Recreational mathematics refers to any activity or puzzle that enhances your math skills. It can be enjoyable and relaxing, and can be used to create eye-catching, aesthetically pleasing, and thought-captivating pieces. Math games, reading and writing, coding, and modeling are also enjoyable hobbies that involve math.
Mathematical skills hobbies offer intellectual growth and personal fulfillment, as they provide self-study resources for mathematical exploration. Engaging with math sharpens problem-solving abilities. Reading r/math multiple times a day, watching YouTube videos about math, and calculating things to ridiculously high precision are all hobbies that can be considered hobbies.
Some fun hobbies that involve math include puzzles and brain teasers, coding and programming, creating mathematical art or designs, playing strategy games, and participating in math competitions or clubs. Educational hobbies that complement STEM include DIY electronics projects, programming and coding challenges, mathematics puzzles and games, and science experiments at home.
Mathematicians love to explore ideas and solve puzzles, such as game design and development. The advantage of doing mathematics as a hobby is that you can do exactly what gives you the most enjoyment.
Mathematical skills hobbies include amateur meteorology, architecture, crocheting, jewelry making, kite making and flying, modeling, railroading, origami, basketball, running, knowledge, reading, and fun. Mathematicians often participate in the math club at their school, Mu Alpha Theta, to learn new things and to grow.
Over half of the mathematician biographies studied mention hobbies, with the most common being music, reading, and languages. Other hobbies include drawing, building stuff, creating websites, writing, running, guitar, painting, and solving math problems.
📹 Is math discovered or invented? – Jeff Dekofsky
Explore some of the most famous arguments in the ancient debate: is math a human construct or part of the fabric of the universe?
What is the king of hobbies?
Philately, derived from Greek words philos and ateleia, refers to the art of collecting stamps and related items. Frenchman Georges Herpin coined the term in 1864, coining it after the postage system was established by Rowland Hill in 1840. Philately is known as the King of Hobbies. To access thousands of curated premium stories and 9, 000+ magazines and newspapers, start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial.
What do you call a person who loves math?
Mathematicians are individuals who engage in the study of mathematics. Those who possess a profound affinity for the subject are referred to as “mathematicaphiles” or “mathphiles.”
What are the 4 main hobbies?
Develop four types of hobbies: learning, reading, arts, fitness, health, and content creation. According to Steven Johnson, legendary innovators like Franklin, Snow, and Darwin share common intellectual qualities and a defining attribute: having a lot of hobbies. These hobbies allow individuals to create and reinvent themselves, showcasing the vast possibilities available in the world. Developing hobbies can help individuals explore and develop their interests and skills.
Who uses math in real life?
Maths plays a crucial role in various aspects of life, including transport, travel, weather, climate, and the internet. Physical laws, such as the equation F=ma, dictate how things move, and engineers use maths to design and build various products. Weather and climate predictions are made using statistical modeling, while climate scientists use mathematical skills like differential equations to model climate change scenarios. Maths can also be used to predict natural disasters, such as tsunamis, earthquakes, and bushfires, which insurers use to assess risk and set premium prices.
The internet, including social media, streaming services, and search technologies, uses algorithms to learn about users and tailor their offerings to their interests and demographics. These algorithms are sets of instructions that tell computers how to find relevant items in vast amounts of data, allowing websites to deliver content that users are most likely to want.
What hobbies use math?
Mathematics is employed in a multitude of disciplines, including videography, photography, internal combustion engines, 3D printing, computer-aided design, and software development.
Why do people do math for fun?
Those with a proclivity for mathematics find solace in the challenge of complex equations and problems, as it provides a stimulating mental exercise and a means of maintaining cognitive flexibility.
Do gamers use math?
Mathematics is a fundamental component in numerous domains, including game mechanics, strategy games, and professional gaming. Its applications range from scoring and calculating optimal moves to enhancing performance through an understanding of game mechanics and the analysis of optimal strategies against opponents.
What are the top 3 hobbies?
Individuals often engage in a variety of leisure activities, including reading, sports, gardening, cooking, and traveling. The activities of reading, sports, gardening, cooking, and traveling are all enjoyable and fulfilling, and can be pursued in a variety of ways. Engaging in these hobbies can provide a sense of fulfillment and foster connections with others.
Are math skills genetic?
Mathematical ability is heritable and linked to various genes involved in brain development. However, the exact mechanisms behind this genetic variation remain unclear. Researchers Skeide and his team analyzed 18 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 10 genes implicated in mathematical performance and examined their relationship with grey matter volume in 178 unschooled children. They identified brain regions whose grey matter volumes could predict math test scores in second grade.
The results showed that variants in ROBO1, a gene that regulates prenatal neural tissue growth, were associated with grey matter volume in the right parietal cortex, a key brain region for quantity representation. The grey matter volume within these regions predicted the children’s math test scores at seven to nine years of age. The findings suggest that genetic variability might influence the early development of the brain’s basic quantity processing system, shaping mathematical ability.
What type of person likes math?
Mathematicians are typically investigative and conventional individuals, often inquisitive and curious, who enjoy working alone and in a structured environment. They are detail-oriented, organized, and prefer working in a structured environment. If you fit into these archetypes, you may be well-suited to be
a mathematician. However, if you are socially inclined, this may not be the right career for you. To determine your fit, take the career test.
What’s cool about math?
This article provides some interesting facts about math, aimed at increasing knowledge and interest in the subject. It highlights the 50 chance that two people have the same birthdays in a room of 23 people, 1000 being the only number from 0 to 1000 with “a” in it, and no one representing 0 in Roman numerals. The article also encourages readers to share these facts with their children, as it may spark a new enthusiasm for learning math.
Some people find math boring, but there are some interesting facts about math that can be enlightening. For example, there is a 50-fold chance that two people have the same birthdays in a room of 23 people, and 1000 is the only number from 0 to 1000 with “a” in it. By sharing these facts, readers can help their children learn and grow in their understanding of the subject.
📹 Anyone Can Be a Math Person Once They Know the Best Learning Techniques | Po-Shen Loh | Big Think
Po-Shen Loh, PhD, is associate professor of mathematics at Carnegie Mellon University, which he joined, in 2010, as an assistant …
It depends on what you interpret “mathematics” as. If you mean the language, concepts and symbols we use to model the world around us, then it is invented. If you mean the inherent nature of numbers and forms in the world, then it is discovered. An alien civilization would most likely have a different system of mathematics that would look foreign to us, but ultimately the underlying concepts and inherent nature of their system would be the same.
Mathematics is the back bone of every Scientific phenomenon. We treat it as a different branch of Science but logically, we can also treat Science as a branch of mathematics. Science contains the words that describe the mathematics we discover in almost anything and everything. Thus, science is the dictionary of mathematics and mathematics is the numerical description of science.
