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A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study and research is mathematics. In other words, a mathematician is a person who contributes to the field of mathematics. People who apply mathematics to other fields, but do not contribute directly to mathematics, are generally not considered mathematicians.
Overview
Unlike the other sciences, fundamental research in much of mathematics does not consist of performing experiments. Rather, mathematics is about problem-solving, where truths are deduced from other known truths. Computer experiments and other numerical evidence can result in new problems and are sometimes used to solve them, though most of the time they are just used as indicators that the work is on the right track - numerical evidence is not proof to a mathematician. In the end mathematics research is about constructing proofs of theorems, and most journals would reject a paper consisting solely of numerical data. Some outstanding open problems in mathematics, such as the Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer conjecture, developed after analyzing numerical work on a computer.
Not only is calculation not a big part of some areas of mathematics research, but people who have had an important influence on mathematics do not necessarily have any extraordinary ability in adding or multiplying numbers. For instance, Albert Einstein, whose ideas had a significant impact in geometry, had great difficulties with mathematics when he was a youth. See mental calculators to read about prodigies performing impressive mental calculations.
More on [ Mathematician ]
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Scientists :: Science
@rachelphipps whaaaaat? Bryan > Soccer > Cait Sorry it's Simple logic. I didn't write the rules, mathematicians did.
Team_Svedka (Team Svedka) Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:55:03 -0000
@rachelphipps whaaaaat? Bryan > Soccer > Cait Sorry it's Simple logic. I didn't write the rules, mathematicians did.
"It's a funny thing about mathematicians. We often don't care if the results have applications because the results are themselves so pretty"
mdikdan (Maurizio Dikdan) Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:54:27 -0000
"It's a funny thing about mathematicians. We often don't care if the results have applications because the results are themselves so pretty"
@ninjadad Thanks for the SSL business. We like mathematicians at GoDaddy.
asocialcontract (Warren Adelman) Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:38:11 -0000
@ninjadad Thanks for the SSL business. We like mathematicians at GoDaddy.
failed my maths exam BIG time,its funny how maths is all numerical and they have letters in the paper! mathematicians are meant to be smart
DaviidWhiite (David White) Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:23:35 -0000
failed my maths exam BIG time,its funny how maths is all numerical and they have letters in the paper! mathematicians are meant to be smart
@cmdln Asplosion: Fuel of the Future! Our Starships will be powered by boozed mathematicians... You know, like in Dune!
WryneckStudio (John Taylor Williams) Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:51:25 -0000
@cmdln Asplosion: Fuel of the Future! Our Starships will be powered by boozed mathematicians... You know, like in Dune!
@Lileks Pondering the nature of Negative Nothing. But, according to mathematicians, Zero is NOT nothing, it has a value. So...? ...Headache.
ohiostudios (Bryan Siegfried) Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:01:36 -0000
@Lileks Pondering the nature of Negative Nothing. But, according to mathematicians, Zero is NOT nothing, it has a value. So...? ...Headache.
A Modern History of Blacks in Mathematics - Timeline summarizes the achievements of African-Americans. Includes links to short biographies.
Meta Description: [ history of african americans in mathematics ]
Biographies of Math - Short biographies of men and women whose contributions to math and science have changed the world. Search by name, alphabetically, or by partial name.
Biographies of Women Mathematicians - Information about women who have made important contributions to mathematics.
Leonhard Euler - Describes Euler's upbringing, his teaching career at St. Petersburg in Russia, and discoveries of equations for fluid mechanics. Page includes list of math fields where he contributed.
Math Marvels - Several interviews with famous mathematicians, compiled by honors math students from Ward Melville High School.
Mathematician Biography Index - Features brief biographies for most important mathematicians in history.
Mathematician Trading Cards - Just like baseball cards, but with short profiles of mathematicians.
Mathematicians Are People Too - Short quiz introduces great minds from ancient times through the modern day.
Online Math Applications: History - Student-written history of mathematics includes short biographies of individuals responsible for a few of the most significant discoveries.
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