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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How to understand the quote "beginner should not be discouraged if he finds he does not have the prerequisites for reading the prerequisites"

It's a quote from Paul Halmos, he said that "The beginner should not be discouraged if he finds he does not have the prerequisites for reading the prerequisites." What is the idea he tried to convey? Is it a reminder for the book authors to write…
The R
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American undergraduate applying overseas

I am an undergraduate at a university here in the U.S., and I am hoping to apply overseas to graduate school. Now, the general process for applying to graduate mathematics programs in the US seems to be to come out of undergrad and apply to a Ph.D…
Moderat
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Problems in American Mathematical Monthly are research type?

My question is very soft but I think answerable: are the problems posed in American Mathematical Monthly, say, research type of problems? I suppose not since it is certain that these questions have solutions, but the problems can lead to more…
Mikey Spivak
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Undergraduate research in Algebra or Analysis?

Background: I am a sophomore who has taken one analysis course, and one linear algebra course. I am taking abstract algebra, 2nd read analysis, and topology this semester. I have participated in a directed reading program last semester and learned…
Alvis Nordkovich
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Revisiting Old Material

Due to certain reasons i am often compelled to take sporadic breaks say ($1-2$ weeks) in studying mathematics, owing to which i am confronted with the problem of recalling past material. Given this context how should one proceed? Completely review…
atifcppprogrammer
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Are there equivalents of fields, groups and whatnot with hyper operations?

I was curious as multiplication is really just a shorthand addition, so whats so special about it? Could we generalise to all hyper operations? Does there exist algebraic structures with these operations?
Joshua Farrell
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Artificial vs naturalness

I don't know if it is appropiate to ask this, but I'm a little bit confused when mathematicians say a problem is artificial or has artificial methods. That one would prefer what is natural. I quite can´t see the difference. Perhaps you can help by…
Rogelio Niño
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Is this "A unified theory of logic"?

(Apologies for the (near) click-baity pun title.) I want to point out that I do have doubts about posting this since it's a very soft question that could just as well fit in at philosophy.stackexchange, but mainly since it's a request for your…
Christopher.L
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Special name for a function

Suppose we define the function $L(x)$ as follows: $$\begin{equation} L(x)= \begin{cases} 0, & \text{if}\ x<0 \\ x, & \text{if}\ 0
johnny09
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basic question on definition of function

on wikipedia it says that a function is a relation or process that associates each x of X an element y of Y. I can understand how a function is a relation defined by some equation but can't really understand the interpretation as a process. Is it…
Carlos Bacca
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Amount of knowledge required of set theory and logic to pursue undergraduate mathematics

Currently i am studying undergraduate mathematics. My current understanding of set theory and logic comes from chapter 1 of Munkres' topology and from Rudin. I am of the opinion that this is not enough . I can see several loopholes in my…
Bluey
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Uncertainty in mathematics

I have a solid (but not great) intermediate college experience in math, but now I've started exploring higher-level mathematics, out if curiosity. I was surprised that there's a lot more uncertainty in more advanced math topics. In both probability…
Drosophila
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Interesting facts about the numbers 1 - 31

I'm a maths teacher and want to create a calendar for my classroom. I'm looking to compile some interesting facts about each of the numbers 1 through to 31. The hard part is they must be at a level where 11-18 year-olds can understand them. Along…
Mathew Duxbury
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How important is Pythagoras's Theorem?

Everyone in high school learnt about Pythagoras theorem: $a^2+b^2=c^2$ Why It is so important that we have study it in school?
Toy
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How to view "applications of maths" to non-natural sciences or drawing theories from mathematics to other fields?

How to view "applications of maths" to non-natural sciences or drawing theories from mathematics to other fields? For example, sociology sees a lot of "applications" of physics (e.g. thermodynamics) and maths/stats and while one can reason that they…
mavavilj
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