People invented a system for notating mathematics, but we didn’t invent the mathematical properties themselves. It’s sort of like how we invented the word “tree,” but we didn’t invent trees, or how we invented a method for creating and using fire, but we didn’t invent fire. Imagine if we arbitrarily decided that pi (technically not a “natural” number) were some other number than what it is, 2.4, for example. Later, you’re using this number to calculate how large of a fence you would need to completely enclose a circular yard. The result is that you would fail to completely surround the yard, because pi is what it is, regardless of what we say it is. As for curved surfaces, this does not result in new laws of mathematics, just new variables affecting the outcome of the same mathematics. Angles differ on curved surfaces, because the curve is part of the equation. Compare this scenario: Suppose I say two plus two equals four, then someone says that if the equation only works if the first two were alone. If a third item were present, before the two more were added, the result would be five. This would hardly prove that two plus two equals five in certain cases, because the one extra item would change the starting values. Adding an extra item to an addition problem is not much different from adding an extra curve to a geometry problem. You still use the same math, just with another variable to consider.
I just got high and discovered a random math formula and tripping out about the whole experience is what brought me here. The world is all making sense now, and to think I was horrible at math in school. I’m a filmmaker. Everything material is related and math is a language used to explore how they relate.
Isn’t it the same with language? I could also ask whether there is a tree, if there is no one who could call it a tree. The number of trees is just an enhanced description of the scenario. There are not so much different math languages, but there are a few. The romans had their own numbers, we have decimal, binary and hexadecimal systems, etc. As a software developer I’m dealing daily with describing or defining things, using a mix of english, my native language, different programming or markup languages and of course also math.
Mathematics is a human made tool to analyse, understand, order and to interpret the things we see or think off. Numbers and equations don’t exist. It’s just in equations we use abstract variables and we use symbols (operations) to discern the relationship between the variables.Numbers allow us to have some way of fitting in values to find answers. If there are 5 trees and no humans then there are still 5 trees but no humans to come along with symbols, sounds or other forms of communication to express them.
Was math invented or discovered? Math is useful in daily life and helps us with inventing new technologies. Therefore, many people wonder if math was invented or discovered. While some people might think that math was invented because math would exist if humans weren’t there to think about it. I feel that math was discovered, because the math is still there waiting for people to discover it and describe it in their own language. Take the forest as an example. If there are an amount of trees in a forest but there are no one counting it, does that mean the trees don’t exist? No, the amount of trees are still there. Math is still there waiting for someone to discover it. Another reason why I think math was discovered is because math is a pattern in nature. For example, the Fibonacci sequence was discovered in so many different plants and animals. Another example is geometry, shapes are commonly found in the nature, by measuring and looking at the shapes we discovered many properties about them and we use numbers and symbols to describe what we had discovered. Finally, math is the basic principle of the universe. The universe is physical, and we use math to explain physics. For example, the Earth is orbiting the Sun, but at what speed? Even if humans weren’t there to ask this question, the answer is already hidden in the universe. In short, math was discovered and it is always there even if humans never existed. Math is a pattern in the nature and is the basic principle of the universe.
I’d say mathematicians are the linguists of science. Fields like physics and chemistry are no more than languages, used to describe and understand the world in order to give future generations something to work with. Mathematics is what tells us the rules of these languages by inventing a language of its own. An example: gravity. It’s definetly a thing but that’s pretty much all physics alone can tell us. Using mathematics we can get a better insight into how it works. Or, to give an easier example: The word tree. It describes something real. Here the English language works like physics. It can tell you about something is real, but that’s it. That’s where linguistics hit. Now we can tell or find out, how the word is pronounced and where it comes from. So linguistic can tell us about more details. So do maths. But neither nor are real. They are human inventions helping us in order to get a better understanding of something that describes something real. If no human had ever invented mathematics our DNA would still be formed in the same way and a rectangular triangle would still have the same proportions. We just wouldn’t know and have no option to find out. Mathematics works so wonderful because it only works by very few basic laws which are man made. But everything else is just wonderful coincidences which had to happen because, if you have unlimited options, there will be one thing that describes just what you need to describe. It’s like being surprised because your phone number is part of Pi.
I believe mathematics was invented but it’s rules were discovered. It’s kind of the same way biology (study of life) was invented by man, because there would be no one to study life if there was no man, but the things studied in biology were discoveries even though they were termed and classified by man. It’s the same for maths. All the rules would still remain true even if we were extinct for a million years, but we were the ones who “named” the rule. We invented the name “Pythagoras theorem” when it actually, physically has no name, you know? That’s just my opinion.
I feel like people are getting caught in the semantics of what “mathematics.” If you are defining “mathematics” as the systematic method, or science, of understanding reality using numbers, then of course, it is an invention; however, if you are defining “mathematics” as a numerical pattern that is existent in reality, then mankind has discovered it. An example: physics did not invent gravity. Gravity has always been a naturally occurring phenomenon; physics, or “the science of matter, energy, motion, and force,” merely allowed human beings to discover and learn about gravity. So, are you defining “mathematics” as a science or a naturally occurring phenomenon? I personally believe in the reality of math that is existent regardless of man’s understanding. On another note, I’m bothered when people, upon observing the beauty of a natural phenomenon and appreciating it in awe, give science the credit for the amazement and not phenomenon itself by claiming something along the lines of “I love science.” Sure, science allowed you to discover and understand that amazing thing which you now experience, but it is the very reality of the universe that creates your wonder. In other words, that phenomenon has always been that amazing even before you realized it from your scientific understanding. If you discover a beautiful phenomenon such as a rainbow for the first time, don’t go, “I love science”; instead, say “I love rainbows” because the rainbow has always been beautiful whether or not you knew about it and it is the rainbow which invoked amazement within you, not science.
Un ejemplo muy representativo a la respuesta que se quiere llegar sería el siguiente: Cuando una persona conoce a otra y estas dos no hablan el mismo idioma buscan la manera de comunicarse de tal forma que con el tiempo van entendiendo lo que la una le quiere decir a la otra. La necesidad de poder comunicarse hizo que estas dos personas inventaran o crearan una forma abstracta de comunicación, que con el tiempo se va puliendo y haciéndose más entendible para ambas. Una vez que la comunicación ya no es el problema, se buscará representar esa comunicación. La invención de las matemáticas es como cualquier otro intento del humano por interpretar el comportamiento de lo hay a nuestro alrededor, de darle un representación gráfica y de poder tener un sistema con el que se puedan hacer calculos más allá de nuestra imaginación. Obviamente si los humanos no existieramos tampoco habría existencia de las matemáticas.
if you actually do math you’d know there is an independent existence. things fit together too well. formalism is just a way to make the reasoning rigorous. nobody thinks rigorously when actually doing math, everyone use their intuition to feel for the truth, not using logic to deduce the truth which is just an after thought to check for errors.
