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What is a "negative result" in maths? "I tried something and it didn't work" isn't really a result. It's experience maybe. But it's not like science where findi
by globular-toast 2mo ago
What is a "negative result" in maths? "I tried something and it didn't work" isn't really a result. It's experience maybe. But it's not like science where finding only evidence for the null hypothesis is considered boring. Even unsurprising results are published and even celebrated in mathematics, like Fermat's last theorem.
- jayGlow 2mo agoit might be something explaining that a certain path towards a solution didn't work or provide anything useful. the result itself might not be useful but it could prevent future mathmaticians from going down the same road and wasting effort.