Mathematics Stack Exchange
Mathematics Stack Exchange

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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Breadth vs. Depth in Maths

As a Maths student (beginning undergraduate), I'm often unable to decide whether to spend my time going in more depth and attempt harder and harder problems (which I do to an extent) or whether I should go on to learn something new or build upon…
Sheheryar Zaidi
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Why $2\sqrt{x} + \sqrt{3}$ can’t be simplified any further?

In How do you simplify the addition of square root, it has been pointed out that it cannot be simplified any further. As obvious as it seems, the following questions seemed need to be addressed: What is meant by a simpler form? As matter of fact,…
jimjim
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Degrees of separation between famous mathematicians

I was recently doing some reading on Wikipedia, and I noticed that if you go far enough though Isaac Newton's notable students' students' students. . . (and so on), eventually one was Augustus De Morgan's adviser, and one who was J.J. Thomson's…
user28375028
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Collatz conjecture - example on the opposite situation

In the "Collatz conjecture" we want to find a number that makes the process go on forever never reaching 1. I want to find an example - a problem like "Collatz conjecture" but where you have to find a number that makes the process stops (the…
Ilikenumbers
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Developing Endurance

I realize many math problems solved by mathematicians require a tremendous perseverance over a period of years. My question is not about endurance over a long period of time, but over several hours. I can only spend an hour and a half to two hours…
Student
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About Zeno's paradox and its answers

I read this question How can Zeno's dichotomy paradox be disproved using mathematics? . The first (ie the one on the top) answer uses the fact that $\sum\limits_{n=1}^\infty\frac{1}{2^n}=1$, because we divided the movement in…
Hippalectryon
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What does the field of mathematical biology study?

I like math and bio and I want to study both. There is a subject called mathematical biology. What is it? What does a mathematical biologist do? What institutions have good mathematical biology programs?
I.R
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What Does the Associative Property Mean Intuitively Across All Notational Schemes?

You can find descriptions of associativity as intuitively meaning that the order of operations performed does not matter, e. g. such as that of Wikipedia. However, if you write what associativity means in terms of a formula in either prefix…
Doug Spoonwood
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What is a good topic for an essay on applications of Calculus 3?

In a class I have, the professor has offered extra credit for 1 page paper on a topic in Calculus 3 that has an application in the real world. I know calculus is used a lot in physics but I do not know physics very well. What is a good topic that…
Fernando Martinez
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Pure Math or Stats undegrad for Stats Grad School

Hello I'm currently a first year undergrad double majoring in physics and math. My school offers both a pure math and a statistics concentration and I'm wondering which one would be better for potential grad school in statistics. It would be a…
user143226
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How many exercises should I do in Spivak Calculus?

So I'm going through Spivak Calculus 3. Ed. and I'm still on chapter one. It's quite abstract but I'm managing. So far everything is clear but I'll get on the exercises real soon and I don't know if I should do all of them or I can skip some? What…
Sab ಠ_ಠ
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Struggling through Spivak

My friend recommended that I try out Spivak. So I figured what the heck, its just a calculus book, can't be that hard...I was wrong. I'm very slowly working through Chapter 1, not even on calculus yet. I don't think I've ever put this much mental…
user133188
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Valentine's Day 2/14/2014: Math for the heart <3

I am a mathematician and my significant other is a numerologist. She warned me that this Valentine's Day is the most important ever because it is 2/14/2014. I can't afford to mess this one up. I know that if I am to truly show her I care (and not…
David Caliri
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Functional analysis and physics

Some branches of mathematics like functional analysis do not on first encounters seem to have any possible applications.Can someone please give me some examples of applications of functional analysis in phsics?I believe there can hardly be any…
AgnostMystic
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How to Self learn math

Can someone suggest a website that will guide me and also teach the branches of mathematics??
user96172
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