It depends on what we call mathematics. I like to separate the mathematics from the structure we use to describe it. Let me call those structures notation. We construct new notations all the time. In this line of thought, different notations are different languages, but mathematics would be discovered. The difference centers around, unlike human languages, notations have their way to construct consistent new terms from the previous ones. In doing that, we discover new mathematics. In languages one usually invent something new then it is named. Different notations, as happen with languages, can be split becoming different dialects, sometimes mutually intelligible, sometimes not. In this fashion, sometimes one needs to borrow words from another language/notation to complete one’s ideas, sometime one adapts those words to our own language/notation. And thus, the work of Burbaki’s would be nothing but aiming to establish a self consistent language that can grow without borrowing from other.
In my opinion, mathematics is an invented system and the reason it has so many practical applications in the real world is that the axioms that define it are based on common-sense observations that appear true in nature, and therefore it is expected that the conclusions that are drawn from it should also have real-world applications.
Very interesting. Vsauce gave a brief set of comments about this when they were talking about infinites that are larger than other infinites. Mathematics is a naturally occurring phenomenon that is discovered, but can be arbitrarily defined, ordered, patterned, and created in an attempt to further understand it. If I say that the letter J will represent every number which repeats itself 8 times as a digit in the lowest 100 prime numbers, I have created a mathematical tool. What I discover about the universe already existed, but the tool did not. I created it.
I think this is right: 1:30, “Mathematics is thus an invented logic exercize. With no existence outside mankind’s conscious thought. A language of abstract relationships. Based on patterns discerned by brains. Built to use those patterns to invent a useful but artificial order from chaos.” Leopold Kronike
I find that pi is probably one of the few numbers that nature has a better grasp of than us. The constant is infinite and very difficult to obtain. Nature simply constructs it while humans struggle to achieve it. We write many Taylor polynomials and MacLauren series ranging from Leibniz to Nilakantha and yet the number is still neither achieved nor well understood. I feel that math was invented to fit the mathematical patterns we see in nature.
Id say both. something as crazy as the fact that electromagnetic waves can be modelled by basic sine waves makes it seem as if math does play a fundamental role in the universe’s inner workings; it is perhaps a fourth science consistent throughout the universe (the other sciences being physics, chemistry, biology). The symbols used to describe mathematical concepts, however, are obviously artificial, and would vary across different forms of intelligent life in the universe; however the underlying mathematical concepts themselves would be the same across these civilizations and all parts of the universe, and I believe the universe itself is governed, and can be modelled, by these principles and that it possess characteristics found in other sciences, and hence is another, more exact science that is intrinsic to the universe, like all sciences.
Math is something that we discovered in the relationships of various things, but its expression, in the form of numbers and symbols (which I call the notation) is quite certainly a human invention. 2+2=4 is the expression of a relationship of some objects. That relationship, however, holds across a very great number of kinds of objects. Two apples and (or plus) two apples equals four apples, or doughnuts, or atoms, or stars, or whatever. The relationship holds. That is a nutshell way of expressing the definition of what we call math.
For me, we just discovered those deep patterns and symmetry in the universe. And it deponds mostly on logic and the three-dimension space. But when we tried to represent 5,6…even 11 dimensions space we had to use a different math a different pattern. We invented the language of math (Diagrams, symbols,) Example, E=mc2 We didn’t invent the equality and can not change it in this equation, but we discovered this pattern, probability,geometry and trignomotery……etc. Those are fundamental patterns which form the structure of three-dimentinal space.
It depends on what you’re talking about. For example, π if defined as: “The ratio of a circle’s circumference to it’s diameter” was discovered, as the concepts of a ratio, a circumference, a diameter, and a circle are all things that existed before us. Whereas π if defined as: “3.14159265359…” was invented, as that particular sequence of digits relies on the system of base 10.
Both. Invented, as the language of recognizing a symbol to mean (definition: one, singular), and so on. But also discovered, because whether we have the language to describe 2,000 as the number of trees in a forest or not, the concept that number describes isn’t going to change randomly, with trees blinking in and out of existence based on the abstract concept of a nonexistent number. It will have exactly 2,000 trees in the forest whether we have discovered the language to express the concept of 2,000 or not.
I think this question bares on a particular problem with hard materialism, (only material things enjoy full ontological status). Mathmatics, being non material but also indispensable in describing and predicticting the behavior of material things, AND doing an amazing job doing so, seems to suggest that numbers, as well as mathmatical functions, MUST be real. It spooks out the materialists I think.😊
Considering that i dont know too much about the subject, and the article gave no clear answer, i find the reasonable opinion i should form myself, is that its both. Some things discovered, some things invented. But wait how about some argument like this: ‘We dont discover mathematics in nature, we take insiration in nature’? Would this mean that we still both invent and discover math but everything still just in our mind?
I’m really convinced that maths is in general discovered. Mathematicians invent ways to analyze the truths, but they remain independent from our minds. There are too many recurrences in our world and universe not to think there is an original model or correlation. Since the universe and all it contains was there before our society’s developing, maths or this correlation must not be made up by us.
Either mathematics is invented, or everything, even literature and art is discovered. Would you say the Harry Potter novels were invented or discovered? There is only a finite combination of words and letters that can fit in 5000 pages, would you say J.K Rowling discovered that specific one, or invented it? In this context the answer to the question raised is clearly invented, leading back to my initial statement. I would love to hear a counter argument, just my thoughts.
Its very simple. Maths is invented through an intelligent conscious being. It was invented but it was discovered too. As the mention of DNA unwinding models, the concept was stated before hand purely abstract, making it invented. But it was also discovered in nature making it discovered. But as aforementioned, math is invented by intelligent beings, therefore seemingly making the universe appear to be designed by a greater intelligence.
Well if the rules of mathematics are universal, then it must be discovered. I don’t know how you can make a logically sound argument against that, since if the raw definition of ”universal” is ”including or covering all or a whole collectively or distributively without limit or exception”, it would leave us with two conclusions: 1. Math is not universal, and we have only have a small bubble of superficial awareness. 2. Math is beyond us, and we can only discover the art of expressing mathematics.
