone to compete with is a negative like, i can have role models in the form of dead people, but when it comes to being immersed in material, it seems to me that one-upping someone could be fun ^_^

 

[Ivan Seeking]

i'm mainly asking because i feel that not having anyone to compete with is a negative like, i can have role models in the form of dead people, but when it comes to being immersed in material, it seems to me that one-upping someone could be fun ^_^

I promise you that plenty of people here can run circles around you in any discussion that you wish to have.

What is your level of education; a high school diploma? Do you realize that PF is loaded with Ph.Ds?

 

[G037H3]

what I'm trying to say is that i keep putting off studying because i have nothing in the present to connect it to...i'm relatively certain that i could reach a pretty high level pretty quickly if i can figure out how to become passionate about mathematics for its own sake like i have other subjects in the past (i probably know more about Classical and European history than anyone else on this forum, for instance)

i recognize that i need to develop my mathematical ability, which I'm reasonably sure i have some sort of talent in just based on my thinking patterns, but I'm having trouble separating what i want to do from self-doubt and concerns that since i know very little at this point that i am incapable of reaching any impressive level of mastery

i have a decent idea of what i should study, in what order, but i find that general depression makes it much harder for me to achieve anything, because i have no focus...an idea may be intriguing, but i keep letting go of pursuing any questions because i assume i'll be unable to find the answer...the 'black-box' issue, if you will

so i guess I'm just being an attention whore, and basically saying that since I'm not in a structured environment, I'm seeking out people who will sort of challenge me, and I'm attempting to use this medium to do so

sorry :c

 

[radou]

Less talk, more rock.

I'm going for the deadlift medal, btw.

 

[Norman]

Less talk, more rock.

I'm going for the deadlift medal, btw.

NICE! I am going to shoot for the snatch.

what I'm trying to say is that i keep putting off studying because i have nothing in the present to connect it to...i'm relatively certain that i could reach a pretty high level pretty quickly if i can figure out how to become passionate about mathematics for its own sake like i have other subjects in the past (i probably know more about Classical and European history than anyone else on this forum, for instance)

i recognize that i need to develop my mathematical ability, which I'm reasonably sure i have some sort of talent in just based on my thinking patterns, but I'm having trouble separating what i want to do from self-doubt and concerns that since i know very little at this point that i am incapable of reaching any impressive level of mastery

i have a decent idea of what i should study, in what order, but i find that general depression makes it much harder for me to achieve anything, because i have no focus...an idea may be intriguing, but i keep letting go of pursuing any questions because i assume i'll be unable to find the answer...the 'black-box' issue, if you will

so i guess I'm just being an attention whore, and basically saying that since I'm not in a structured environment, I'm seeking out people who will sort of challenge me, and I'm attempting to use this medium to do so

sorry :c

Maybe a better way might be to see if one of the mentors (or someone else) would post an appropriate weekly (or daily) math problem. You could then "compete" for solutions which are the most elegant, or original, or just plain correct.

 

[Evo]

what I'm trying to say is that i keep putting off studying because i have nothing in the present to connect it to...i'm relatively certain that i could reach a pretty high level pretty quickly if i can figure out how to become passionate about mathematics for its own sake like i have other subjects in the past (i probably know more about Classical and European history than anyone else on this forum, for instance)

You'd be wrong, apparently you have not met arildno.

 

[G037H3]

Maybe a better way might be to see if one of the mentors (or someone else) would post an appropriate weekly (or daily) math problem. You could then "compete" for solutions which are the most elegant, or original, or just plain correct.

Except for the fact that I have basically no analytic tools at my disposal.

You'd be wrong, apparently you have not met arildno.

I have not, but I will assert that my knowledge of those two subjects is very deep and multidimensional. ^_^ I brought them up primarily to point out that passion is required, not to assert my superiority in the subject, though I could have worded it in a less challenging way.

 

[Newai]

Didn't Sir Lancelot try this with King Arthur?

 

[G037H3]

Everyone knows that Lancelot>Arthur, Arthur only had advantage because of his scabbard.

 

[Klockan3]

so i guess I'm just being an attention whore, and basically saying that since I'm not in a structured environment, I'm seeking out people who will sort of challenge me, and I'm attempting to use this medium to do so

What kind of challenge do you really want? I know a guy who knows just about every proof in just about every kind of math class by heart, but he is a middle aged professor who have a passion for maths. There is no way you could compete with that for example, that kind of knowledge is so far away that it wouldn't spur you, more like devastate you if you tried to compete. It would take at least 10 years of really hard work, extreme dedication and a lot of talent to get there and all you would have for it would be that you are now really well rounded at maths.

 

[G037H3]

meh, i sort of feel that my main contributions will be in literature, but it can't hurt to try to be well rounded..i already know I'm much closer to Goethe than Gauss, but i might as well try to be like Gauss too, you know?

polymathy ftw, etc.

 

[jobyts]

I'm well rounded, but not a mathematician. Too lazy to go to the gym.

 

[Topher925]

Ok, let's give this a shot.

Derive the general equation for entropy in differential form for an internally reversible process. Should be no problem for someone of your mathematical "intellect". I'll even give you you a hint: Tds = dh - dP/p and ds = delta Q/T

Annnnd go.

 

[Proton Soup]

Less talk, more rock.

I'm going for the deadlift medal, btw.

i managed to deadlift 475 lbs yesterday. goal is 500 by year's end. will probably be about 10 lbs more round by then, too.

 

[Doc Al]

i managed to deadlift 475 lbs yesterday. goal is 500 by year's end. will probably be about 10 lbs more round by then, too.

Excellent. Stronger and rounder.

 

[nobahar]

It's patently me.