Mathematics Stack Exchange
Mathematics Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [convention]

Use the convention tag for questions about standard, cultural practices in mathematics.

Use the convention tag to ask questions about standard practices in mathematics.

Examples include writing unknown variables as "$x$", including or excluding $0$ in the natural numbers, defining principal square roots to be positive, etc.

424 questions
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Is it bad form to let the constant of integration equal several different values over a calculation

In college and later the first year of university(Engineering), I was taught that you can multiply the constant of integration by a constant value and it doesn't change, like in these examples: $$ y = \frac{1}{5}\int dx = \frac{x+C}{5} = \frac{x}{5}…
Flyingfirepig
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7
votes
3 answers

it is correct to write 0,000 or just 0?

Can you say me please if it is correct to write $0,000$ or just $0$? I have to complete a table and there are decimal numbers, and I don't know how to do in the case I have an absolute zero.
Aurelia Tonu Burduniuc
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5
votes
0 answers

Formatting in Latex

Is there any consensus about when to use inline math mode and when it is more appropriate to use display math mode when writing in latex (in formal math writing)? When writing, I feel that it is often easier to read display math mode, but sometimes…
Peter_Pan
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3
votes
2 answers

Special name for $k!\binom{n}{k}=\frac{n!}{(n-k)!}$

$$\binom{n}{k}=\frac{n!}{k!(n-k)!}$$ The expression above is also known as binomial coefficient. Is there a similar naming convention that describes the one below? $$k!\binom{n}{k}=\frac{n!}{(n-k)!}$$
pschill
  • 213
3
votes
1 answer

Scalar when undefined: real, complex, or something else

For an arbitrary vector space one defines, the scalar field can be anything: real, complex, rational, or some other previously defined field. However, in some texts on linear algebra for example, the authors do not define what a scalar is. Is it…
TSJ
  • 629
3
votes
2 answers

Summation and Product notation: Convention for when final index number is smaller than the first?

What, for example, are the following? $\sum_{i=5}^4i$ $\prod_{i=5}^4i$ Is there a standard convention for what they should be? My guess is that $\sum_{i=5}^4i=0$ and $\prod_{i=5}^4i=1$. Is that correct?
user46234
2
votes
2 answers

Name of region defined by two points in higher dimensions

Perhaps this isn't the best place to ask, but I'm trying to figure out the proper name for the region that exists in-between two points in higher dimensions. Under certain conditions, n-cube or hypercube would be appropriate, but I'm looking for a…
Nuclearman
  • 161
2
votes
1 answer

Is there a convention regarding the capitalization of adjectives derived from proper names?

Many mathematical properties are derived from the name of a mathematician associated with them: "Abelian," "Noetherian," "Artinian," "Frobenius (algebra, category, etc...)," "Cauchy," etc. It seems that I've given these examples more-or-less in…
Kevin Carlson
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1
vote
1 answer

Is there a symbol/ way to mathematically indicate an answer?

I know this is going to sound rather contrived, but I was wondering if there was a symbol to indicate a solution to a problem. I'm a student studying engineering and constantly shift between notations and otherwise, however my conventional…
Pierson Sargent
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1
vote
2 answers

A fixed number or any number

This is a question about the convention. I am confused about whether a symbol means a specific and fixed number or any number. Here is a recent example on the definition of margin for perceptrons (in machine learning). Let $\{(x_1, y_1), (x_2,…
Tom Bennett
  • 540
1
vote
1 answer

What do we call unary operators of differing directions of operation?

Suppose you have two unary operators $!$ being the factorial and $\partial_1$ being the partial derivative of a function w.r.t. its first parameter. $$ n!m $$ $$ f \partial_1 g $$ The $!$ operator operates on an argument on its left side ($n$),…
user132716
1
vote
1 answer

Do you think writing +-scalar is considered an acceptable convention?

I would like to know whether you think writing the following expression is considered acceptable: $$ 3x +-9 $$ Do writing $+-9$ as a way to express $+(-9)$ considered acceptable? I'm thinking about it as writing $+9$, but replacing $9$ with the…
Steph
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1
vote
2 answers

Global decimal mark use

Is it feasible that one convention will be decided on with regard to the use of a decimal comma or decimal point and similarly, thousand separators? i.e. 1.000 vs 1,000
Beerhunter
  • 111
0
votes
1 answer

Does an integral without an integrand imply the integrand is $1$?

This is a question concerning mathematical convention. If we see something like $$ \int_a^b dx $$ Does this imply that $$ \int_a^b dx = \int_a^b 1\ dx\text{?} $$
user143602
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0
votes
0 answers

What variable should i use to represent a small value?

I am writing a computer code. I need to name a variable that represents a small offset. Typically, I'd use epsilon or delta for those variable names, but those variables are already currently used for other things in the code. Question: What are…
irritable_phd_syndrome
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