I think we invented them. There’s people saying we just invented ways of understand math. But that means we invented math, because math is how we understand this world ._. We didn’t invent the patterns and etc of course, but math has really shown to be just a very good system to explain our world, but not at all that our world follows those rules
Math is a playground of logic. And logic is created by humans . So math is invented And the logic started from the numbers we count, so it all started when counting was invented. The universe is just like biology and biological events. So we can say universe is random. And math is to understand that random thing, but we think we are understanding in order but that’s not it . Math is a language or a machine or a weapon to understand universe easily only for humans . You cant teach a cat about universe using maths but you can definitely teach them in that language they feel easy with. Thank you for reading my idea :- 9th grade student Shamik Bhowmick………
If there’s an intelligent alien species out there, to progress, it would need to “discover” or “invent” mathematics. While they would use much different symbols, they would still follow the exact rules we follow, asides from various encryption methods we have created. If it didn’t follow the same rules, then nothing would make sense, it would have to.
I hate these ‘paradoxal’ logics. If no one’s there to count the trees the number of trees still exist outside of our perception. Same thing with the tree falling down. The sound exists without us there. Let’s use the same logic for time. If a tree grows, and gets burned down and supposedly no one has seen it as it aged. Did the tree exist? Yes it did. At one point but now it’s gone. There may be some evidence it was there from say ashes but it did exist.
It is possible to discover inventions and invent based on a discovery. It can also be discovered and invented. it’s invented from the human mind, but the human is nature. His inventions are nature, and nature can only be discovered. Invention itself is a human construct for pointing fingers of who did it while discovering is a human’s realization. Only creatures like humans can discover. So…. did the universe discover it even though the universe is not human? Yes, the universe did discover it because the universe created man, and man is a part of the universe. The whole universe didn’t discover it, but an aspect of the universe(man) is trying to understand the larger part of itself. It’s psychology, inner world, as well as it’s outer external world, astronomical, and physical material world. And just life itself. We spend all this time trying to have great quality time with people we love when in reality we are constantly doing mathematics. You are always doing mathematics whether you know it or not. Mathematics is beyond just numbers.
The reason previously established mathematical theories suddenly appear useful in science, especially physics, is because scientists actively look for fields of mathematics to use to explain their work. Mathematical reformulations of physical theories are proof that mathematics is a tool we use to study the abstract physical universe. Our brains invented math. The laws of nature, independent of thought, have nothing to do with math. Math is what we use to study them. This is the sort of modern general consensus in the physics community anyways
I’m not sure that maths can describe reality, it seems more like an approximation we made up to make things easier. We can say oh look at those 2 sheep but that’s completely inaccurate because no two sheep are ever the same however in math 1 MUST equal 1. The same can probably be extended for any object because no object is exactly the same on the atomic scale.. I’m not sure if even two electrons can be equal since they have different spin and other properties.
It’s discovered. Bacteria has existed all these years, but until we found ways to understand them and distinguish them from viruses, and how to treat for an infection, they weren’t known as what they are. You simply were sick and died. Math has to always been around because there is no way we started counting and “invented” complex calculus that for virtually all purposes seems to fit in with everything else discovered.
That’s a simple question. We invented mathematics. And we invented numbers. That’s why we have theory of numbers. Invented or more correctly mathematics is a “convention”. And we have chosen to work in the binary system. The binary system is a convention too. We have, in mathematics, what we call “constants”. Constants are points of defect or incapability. They are signs of infidelity of this Convention. Mathematics is a tool. And we have created that tool. Could it have another form or structure? Yes but we still haven’t found that structure. A structure that eliminates constants and is still more exact that the mathematics is today. I think the answer is straight forward. Obvious. Mathematics is not discovered but convened.
The answer to this question is irrelevant because Math is theoretical. It doesn’t exist. For example, in mathematic geometry, a line does not exist. A line has no mass or weight. Furthermore, no line exists that we can see (which is something that goes on and on in 2 opposite directions). If a line did exist, it couldn’t, because if a line did have mass, it could not go on and on, straight, in opposite directions because Einstein proved that things that have mass, like light, actually bend in space (around other objects like planets that have mass). So a line couldn’t exist with mass and stay straight in both directions throughout space/the Universe….
Math seems to be an augmentation of language (like an expansion pack on a article game). Language explains our world with a common label(s), help us communicate more effectively, and records history. Math help with clarifying language concepts that are harder to explain without the math expansion pack. What math (and language) is describing has and will always exist. The invention of math/language provides a common reference for the majority of us to understand and build upon.
To the last question if one look at tree in a forest and count the number of the tree´s on the other hand if no one is to count that number does the number exist? On might as well ask the question if no one is looking at the forest does the forest exist? What if on count the number of trees in the forest to be 135 is it then one way or other possible to conclude the the integer 135 does not exist if no one ever did the counting?
Perhaps we can ask ourselves the question “Are living beings aware of numbers or is it a concept we created?” My answer to that is “yes, they are aware of numbers” for example a deer knows when 1, 2, or 3 lions are attacking it. If we have a natural concept of numbers (without having written scripts and symbols) is it not fair to say that maths is discovered.
maths is observation and probable observation .what makes it difficult to understand is REPRESENTATION .who knows ?,in other world people may represent unity as “2” or something other than “1” as we do .other thing which makes this difficult is logic and reasoning. and it is obviously difficult when you know its not easy, so .this is……..
Mathematics outside the symbolic representations that allow us to conceptualize mathematical ideals is a natural product of the universal phenomenon known as material existence. The sheer fact that all universal physical objects hold true regarding mathematical configurations definitively proving the postulation that mathematics in and of itself stands to remain independent of anything animate that seeks to assert that mathematical principles are the cause of mankind’s construction and or inventive propositions concerning all phenomenon that possess a mathematical connotation. Nathan Barnes: Intellectual Physics
Boils down to semantics, whether you think mathematics are the universes properties, or the descriptions of them. I tend to consider them the latter, so they’re invented. “Is mathematics an invention or a discovery? Artificial construct, or universal truth?” Those last two are a false dichotomy. A truth is a statement or description that is accurate, statements and descriptions are artificial constructs.
About the last question you say is the number tree exist? I think it always exists but no one discover that so it’s mean math is discovered. but like we make Invent something to discover something exemple : we Invent telescope to discover Jupiter .so we Invent number, symbol than make equation to discover Mathmatics.
eh.. you can ask the same question for literally everything in the world. and yes that number of trees exist even though nobody is there to count them, just as cells divide/replicate and perish independent of host organisms. Things can both be discovered and invented simultaneously, depending on the method and means. I think usually everything is simply “discovered” by default, and inventions are credits given to those “deserving” of them. I’ve “invented” or created things in the past that I had only realized already existed after I had already created it from the ground up(ie: I created a septagram in art class in a challenge before any examples existed on the internet). It can be annoying, but as a result, I’ve come to feel “inventions” are just credits to discovery. It doesn’t actually mean anything or hold any real value.
