What
is Mathematics? (and what it is not)
Math is not…
· Accounting; though accounting uses some mathematical formulas, it is a subject with its own objectives (usually business, not mathematical). It may surprise some that the average accountant uses numbers a lot more than the average mathematician!
· Statistics; though stat uses sophisticated mathematics, it is a separate filed of knowledge with its own history, objectives and methodology.
· Number crunching; Engineers and scientists often use digital computers to create numerical simulations of their models. These models and the numerical procedures used to analyze them involve heavy doses of sophisticated mathematics; however, the goals, context (semantics) and methods of thinking are not mathematical.
Math is…
· Forms or objects. A circle is a geometric form or object; a group is an algebraic form or object; a fractal is an iterative form…
· Patterns among or within sets of objects, including (but not limited to) numbers. Examples are the repeating shapes in fractals, even and odd numbers among whole numbers, the sequence of Fibonacci numbers 1,1,2,3,5,8,13…
· Relations such as equations and inequalities. Relations are the means by which very precise information is distilled from perceived forms and patterns.
*****
Math can be exciting and Math people can be popular. Here are two mathematically-gifted, popular artists:
Danica McKellar (Erdos-No.4) and Kiralee Hayashi (Erdos-No.3) [What is an Erdos number?]