Questions tagged [soft-question]

For questions whose answers can't be objectively evaluated as correct or incorrect, but which are still relevant to this site. Please be specific about what you are after.

For questions whose answers cannot be objectively evaluated as correct or incorrect, but which are still relevant to mathematics.se.

12079 questions
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Techniques for speedproving

This is not a math problem per se, but I figured it wouldn't hurt asking for some advice in here, since a large part of the community consists of students. I've recently taken several courses in mathematics out of general curiosity, and typically my…
ro44
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Good Source For Mathematics News

Is there a good news source that specifically covers the latest results and findings in pure mathematics which is not an academic journal?
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property of a space

A two dimensional space (eg. $\mathbb{R}^2$ ) could be a flat or it could be the surface of sphere (or of any shape) in a 3-dimensional space. How do we distinguish between such spaces without invoking higher dimensions.(here I am using the term…
Rajesh D
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Estimate what percentage of math articles on Arxiv are eventually published.

I was looking through arxiv and was curious about what percentage of the math articles on there get published. Does anyone know or care to take a guess?
Joe
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Book for Calculus

I'm interested in Integration. Of late, I've been exposed to several problems on Summations, Integration and Special Functions, as well as the knowledge of theorems such as the Dominated Convergence Theorem, Fubini's Theorem and so on so forth.…
User1234
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Difference between ,say, "At least 8" and "8 or more"

Are they not the same the thing? Just to be on the safe side I wanted to verify this with others. Sorry for the stupid question.
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Obfuscated proofs

I am, just for fun, looking for long and complicated proofs for statements which can be proven rather easily and much faster. The proof itself still has to be correct however. While the proof should be obfuscated, all parts should have some…
Keba
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How to not feel bad for doing math?

I have a MsC and want to take a PhD in algebraic topology. Probably very few people in the world will have any interest of my thesis. They will pay me for doing my hobby. Its the only job I can think of which doesnt contribute to bettering the…
John
  • 99
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What branch of Mathematics does the study of Algebraic/Transcendental Numbers lie in?

I've always been fascinated by polynomials, ever since first learning them in high school. I absolutely adore the notion of 'playing around with the coefficients' and watching what happens to the location of the roots, or how we can construct bounds…
Trogdor
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Difficulty faced in solving maths problems

I am a student in 12th grade and am fond of mathematics. I enjoy reading mathematics but when it comes to problems I just get completely stuck. Its not that I don't understand the problem but often don't know how to go about tackling it. When I see…
user34304
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problems in mathematics

Where can i find long and interesting problems related to analysis (or to mathematics in general) in order to prepare for the Phd qualifying exams (outside of usa) i don't want research problems, but enough difficult for self training and that can…
mahamath
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Which courses should I take to prepare for PHD in Finance/Econ/OR

Since it's finally the end of the year, I would like to gain some insights about which course should I take that are most helpful to prepare for application to the PHD program in Finance/Financial Economics/Operation Research at top schools (e.g.…
ghjk
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About finding advisors on the internet

The thing is, since I do a job, and work on mathematics in my spare time, I do not have any connection with the academia. Secondly, the internet is the only way I can interact and reach out to other mathematicians or math enthusiasts like me. If I…
Roupam Ghosh
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Theorem cannot be proven directly

Can we ever prove a theorem cannot be proven directly (i.e. We must use contrapositive or prove by contradiction.)? Can we even rigorously defined whether a proof is direct or not? Example: I was reading Steiner–Lehmus_theorem: Every triangle with…
user175968
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How is $\sqrt{3} * \sqrt{2} = \sqrt{6}$ mathematically possible?

Well, this question is basically a method to point a loophole in Maths which I'm not sure how it is possible... Let us take a number A and another no. K. A + A + A + A + A........(k times) = K * A Everything is all right till here. But the problem…
Nib
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