Imo the number of trees does not exist independent of perspective, because to count a set of things, somebody needs to define the set by deciding what is in the set and what isn’t. Natural numbers are not natural in the sense that no two distinct things are naturally equal, else they wouldn’t be distinct. We define them as equal by deciding that details like their position in space and time or individual properties don’t “count”. Countable categories are a result of a subject setting a purpose.
This is gonna sound crazy but I hated math and science when I was a kid but as ive gotten older(and admittedly dabbled in psychedelic drugs) not only do I enjoy it more but understand it more. When you look at these concepts from a very human egotistical view it’s nothing special but when you start trying to understand it from a more 3RD person/philosophical/spiritual POV it is much more profound. Whether or not people believe it LSD/Mushrooms can make you more intelligent if used at a correct dose.
I find extremely weird that such a logical issue is being discussed without proper definitions. You ask whether math is invented or discovered without laying proper foundations of what is each and the issue go straight there. Thinking about it for a few sec got me wondering what is invention at all, my immediate answer is it’s just a discovery of an option that exists, out of usually infinity of other options. So going by that, there’s no difference, invention is a discovery. Now I’ve come to learn that not every immediate thought of mine is irrefutable so I really looking forward to a response to settle this for me, but at that moment I feel like the whole concept of that vid is fundamentally sloppy.
A kind Correction Lecture (Lesson) Comment, pls: At 3:31 ‘time-frame-lesson shot’ — With all due respect to TED-ED and to our good friend fellow Jeff Dekofsky: this one is a Correction Comment on the Lecture used in this ‘Subject Topic’: “Is math discovered or invented?” but is not directed to said ‘Subject Topic Theme’, rather to the “Lecture Statement” at 3:31 ‘time-frame-lesson shot’ which mentions: ” … and won a Nobel Prize..” Which one… wins a Nobel Prize..?; or, who won a Nobel Prize mentioned in –> 3:31 … ? Kindly pls., let’s see the facts & truth in: 1. If you are referring to Eugene Paul “E. P.” Wigner: No. How come? His Nobel Prize in 1963 is about Modern Mathematical Physics, thus — *He is a Hungarian-American theoretical physicist who also did notable works in mathematical physics/mathematical quantum, etc. He received the Nobel Prize in Physics, 1963, specifically stated in his Nobel Prize Award: “for his contributions to the theory of the atomic nucleus and the elementary particles, particularly through the discovery and application of fundamental symmetry principles” … And NOT about how the Universe operates – mathematically. Hence, it’s not about “The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Mathematics in the Natural Sciences”, he wrote in 1960 & which yet, in truth, inspires later great Modern Mathematical Scientists in Richard Hamming in Computer Science; Arthur Lesk in Molecular Biology; Peter Norvig in data mining; Max Tegmark in Physics; Ivor Grattan-Guinness in Mathematics; Vela Velupillai in Economics, etc.
Neither, its expression of observation. – Philosophers began looking for greater precision, so they began notating. – However, its not a language. Afterall, what a long-winded way to simply say “cup”; but defining a cup in words would be so much longer. Ever see the notation musicians whom are not classically educated use? – same thing.
If math is made up, then it is made up in the first place from things in the real world. Does that make it “fake”? Think about how tallies started: if you were counting resources, a single tally was an abstract representation of something real. You could count baskets of wheat, for instance. The interesting thing that math can do is model reality: even if you only had five baskets of wheat, and someone wanted to trade you a piece of meat for double what you currently have, you could visualize and track how much more you needed with five more tallies. You don’t have the wheat yet, but your model tells you how many more you need. So, is the abstract representation of something real also real? I’d say yes because it interfaces with that real thing (wheat) and is born of a real thing (humans). So what about tallies, were they invented or discovered? I think it depends on your perspective. The abstract representation itself was surely “invented” the moment humans first used it. But the ability to differentiate between similar and different things is an evolutionary imperative even before you make a formal system for it. And that formal system’s development is just a natural evolutionary step for beings that are part of a world where understanding similarity and difference between things is crucial to survival. The interesting thing is when math goes far beyond the practical and becomes a study for its own sake like, say, in the study of n-dimensional shapes for n>3. This won’t do much for us practically since we live spatially in 3D.
I have seen history of math, then it made me wondering, they found fixed patterns and it’s proven because they follow the rules in the past, like how workers are constructing buildings or pyramid by following rules, buying same exact amount of ingredients or same measurements according what people planning to do. So what happens if they chose to do differently?
The association of the main numbers in the field of mathematics with each other, reflects numerical sequences that correspond to the dimensions of the Earth, the Moon, and the Sun in the unit of measurement in meters, which is: 1′ (second) / 299792458 m/s (speed of light in a vacuum). Ramanujan number: 1,729 Earth’s equatorial radius: 6,378 km. Golden number: 1.61803… • (1,729 x 6,378 x (10^-3)) ^1.61803 x (10^-3) = 3,474.18 Moon’s diameter: 3,474 km. Ramanujan number: 1,729 Speed of light: 299,792,458 m/s Earth’s Equatorial Diameter: 12,756 km. Earth’s Equatorial Radius: 6,378 km. • (1,729 x 299,792,458) / 12,756 / 6,378) = 6,371 Earth’s average radius: 6,371 km. The Cubit The cubit = Pi – phi^2 = 0.5236 Lunar distance: 384,400 km. (0.5236 x (10^6) – 384,400) x 10 = 1,392,000 Sun´s diameter: 1,392,000 km. Higgs Boson: 125.35 (GeV) Phi: 1.61803… (125.35 x (10^-1) – 1.61803) x (10^3) = 10,916.97 Circumference of the Moon: 10,916 km. Golden number: 1.618 Golden Angle: 137.5 Earth’s equatorial radius: 6,378 Universal Gravitation G = 6.67 x 10^-11 N.m^2/kg^2. (((1.618 ^137.5) / 6,378) / 6.67) x (10^-20) = 12,756.62 Earth’s equatorial diameter: 12,756 km. The Euler Number is approximately: 2.71828… Newton’s law of gravitation: G = 6.67 x 10^-11 N.m^2/kg^2. Golden number: 1.618ɸ (2.71828 ^ 6.67) x 1.618 x 10 = 12,756.23 Earth’s equatorial diameter: 12,756 km. Planck’s constant: 6.63 × 10-34 m2 kg. Circumference of the Moon: 10,916. Gold equation: 1,618 ɸ (((6.63 ^ (10,916 x 10^-4 )) x 1.
