MATH ∨

Mathematics is for people who can’t do physics.
Heard around Uni

Actually, mathematicians do the heavy lifting; physicists obtain grants for very expensive machinery to convince themselves the math really works, then write a pretty story complete with imagery of them posing by their machines, patting themselves on the back while awaiting the call from the Nobels.

Philosophy is for people who can’t do mathematics.
Unknown

I don't know of others who may have thought this way, but it has been my fallback as I tumbled out of creative mathematics.

Math is the science of not being wrong about things.
Jordan Ellenberg

It's logical! But in my case, I can say only that I may be less wrong.

There are 3 types of mathematician: those that can count and those that can’t.
Old joke

Places me in the appropriate, unskilled math category.

Do not worry about your difficulties in mathematics. I assure you that mine are greater.
Einstein

Impossible to conceive in my case, Herr Dr.

A variable is the principal defense for one who cannot count.
Your Author

Find the scribblings under this menu topic 'organized' into n sub-menus:

• The WAY of Mathematics is a series of articles describing the ‘big picture’ of mathematics, something one might wish to know before commencing formal coursework in mathematics.
• Organizing Principles (Structure and Representation) presents a series of expository articles by subject experts, introducing advanced directions in Unified Mathematics Theory.
• Fearless Symmetry dives deeper into Algebraic Number Theory, son Barry’s research field, following, in chapters, the exposition of the book by the same name. It is essentially a long, technical report on a book whose mathematics uses Structure and Representation to prove Fermat’s Last Theorem.
• Explorations demonstrates development of an occasional mathematical train of thought, or some specific problem of interest, motivated by cognizance that mathematics can’t be experienced without getting one’s hands dirty.
• My meta-topic, Math Publishing, describes how I accomplish my mathematical scribbling here.

Perhaps you, dear reader, are a well-educated person, hence possessing some mathematical skills. Since I want to be one of those people too, I must continue to work on my math chops. Welcome to my workout studio, mostly at the level of college lower division teachings, with some thought excursions inquiring into the state of the art.

Einstein reminds us that it never gets easier. The more experience one gets, the more insurmountable the difficulties, so eventually all end up with the same insight: at some level, this stuff just got too hard.

Mathematics provides a language to extend our intuitions regarding the workings of our physical reality, at the same time providing the tools necessary for all science/engineering/building projects, for talking about randomness in a non-random manner, for successfully managing commerce, and for charting successful paths through life (for instance, if you love gambling, best to hedge your bets and be an owner of the casino as well its customer).

To commune further with mathematics, perhaps consider two classic introductory math books:

• What is Mathematics?, Ian Stewart’s update of the original Courant and Robbins expository foundational subject matter text. Per Herman Weyl, “It is astonishing to what extent What is Mathematics? succeeds in making clear by means of the simplest examples all the fundamental ideas which we mathematicians consider the life blood of our science.”
• D’Angelo and West’s Mathematical Thinking, introducing the reader to mathematical objects, fundamental processes, problem solving, and proofs.

These texts are suitable for math scholars and all other people of curiosity. The books may be perused piecemeal by the curious reader, to familiarize with notation, language, and accessible conclusions, tailoring to the reader’s interest and attention span. They might also be good supplements for the assigned course textbook, or as a good review guide.