- #31
SW VandeCarr
- 2,193
- 77
DiracPool said:
You divide a mathematician by a physicist and you get a sum?
What is the point of studying maths at a very high level?
Click For Summary
SUMMARY
The discussion centers on the value of studying advanced mathematics, with participants expressing diverse opinions on its practical applications. While some argue that high-level mathematics serves primarily as a tool for fields like physics and engineering, others emphasize its intrinsic beauty and the cognitive skills it fosters. Notable mathematicians such as Andrew Wiles and Grigori Perelman are mentioned as examples of individuals deeply engaged in pure mathematics, often perceived as obsessed. The conversation highlights the ongoing interplay between mathematics and theoretical physics, suggesting that future applications of current mathematical research remain unpredictable.
PREREQUISITES- Understanding of advanced mathematical concepts such as group theory and topology
- Familiarity with the relationship between mathematics and theoretical physics
- Knowledge of notable mathematicians and their contributions, including Andrew Wiles and Grigori Perelman
- Awareness of the philosophical implications of studying mathematics
- Research the applications of group theory in modern physics
- Explore the aesthetic aspects of mathematics and its philosophical implications
- Study the historical context of significant mathematical discoveries and their later applications
- Investigate the role of mathematics in cryptography and its relevance to contemporary technology
Students, educators, and professionals in mathematics, physics, and engineering, as well as anyone interested in the philosophical aspects of mathematical study.
You divide a mathematician by a physicist and you get a sum?
- #32
- 22,170
- 3,327
SW VandeCarr said:
Yeah, what he said makes no sense. That's why I said the answer was a philosopher, cause they tend to not make sense.
- #33
collinsmark
Science Advisor
Homework Helper
- 3,443
- 3,486
Here is this week's Abstruse Goose. It seems somewhat relevant to this thread. When I first saw (the strip) yesterday, I wasn't going to post it here. But today? Oh, what the heck.
Impure Mathematics
[Source: http://abstrusegoose.com/504]
[With mouse-over: There is no branch of mathematics, however abstract, which may not someday be applied to the phenomena of the real world --- Nicolai Lobachevsky]
Impure Mathematics
[Source: http://abstrusegoose.com/504]
[With mouse-over: There is no branch of mathematics, however abstract, which may not someday be applied to the phenomena of the real world --- Nicolai Lobachevsky]
Last edited:
- #34
VertexOperator
- 79
- 0
micromass said:
collinsmark said:Impure Mathematics
lololol
- #35
DiracPool
- 1,247
- 514
This sounds like a good argument NOT to study mathematics. Darn, just when I was starting to enjoy differential equations.
- #36
AlephZero
Science Advisor
Homework Helper
- 6,998
- 299
SW VandeCarr said:
True story about the difference between a mathematican working as an engineer (me!) and a physicist who really wanted to be a mathematian (my boss).
I had written the specifcation for putting some new gizmo into a finite element analysis code, full of details of numerical integration, how to evaluate Jacobians, etc.
It came back from my boss with the comment "You could make this a lot shorter by <insert half a page of divs, grads, curls, and double and triple integrals here>"
So I sent a note back saying "OK, but if this is a spec for a computer program, how would you actually write the code"?
The answer: "You do it your way, of course".
- #37
ilmareofthemai
- 16
- 1
jgens said:
Agree!
I recently read A Universe in Zero Words, a book about the history and influence of important equations (if you want some examples of crazy mathematicians, read the chapter about the types of infinities-the outcome for a couple of those mathematicians, i.e. Godel, was not so great) and developed a strong appreciation for mathematics, especially geometry. A great read.
Also, as someone else mentioned, math and physics sometimes develop at different rates, and the math Pauli needed was already developed, etc. For more examples, read Euclid's Window, a book about the major mathematical revolutions and their connections with physics. Is mathematics inherent, or a construct? It has to do with the definition but maybe we'll never know...It has already been proven that math can't be proven (Universe in Zero Words)!