Although I have not dived too much into this topic, I don’t think the question of math being discovered and being invented should be mutually exclusive, but rather could be both true at the same time. Take light for example. Back then, scientists debated whether light was a particle or a wave for a while: since light behaved as both depending on the experiment being performed. Now scientists agree that light is both an electromagnetic wave and a particle (made of photons). If light being both a particle and a wave is no longer exclusive, why should math being invented or discovered be exclusive?
Well… 🤓 “God created the natural numbers …” is an excellent semantic translation of Kronecker’s quote, but it’s worth pointing out that the literal translation of “die ganzen Zahlen” is “the whole numbers”. Of course we now understand the “signed integers” by that term but Kronecker rejected the notion of negative numbers as late as the 19th century. (Fortunately, he was already of a dying breed at the time.) So “the whole numbers” that were “created by God” didn’t include any negative shenanigans in his mind! It’s especially ironic if you consider that the contribution to mathematics for which he is probably best known (the number theoretical Kronecker symbol, a generalization of the Jacobi symbol, which in turn generalizes the Legendre symbol) is now universally formulated in terms of signed integers. (Kronecker expressed it in a roundabout way using congruences. Later mathematicians discarded that approach in favor of the signficantly easier formulation using signed integers. 😅)
Math seems “discovered” to the degree that it seems so well to describe physical reality. Math seems “invented” to the degree that it runs into contradictions, paradox or general weirdness like “orders of infinity “, “divide by zero”, “the square of negative one”, or “x to the zero power”. Perhaps though, that weirdness is pointing to deep mysteries of physical reality that we just haven’t discovered, yet.
The notion existe, the description (numbers, equations…) is invented. It’s sad that you didn’t take a look at what Muslim mathematicians wrote / said about it, even when they contributed the most in facilitating the use of numbers with the introduction of “0” by Al-khawarismi, and the designing of numbers (1,2,3,4…) how we write them now.
Any discussion about the philosophy of STEM is incomplete without referencing non-Western mathematicians and scientists. This article would have been much more interesting, and perhaps more effective in addressing its topic, if it referenced how other non-Western mathematicians perceived the nature of math (such as Muslim mathematicians during the Islamic Golden Age, who did not believe religion and STEM advancements to be mutually exclusive).
Here is What I think, We discovered Mathematical operations, Such as Addition or Substraction from Trading observations. Two apples+Two apples-one apples=3apples From there operation originated. Then came in Repetitive Addition and partial substration. We Invented Multiplication and Division for it. Then we found patterns of Repetitive symmetric Multiplication and division. We discovered exponents and Surds. Then We employed consistency into he system by using algebraic substitution. From there originated functions and Relations. To explain them originated Cartesian plane and sets. Then we invented calculus. You see, Maths is a process of evolution. It perfects itself through Observation Invention Discovery Paradigm shift
سوال اخر جالب بود …اگر تعدادی درخت وجود داشته باشد و ذهن مشاهده گری نباشد که انها را بشمارد ایا تعداد وجود خواهد داشت ؟؟؟ …..این سوال اساسی تر هم مطرح میشود …اگر مشاهده اگاهانه ای نباشد ایا ان درختان وجود خواهند داشت که به تعداد انها برسد ؟؟؟ ……..بنظر میرسد ریاضیات مرتبط با اگاهی است و جدای از ان نیست همانطور که وجود جهان خارج از دید مشاهده گر ما و یا حداقل وضعیت مورد مشاهده اگاهانه ما خارج از محدوده اگاهی ما وجود ندارد و ان اثری از قدرت اگاهی ذیع شعور محیط بر کلیت وجودی خودش می باشد و این اگاهی و انرژی اکاهی است که همه جا احاطه دارد و اگاهی ما هم مرتبط با ان است و این اثر قدرت اگاهی است که موجد علامتها و کدهایی است که روح ما با دو المان و شاخصه لذت و درد و زیبایی شناختی و عشق و نفرت و درک مفهوم منطق خاص خود و درک مفهوم رابطه علی و معلولی و احساس روح بطور دقیق در پهنای ذهن ناخوداگاه و خوداگاه در شرایط متناسب با هر کد و علامت نتیجه خاصی را احساس میکنیم ریاضیات جدای از این علامت و کد ها و احساس روح ما نیست همانطور که وجود در اصالت روح و شاخصه های ان معنی پیدا میکند و بر خلاف تصور و یا بهتر بگوییم توهم ما بر اصالت ماده و انرژی این انرژی و توان روح است که اصالت دارد و شاخصه های ان از اگاهی اندیشیدن و خرد و زیبایی شناختی و احساس ارامش یا ناارامی که نبودن ارامش است ….وریاضیات مربوط به اثر اگاهی و علامت و کد و زیبایی شناختی و نظم و قاعده و احساس ارامش روح است و جدای از این اساسا موضوعیت پیدا نمیکند همانطوریکه وضعیت بی نظمی و نظم و اشوب و ارامش جدای از روح مفهومی ندارد ولی نظم روی دیگر قدرت اگاهی و علامت و کدها نیز اثر قدرت اگاهی و زیبایی مورد تحسین روح اگاه نیز اثر وجودی اگاهی و قوه خرد می باشد و ریاضیات نیز اثر قدرت اگاهی است همانطور که زیبایی اثر قدرت اگاهی و ارتباط ان با احساس روح ادمی است
Mathematics was discovered by observation for the interpretation of everything measurable … if you think it’s a invention then night and day, must also be a invention and time was invented, the motor car is a invention from many other inventions. It could be a creation if all parts already existed. But since everything possible is already part of our reality, hence as to why only what’s possible can be created.. Just to add the periodic table and all elements already ready existed, through observation it has been discovered each element has a higher or added electron, while the maths already exists, a hungry man will know to eat more than one apple leads to less hungry, More complicated mathematical formulas could be invented or created as a way to explain what has been discover.. So it’s a way to explain the value of what’s discovered but also a way needed to be invented to explain the more complicated mathematics within our observation… Like a problem within itself mathematics..
The entire universe is provisioned. I think we all know the formula for provisions. Question is math to humans or the universe? The entire human creation itself is a calculated measurement. If you have a wave frequency that is eternal, light can only be seen on some extent. And all within its corridors of path. – it’s a living being. Conscious or not, human is not required. Only the living can create another living. 1 generates 111111.. i think we need to rediscover ourselves to begin with. Even without AI we can easily input the algorithmic equations packages to instruct a computer to be able to discover the answer.
