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Two quotes that sums up this article for me: "The whole point of pure maths is that there are problems to solve, and you're working to solve them." "So why do
by heimatau 11y ago
Two quotes that sums up this article for me:
"The whole point of pure maths is that there are problems to solve, and you're working to solve them."
"So why don't we do what we did before? When we couldn't solve equations like x+8=5 we invented the negative numbers. When we couldn't solve equations like 3x=5 we invented fractions. When we couldn't solve equations like x2-x-1=0 we invented the algebraic numbers."
To me, I look at math as a collaborative language of precision in dealing with units. Math isn't static. It's collaborative, it's inventive. It's desire is to accurately communicate measurements. I'm still in my undergrad for Applied Mathematics but that's my two cents.
- agumonkey 11y agoMath look static until you reach college and leave the mainstream number + operations fed in previous school stages. Most people will never encounter the need for higher abstractions.
- johncolanduoni 11y ago> To me, I look at math as a collaborative language of precision in dealing with units. Although this might apply for early number theory, how does it fit with more abstract mathematics that doesn't deal with numbers, let alone units, at all? However, I completely agree math (as in the human practice) is a collaborative and inventive process. The directions in which it progresses is often determined by what mathematicians consider "interesting", and not some purely analytical and sterile reasoning.