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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Reading an Old Equation

I have been self studying Whittaker and Watson when I came across this problem I am unsure what the first equation is supposed to be. Is it $$\frac{e^{2 \pi i \nu x}}{1 - e^{2 \pi i x}} = \frac{1}{2 \pi i} \lim_{n\to\infty} \sum_{k=-n}^{n}…
Talmsmen
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Why are there so many algorithms for solving a system of linear equations?

I am a math major and I am taking a class on numerical linear algebra. It has been a little while since my numerical analysis class where we had a couple of algorithms for this problem, the most prominent was the LU-algorithm I think (we called it…
Sen90
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What are some good sources for probability heuristics?

I've studied rigorous probability theory at university but I find myself struggling to solve questions in probability as quickly as some of my peers. I think that what I try to do is 'translate' the problem into a rigorous framework and solve it…
user1056807
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1 answer

What is expected from a Master's thesis, especially contrasted with a Bachelor's or PhD thesis?

I'm thinking of enrolling in a Master's degree in Mathematics and it culminates with a thesis rather than being purely course-based. I am wondering what is expected of students writing a Master's thesis and how it compares to a Bachelor's/PhD…
alexmaersk
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Are undergraduate math courses more rigorous than graduate math courses?

This is a bit of a soft question, but are undergraduate math courses and textbooks more rigorous than graduate math courses and textbooks? In my experience so far, undergraduate textbooks prove every detail, or at least more detail than graduate…
user107952
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How does one go about doing mathematical research?

Now, I'm no mathematician but I really want to become one in the near future. I primarily want to ask people who've attempted to do mathematical research, how was it like? And also, how hard was it? Another question is, what are your best tips for…
user956717
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Skepticism in math

Do any one have tips on not getting too skeptical while reading proofs. I am trying to self teach a math textbook but I keep on revising old proofs thinking that I am missing something.any suggestions. Here is an…
Abdrlrahman
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Did anybody see a correlation with tablet use and lower productivity?

I have an ipad pro and sometimes I like to write on it, and sometimes I like to write on paper. However I have done experiments where I would study for exams only on the tablet, and other times I would study for exams only on paper. The result for…
VLC
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Soft Question About Turkish Universities

I am a 12th grader from turkey, I recently did well in the centralized exam, now I have to choose between the University of Bilkent Mathematics and METU Mathematics, I plan on doing my PhD abroad so if you have had experience with either of these…
alper akyuz
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Can one formalize the difficulty of proofs?

My question is if there is any specific possibility to make consistent valuations of how difficult a specific mathematical argument/proof is? Starting with elementary proofs as being set "trivial" - would it be possible to "measure" how much…
Thanks.
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Do theoreticians check proof of all lemmas and theorems proposed by others while being used in their own proof?

I am trying to figure out how theoreticians work. In my understanding, theoreticians work to find new theorems from previously established theoretical systems. To prove new theorems, they have to read a lot of previous papers to find paths for their…
Ziqi Fan
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About the type of numbers allowed by axioms and Nature

I have a question which has 4 different subcases or "avatars": 1) Has every "interesting" class of number been invented? 2) Has every "possible" class of number been invented? 3) Does Nature use every interesting class of number for something in…
riemannium
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Request for translation from Russian: 'Bayesian Sufficiency' from a paper by Kolmogorov

The following seminal paper by the great Kolmogorov introduced the important statistical concept of Bayesian Sufficiency. Kolmogorov, A. (1942). Sur l’estimation statistique des paramètres de la loi de Gauss. Bull. Acad. Sci. URSS Ser. Math. 6,…
Evan Aad
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2 answers

What are the most broadly applicable or general areas of mathematics?

Background: I am in the final year of a bachelor's degree program in Data Science with the University of London. I am interested in exploring the possiblity of going to graduate school for pure mathematics, most likely at the master's level in…
Novice
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Is measure identical to magnitude?

In an introduction to Euclid's Elements , D.E Joyce writes: Treating angles as magnitudes should not be confused with measuring angles. The angles themselves are the magnitudes. The only measurement of angles in the Elements is in terms of…
bluemoon
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