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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In the $3D$ plane, how is $z$ always the "vertical" axis?

In all the graphs I see of the 3d cartesian system, $x$ and $y$ are "horizontal", although they can change positions, but $z$ is always the vertical one. Even if we had a choice to graph the $yz$ plane, the $z$ will always be the vertical axis, in…
K Split X
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Looking for video courses on competition math

I’m looking for good video lectures on these subjects: Combinatorics Geometry (past high school level) Algebra (again past high school level) Number Theory Thanks for any input.
rigged
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Best classes to take

I want a class that will help me improve my intuition on geometric spaces. All the math classes I have taken this far has been computational heavy and didn't help me understand the concepts other than knowing how to compute. I took linear algebra…
diimension
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Why do I get only 80% points in this question?

I solved this question below in a public contest and I don't know why one of the examiners gave me 12/15 points. Question: If $a
user42912
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1 answer

Papers published by mathematicians

In general, are papers published by mathematicians the same thing as PhD theses? In other words, if a mathematician submitted a paper for a PhD would it get accepted? Or are papers of higher quality than PhD theses?
user7756
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What is the website that returns expression and approximation when we enter a number?

I remember a website where I entered like 0.2954 and it returned "It's maybe $sin(0.3)$ ad $\varepsilon=0.001$ any help ?
Rom
  • 580
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1 answer

Solve problem of ages in different time periods analytically

I've struggled to solve the following problem analytically: Ann is $24$ and two times as old as Mary was, when Ann was as old as Mary is now. The solution to this problem is: Mary is currently 18 years old. but I've failed to come up with an…
user7802048
  • 1,265
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1 answer

Interesting application of topology to another math area

I'm looking for some surprising theorem that links topology and other branch of math. Any help would be great, of course. However, I'd say that some areas are more attractive to me. In decreasing order, they are: Game theory Functional analysis …
rgm
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In mathematics is null == zero?

Kindly consider it soft question as I am a software engineer.and I know only software but I have a doubt in my mind that there would be something like null in mathmatics as well. If Mathematics NULL IS Equivalent to ZERO?
Manish Shrivastava
  • 147
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Soft question about imagine the fourth dimension

If I see a circumference like the 2-d "collapse" of a function $\Bbb R^2 \to \Bbb R$ (whose graph is usually a 3-d image) I can also see the sphere like a 3-d collapse of a 4-d graph. So the "grade of diversity" between the graph of a $\Bbb R^2 \to…
pter26
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$\mathbb{C}$ and $\mathbb{C^{2}}$

When we think of $\mathbb{C}$ we are really thinking of the set of complex numbers which geometrically could be visualized as a plane but what is $\mathbb{C}^2$ and can it be visualized ?
atifcppprogrammer
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Commutative algebra

I have studied about Group, Ring, Field, Galois theory (a little), and I am interested in them. As I understand, they maybe belong to Commutative algebra, right? If yes, I want to follow this direction. What subjects do I need study in order to…
user451674
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What are the characteristics of a transformation matrix?

You have been given a transformation matrix $\begin{bmatrix} a &b \\ c & d\end{bmatrix}$ to transform shape $X$ into $Y$ What are the different characteristics of $a$, $b$, $c$ and $d$? At the moment, I know what the matrix $\begin{bmatrix}a\\c…
Xetrov
  • 2,089
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Math courses at the undergraduate or graduate level that can be self-studied?

I've taken courses whereby, given the exams, homework, and textbook, a student could pass the course with little class interaction. Which undergrad or post-grad level courses can be self-studied and still develop a similar understanding and…
T. Webster
  • 3,052
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Saddle point in German for a line in plane

In German Sattelpunkt (= saddle-point) refers to a point that has inflection parallel to x-axis. $$ y' =0, y^{''}=0 $$ for a line in the plane. In English it is a point of a surface of negative curvature. Why the is the same translated word so…
Narasimham
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