- #31
SW VandeCarr
- 2,193
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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?
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Discussion Overview
The discussion centers around the purpose and value of studying advanced mathematics, exploring its relevance to fields like engineering and physics, as well as its intrinsic aesthetic qualities. Participants express varying opinions on whether high-level mathematics is primarily a tool for practical applications or if it holds value in its own right.
Discussion Character
- Debate/contested
- Conceptual clarification
- Exploratory
Main Points Raised
- Some participants suggest that advanced mathematics is primarily useful as a tool in engineering and the sciences, questioning its practical applications.
- Others argue that research in mathematics is essential for developing the tools used in applied fields, emphasizing the interconnectedness of mathematics and physics.
- Some contributors express that the pursuit of high-level mathematics can be driven by personal interest and aesthetic appreciation rather than practical utility.
- There are claims that many mathematicians are ordinary individuals who do not fit the stereotype of being obsessed or irrational, countering the notion that their work lacks practical relevance.
- Participants note that while some areas of mathematics may not have immediate applications, historical examples show that pure mathematics can later find relevance in various fields, including physics and cryptography.
- One participant mentions the philosophical implications of mathematics, suggesting that the study of mathematics and physics can lead to deeper understanding and insights, akin to art or philosophy.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express a mix of agreement and disagreement regarding the value of high-level mathematics. While some see it as primarily practical, others emphasize its aesthetic and philosophical dimensions. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing views on the purpose of studying advanced mathematics.
Contextual Notes
Some participants highlight the limitations of viewing mathematics solely through the lens of utility, suggesting that this perspective may overlook the broader significance of mathematical research and its potential future applications.
You divide a mathematician by a physicist and you get a sum?
- #32
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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
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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
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micromass said:
collinsmark said:Impure Mathematics
lololol
- #35
DiracPool
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This sounds like a good argument NOT to study mathematics. Darn, just when I was starting to enjoy differential equations.
- #36
AlephZero
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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
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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)!