Math is invented to describe the way we observe things to behave in the Universe. It’s defined that way. As for why things behave the way they do, that’s just the most natural way they can be. Here’s an example: say we question why 2 + 2 = 4 and not 5. And by that we don’t ask why we call the result of 2 + 2 4 and not 5, obviously, we ask why by adding 2 real world objects to 2 other real world objects we get 4 and not, say, 5 objects. The reason is, that there’ve always been these 4 objects, that we’ve explored. They’ve simply been separated into 2 sets each with 2 objects. Via math, we simply represent the total number of objects as 4 and the number in each set of objects as 2 and the process of adding 2 objects to 2 OTHER objects as addition of natural numbers. It’s based on reality and so far (at least) reality is consistent.
(Sorry for my English, I really wanted to write this but I’m not as fluent as I would like to think.) There is a LOT of misconceptions about mathematics in the comments. If you consider mathematics are discovered, then you should think the exact same thing about pretty much anything humans created. The concept somehow “existed” before us, we just had the chance to find it. Art, music, cooking, lego buildings, etc, just discoveries. I mean, you can think like that, if the world is beautiful this way. But here is another point of view : mathematics are efficient to describe the universe because, well, we thought it precisely to describe the universe… We developed systems of axioms that seemed to be true in our perception of the universe, and based our mathematics on that. Not completly surprising that it worked. And no, it is not “unreasonnably efficient” : as a reminder, we have absolutly nothing to compare it to. Except maybe religion. Ok, look, I have a lot of respect for people who commit to lifestyles that make them better everyday, and this is how a lot of people live religion. But religion also does have this tendency to answer difficult questions by “it’s god(s)” without really trying to go further. Is it really surprising that centuries of serious study of the universe lead to better results ? About axioms : no, there is absolutly no garantee that aliens would have approximatly the same ideas (even described in other terms). Because nothing garantees that they would see the world the same way we do, so they may have built their mathematics in a completly differentl way.
Patterns of creation are observed repeatedly in objects of all size from stars, humans and to atoms. When mathematics is used to model that, it is discovery. Rest such as Euclidean geometry, complex numbers, theory of relativity, Heisenberg equation, Newtonian calculus, and endless conjectures and theorems are based on axioms and postulates(assumed truth) and hence an approximation to understand complexities of the universe. They are inventions and hence ambiguous and sometimes flat out wrong.
Mathematics (and other proof-theoretic formalisms) can be fundamentally both an artifact of mind and a set of properties which exist independent of mind. The explanation goes as follows. We know that all proofs consist of a finite series of discrete steps. But not all finite series of discrete steps are valid proofs. So even though we can suppose that many natural random processes will, over time, generate an abundance of patterns that look like they might encode proofs, and we can suppose that among these are some really valid proofs, some operation needs to take place to identify the valid proofs. In other words, the problem is not to generate valid proofs. Nature, in the form of some random process, will eventually do that. The problem is to recognize a valid proof among all the invalid proof formulations. In this sense, mathematics is DISCOVERED. But the process of discovery requires reliable methods, which require valid proofs of correctness, and so on. Eventually this regress has to bottom out in what we call the axiomatic basis of the proof formalism. These axioms have to be deliberately chosen. They cannot be derived. And so, in effect, a particular set of axioms has to be CREATED, a priori, by something outside of the formalism, such as ourselves. Now we are highly conditioned beings. Our evolutionary survival required us to develop behaviors, such as thinking, which are compatible with our physical circumstances. So our minds bring a lot of unconscious bias to the way we put ideas together.
Mathematics is a discovery. Although if there is another intelligent form of life in the universe, they may not have the same exact value for different constants of nature but they value would still be the same. Take for example Planck’s constant, although the value we see is 6.63×10^-34, another intelligent life form may not get this exact value when discovering this value since they may use different units but doing a conversion between our units to whatever the other intelligent life form uses we will find that the same value is represented in nature. Mathematics is how we understand the universe around us, god allowed us to understand the universe, and this was through mathematics. Nuclear processes are performed and work because of understanding the physical mathematics behind them. Many other theories work because of this. Mathematics is the most beautiful discovery of all time.
This is like asking whether trees were trees before someone called them “trees.” Whichever, depends upon what one chooses to call “mathematics.” “Mathematics” and “relation” are two different things. “One” has a (specific) “relationship” to “two.” (Etc., etc.) But until we showed up to create a “language” by which to express those relationships, there was no “mathematics.” “Relationships” existed before we existed to recognise them. Indeed, since one (i.e., a person) does not have to have one “of something” to add to another something, thus, to have “two somethings”, “relation” existed before the Universe itself existed. (Or, to put that another way; the Universe is “relation.”
Numerals are certainly invented, but to question the existence of numbers and mathematics itself is to question the existence of quantity. If you declare that quantity is real, then you get mathematics and reasonable justification of all the sciences. But to declare that quantity is an illusion is to suggest it is impossible to actually distinguish between two objects. Such a loose view of reality leaves you out of touch with it, and as far as I can tell only leads to stagnation.
Is a hammer discovered or invented? I pick up a rock and smash another rock. Did the rock pre-exist? or did I just invent it? If later on I continually refine the rock, adding a handle, and then converting it to steel and then adding a claw, did I discover that or invent it? If I humans didn’t exist, would rocks still exist? This kind of philosophical meandering makes philosophers rock hard (‘scuse the pun), but the reality doesn’t bend or comply with philosophy. Please stop.
If you include religious thought into this thinking Quran has an answer to this question. “The number of months in the sight of Allah is twelve (in a year)- so ordained by Him the day He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are sacred: that is the straight usage.” In this verse the god tells us that a year being 12 month is his creation. So it is not that we calculated and invented it. We simply discovered it. It is also clear that numbers were there even before we knew them.
Wait, what? Who actually asked that question? We as a species wouldn’t be here without what we call math. Is this supposed to be an insightful query? This is as nonsensical as flat earth theory, literally. The platitude “Question everything” doesn’t mean question a given, cause…well, that’s a waste of time, isn’t it? Jfc, that’s the stupidest title I’ve ever read…it’s just downright insulting to anyone with a functional frontal lobe. Ok, I will concede that you might hear this from a 7yo, tho..
God used principles he knew we could eventually figure out so that we could subdue and have dominion over things on Earth. We needed to have some mastery in order to survive and thrive. God is the creator of all – even our ability to understand math. Man takes it too far and starts to feel pride in himself and worships created things instead of revering the creator. Man stops teaching his children the knowledge and reverence of God. This will be the downfall of many who perish. As Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Also, Jesus said in Mark 12:29, “The most important commandment is this, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.”
