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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Studying mathematics abroad - specifically France

I have tried to avoid asking a "soft question" on here because I'm not sure if they are appreciated or not. However, this is one that has been bothering me. I was recently talking to a few friends of mine about my desire to study in France. I…
emka
  • 6,494
23
votes
10 answers

What job did you get with a degree in math?

I am on track towards a B.S. in math or actuarial science. From what I have gathered looking at the answers, it sounds like statistics, probability, and programming are the valuable math skills to go after. I think that is where I will direct my…
Jesse
  • 167
22
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1 answer

Mathematical suggestions for a long commute

I have quite a long commute on my way to my university (about 75 minutes) so I was wondering if there's a math-related podcast or something of the sort you'd recommend. Exercises are appreciated as well, but they should be conceptual (or at least…
Fernando Martin
  • 5,847
22
votes
1 answer

Do other non-native english speakers have trouble solving certain kinds of problems?

There are certain problems, I am noting that I am unable to solve because I cannot comprehend what exactly is being asked. The problems themselves might be non wordy, but I try to formulate it in english sentences while solving and I get all lost…
kuch nahi
  • 6,789
22
votes
3 answers

General question about mathematical thinking

I am starting to see a pattern in my math studies, and I'm interested in your thoughts on the subject. It seems like there are certain things that are much easier for me to learn than others. For instance, I am a pretty quick learner when I can…
Hila
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21
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5 answers

Are all good mathematicians fluent in computational aspects of mathematics

I am in first year at college. I like studying Abstract Algebra from Michael Artin's book and Calculus from Apostol's books. However, I didn't get very good in computing things like derivatives/integrals etc. using them, and in fact, I skipped those…
Isomorphic
  • 1,182
20
votes
2 answers

How to draw the Greek letter $\xi$

I hate this letter $\xi$. I dont understand why we have to use this symbol. I mean there are many greek letters easier to draw. Do we use this letter in order to imply the level of difficulty in the topic it appeared? Anyway, I always wanted to ask…
iamvegan
  • 2,552
20
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1 answer

What is the mathematical value of reproving theorems?

Many times in journals, people prove one theorem several times. I am puzzled as to why this is the case. Once it is proved, we already know it is true. Can someone explain why mathematicians reprove theorems? I apologize if this question is…
user107952
  • 20,508
20
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2 answers

Should one understand a proof of every important theorem in a field of mathematics to research?

I guess not. However, I think I have to understand proofs of some of them, if not all of them. So what is the criterion, if any? What kind of theorem whose proof I can get away with? EDIT For example, let me take the main theorems of class field…
Makoto Kato
  • 42,602
19
votes
5 answers

Problem of a slow thinker

I am a graduate student of mathematics. I often feel frustrated due to my inability of solving sums or thinking of a sum as fast as my peers can do. Let me clarify. I have noticed whenever I sit to discuss sums or mathematical problems with others…
Jave
  • 1,160
18
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4 answers

On the Math Mindset

I am a soon-to-be high school graduate with inclination towards mathematics. I enjoy doing math, and am relatively good at it, but I dislike the way I am being taught. I feel like I am being taught methods for solving a lot of problems, but I don't…
Mosby Toych
18
votes
3 answers

Is all of mathematics set theory in disguise?

Is all of mathematics, just set theory in disguise? We know the ZFC axioms allow us to encode mathematical objects as sets of some kind. So, even theorems about, say, Hilbert spaces can be written down, tediously, as formulas of ZFC. So, does this…
user107952
  • 20,508
18
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7 answers

How to explain your area of study to non-math people

I'm sorry in advance if here is not the suitable place to ask this question, and people can feel free to vote to close this if that's the case. However, since I'm not sure about this issue, I'll ask it in any way: I was reading Hungerford's Algebra,…
vgmath
  • 1,345
17
votes
1 answer

Daily life as a math professor

I was wondering, as I am most likely progressing towards such life, what the daily life is like as a math professor? I know there will be differences, but if you could add your experiences I would appreciate it. How much time is spent at a…
Numbersandsoon
  • 2,910
17
votes
6 answers

In high school statistics, why does it seem like equations come out of the sky

This is a serious observation from my experience taking AP Statistics. We are given a bunch of unexplained formulas and are expected to make sense of them in real world applications without knowing why they hold. In the algebra classes, I can at…
Person
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