Mathematics

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Mathematics

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2+2=4
Mathematicians are like lovers. Grant a mathematician the least principle, and he will draw from it a consequence which you must also grant him, and from this consequence another.
—Bernard Le Bouyer de Fontenelle

Mathematics is the study of formal systems and the relationships between them. The main branches of mathematics are Algebra, Topology, Analysis, Logic, and Statistics. Mathematics is a fundamental truth, and when done correctly is impossible — for rational people — to deny, which is to say that mathematics is also one of the few aspects of life where absolute proof is considered possible. For example, the only way to deny that 1 + 1 = 2 is to use a definition of "1," "2," "+," or "=" that is not commonly accepted. Alternately, add two entities of different units, say one meter and one apple.

Mathematics is a mainstay of science (but is not considered a science itself), and important in everyday life as a whole. While some may regard mathematics as an 'exact science', this is not correct. Mathematics is a formal science, concerned only with abstract structures, their properties and the logical relationship between them. Ontology - comparing theoretical calculations with empirical observations - is the bridge between mathematics and the sciences.

Despite being incredibly important, no Nobel Prize is awarded in the field of mathematics (some claim that Nobel's wife ran off with a mathematician — though since Nobel was never married, this seems unlikely). The poor mathematicians have to be content with the much less prestigious (to non-mathematicians) Fields Medal. On the bright side, there are no awards in other fields equivalent to the Millennium Prize Problems, which are a set of seven outstanding mathematical problems that offer a million dollar reward for the first published solution (however you need to get to work, as one has already been solved).

A few fundamental statements in mathematics, known as axioms, are not proven and are instead assumed to be true. One cannot remain within a formalism and question the validity of the axioms on which it stands. One thing about axioms in mathematics (and other logical endeavors) is that they are always stated up front. It is always interesting to see what structures can be built by discarding some of them, such as in non-Euclidean geometry.

A subtle flaw in a mathematical argument can often be drawn into an absurd conclusion; see mathematical fallacies for some examples.

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Mathematics Articles on RationalWiki

mathematics

Conservapedian mathematics  -  Delta function  -  Fermat's last theorem  -  Fibonacci sequence  -  Golden Ratio  -  Gödel's incompleteness theorems  -  Hypatia of Alexandria  -  Information  -  Metric system  -  Phli (fun)  -  Pyramid  -  Rene Descartes  -  Sophie Germain  -  Statistics  -  wikiFactor  -  Zero  -
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