I personally think there is a bit of confusion in the article between Pure Mathematics, Mathematical Language and Applied Mathematics (e.g. Physics) and In my opinion, pure mathematics is discovered. E.g. Pythagorean Theorem would be valid and would relate the side lengths of a 90degree triangle even if we never proved it. And it’s the same for every mathematical “law” we never proved (aka discovered). The article asks whether numbers would exist or not independently from our abstract thoughts. The problem is that what we call numbers are just a bunch of symbols that are part of the “Mathematical Language” that we invented to comprehend each other’s mathematical thought. It’s like any kind of language, e.g. Italian, English, Chinese, Arabic. invented because people needed to transmit their thoughts to others using a commonly chosen set of words. So the “Mathematical Language” ( thus numbers as well) is invented, just like any other spoken language. Last but not least, Applied Mathematics represents another case to me. Let’s take Physics as an example. What we discover in Physics are the phenomena. Later we invent a theory that is consistent with our discoveries. We say “invented” because it is a bunch of ideas that are conceived by the human mind and we are never (at least not now) sure that those ideas perfectly fit with how the universe works. In other words, if these theories were “discovered” they would be factual and imperfectible. Moreover, those theories are expressed and developed using pure mathematical concepts (e.
Mathematics is both discovered and invented. It is an intricate combination of both. Humans invent mathematical concepts by abstracting them from the world around them, using their creativity and imagination to develop new ideas and systems. However, mathematics also involves discovering the complex connections among these concepts, which are the theorems of mathematics . In this sense, mathematicians explore and uncover the inherent truths and patterns that exist within the mathematical realm . So, while mathematics is invented by humans, it is also discovered as we delve deeper into its principles and uncover its inherent structure .
The one thing i find interesting is Euclidian geometry axioms and quantum field theory……. They both start from infinity and work backswords to find truths…..Euclid start from a infinite line and broke down the line to find numbers Quantum Fields start from an infinite field of probability to find certainty.
It’s discovered. The most basic physics equations are experimentally supported, the natural number e appears in nature way too much, tiled hexagons are the most stable 2d structure and show up on micro and macro scales, the imaginary number i that was “invented” by treating sqrt(-1) like a variable is an important piece of real-world equations. By taking the definition of mathematics to be the process of parsing these equations, technically it’s invented, but mathematics is really about the equations themselves and USING the process to describe or derive new equations. These relationships exist already, it just happens we decided the axioms make sense and base 10 is the easiest base to the point where it’s hard to fathom any other base as making sense.
As a mathematician, I say that it was both. The ancient Greeks saw patterns in nature that started the idea of ratios and fractions. This also led to musical instruments. Also, in commerce, trade had to be tallied and counted! As time went on, the Arab world thought in reverse in an equation and we call this Algebra. Zero was created to represent nothing between 1 and -1. And then advanced math like calculus was developed to predict the performance of cannonballs!
Math is just a simplistic language to discribe fundamental laws of the Universe etc. So it will discribe everything but not really be anything. For example Five Trees. There is no five. Just Trees. But Five can be used as an adjective to discribe an amount. Meaning really fundamental Mathematical constructs that we dont really understand the meaning of are like throwing a blanket over an invisible landscape so you see it but dont know what is hiding underneath.
All math, at it’s core, is a tautology. “If axioms are true, then theorem.” There are specific theorems that align with OUR universe, and the associated axioms constitute the theory of everything of OUR universe. Mathematical universe hypothesis: consciousness can emerge from mathematical propositions of the universe which they are a part of… and we are results of such a mathematical proposition.
Look at the number of protons, atoms in a molecule, chromosomes in DNA, formation of stars etc…. it was there with reasons and patterons. You just came and started to see it. Doesn’t it make sense that its just discovered? You are give two eyes, two legs, two hands and one head and its so easy to realize for species with such a big brain.
Nomenclature, numbering system, branches of mathematics, and their techniques and conventions have been moulded or invented by us at our convenience for making them more accessible and distinguishable. They were really invented to describe and modelling the reality of our human constructions, expanding our knowledge, explain technological phenomena, and science mainly. So they have been invented as a tool or framework for measuring and investigating phenomena and things in the physical world under our interaction and civilisation constructs. Anyway, the different branches that exist have a connection as a whole block, in fact if you unify the branches of mathematics you might more easily find a grand unification theory with important impact on theoretical physics and other disciplines, then they also have a part of discovered thing at some point, and a bit linked with physics like a whole. But they are still a model for approximating reality. Just a humble opinion from someone who is not a mathematician.
Consider this: you have never met a triangle in real life, only pictures of them. Only representations. Triangles are two dimensional objects and because space is three dimensional a triangle can’t exist because it just doesn’t make sense. Triangles aren’t real. They’re purely imaginary. They’re an ideal or concept that people find helpful, but no such thing as a triangle exists. I have dyscalculia and have always struggled with mathematics because I felt like it was “meaningless”–I couldn’t attach the numbers and such to feelings, and it never felt like they represented anything. They were pure nonsense. When mathematicians talk about what they understand, I might as well be speaking to gods. I think they were born with a certain sense or intuition that I was born without or due to circumstance went underdeveloped in me. Frequently I feel isolated from others due to them lacking in intuitions that I have as well. I wonder if there is something else out there like mathematics that we have have yet to describe because we haven’t the “language” to do so yet. I mean, all but the most common mathematics is insanity to all but the most advanced scholar. Imagine being the first to discover or create mathematics of this level. What would you be able to do? How would you convey it to others?
I completely agree, I was getting under 50% in every maths test. I then was introduced to physics (maths with an apparent purpose). I approached maths with an I love it attitude for the next two years because I loved physics. I also ignored people saying “don’t worry you did poorly, maths is hard.” I stopped messing around in my free time and decided to learn maths to a point where I was average. my view of average increased as I got better. Now there is the dreaded b+ . This was simply due to a change in mind set, hard work and replacing peoples opinions with difficult goals. ” if you don’t sacrifice for what you want, what you want will be the sacrifice.”
This is so true. When I was younger, I was so bad at maths until I got a teacher who sat down with me and started from scratch and fully explained and taught me what I didn’t know. She saved my life because if I moved forward without a basic understanding of mathematical concepts, I would have continued to fail for the rest of my life
There is a professor in Oxford who once said that Maths is just another language we can understand the world through. It really changed my perspective about maths. It’s not just about numbers and statistics and geometry and trigonometry, but rather it’s a language. A language through which we can communicate with the universe itself.
um.…high school calculus never was used in my life. Not even in college and in the happily ever after Disneyland Fantasyland. Everything useful i learned in elementary school. +. -. ✖ & / &<&> it’s all you really need and life experience. Making math at your own pace. i fully support. i mean there’s nothing like timed 100 math test questions to ruin a student’s love for math and education in general if the student has a learning disability of slow processing but an IQ higher than the teacher’s. ☮️