How do you get a patent, if you have developed mathematical ideas to solve a practical problem? I guess the answer is to patent that specific application of th

How do you get a patent, if you have developed mathematical ideas to solve a practical problem? I guess the answer is to patent that specific application of the mathematics - like Pagerank. This narrows the patent, so it doesn't impede progress in general; and it doesn't harm you, since that's the only area that you're working in anyway. From a business point of view, it would suck if someone was absurdly successful by applying your mathematical ideas exactly in an unrelated field... but would be kinda cool for you as a knowledge-creator. As an inventor, you're doing both.