Talk:Mathematics

Semi-protected edit request on 28 April 2023

Could we add in the box left... Relationship to Visual Art Add link to Linear Perspective CarvingJoints (talk) 14:56, 28 April 2023 (UTC)

I have not found the box that you mention. For an edit request you must be accurate on what must changed, and specify the exact text that you want to insert.

Nevertheless, I agree that the section § Artistic expression must be completely rewritten and include mention of perspective. But, this cannot be the object of an edit request, unless you provide a draft of the new version. D.Lazard (talk) 15:19, 28 April 2023 (UTC)

Using Venn diagram for PageImage of this article

Hi, following the discussion on https://wiki.alquds.edu/?query=Talk:Mathematics/Archive_15#Images:

I think mathematics is a set that includes "Number theory", "Geometry", "Calculus" as subsets, and some fields like "Mathematical physics" or "Computational mathematics" are outside sets of it but use some parts of it as elements in common. So I propose to use a Venn diagram for PageImage of this article, that show mathematics as a circle, that contains circles for "Geometry", "Number", etc. and some circles like "Mathematical physics" are outside but have some elements in common. Thanks, Hooman Mallahzadeh (talk) 17:07, 1 May 2023 (UTC)

There seems to be a common opinion that every article needs an image. I disagree very sharply. I do not think there is any image that is sufficiently representative of mathematics as a whole to be worth the distraction, and I strongly prefer that this article continue to have no lead image whatsoever. --Trovatore (talk) 17:21, 1 May 2023 (UTC)

@Trovatore Textual description is much harder to understand than a visual illustration. So I think existence of image makes this article more user-friendly and more illustrative. Hooman Mallahzadeh (talk) 17:42, 1 May 2023 (UTC)

Again, I disagree in the sharpest terms. There is no possible representative image for mathematics; it's too diverse and too abstract. The article looks much better with no lead image at all. --Trovatore (talk) 18:08, 1 May 2023 (UTC)

Although I am not in complete agreement with Trovatore's opinion on lead images, I strongly disagree with the suggestion: the suggested image would imply a classification of mathematics that is WP:OR, and this is definitively forbidden by Wikipedia policies. D.Lazard (talk) 19:59, 1 May 2023 (UTC)

@D.Lazard@Trovatore I think these diagrams do not violate WP:OR:

• https://www.pinterest.com/pin/branches-of-mathematics-poster-free--652529433496268166/
• https://juliawolffenotes.home.blog/2019/08/18/u-wret313s-map-of-math/
• https://blancosilva.wordpress.com/2013/10/22/areas-of-mathematics/

But I am not sure that they are appropriate for PageImage of this article. What is your opinion? Hooman Mallahzadeh (talk) 14:31, 11 May 2023 (UTC)

All these diagram are original research: there are based on the own opinion of their authors about the classification of mathematics, and do not reflect any consensus among mathematicians. As examples: one places topology at the opposite of geometry, while another places it inside geometry; none mention discrete mathematics; one presents pure and applied mathematics as unrelated fields D.Lazard (talk) 15:40, 11 May 2023 (UTC)

Hooman, I really wish you'd just let this go. An image is not required. If there were a good one, we could talk. So far no good one has been offered, and I see very limited prospects that any ever will be. --Trovatore (talk) 18:21, 11 May 2023 (UTC)

Racist & Eurocentric History Section

The information that mathematics was influenced by the Nigerians is an important fact that should be included in a Wikipedia article about mathematics. The current version of the article is not only incomplete, but it also perpetuates a racist and Eurocentric view of history.

For too long, the contributions of non-European cultures to the development of mathematics have been ignored or downplayed in Western history. This neglect is a form of racism that seeks to erase the achievements of people of colour and perpetuate the false idea that only the West is capable of producing great ideas. By including the fact that the Nigerians were influencers of mathematics, the Wikipedia article can begin to correct this historical injustice. It is essential to acknowledge the contributions of all cultures to the development of mathematics, not just those that are traditionally seen as “the winners” in the Western narrative.

Additionally, by including this information, the article can become more comprehensive and accurate. It is not enough to only focus on the work of European mathematicians; to truly understand the history of mathematics, we must also look at the contributions of other cultures.

In conclusion, the fact that mathematics was influenced by the Nigerians is an important piece of information that should be included in a Wikipedia article about mathematics. By doing so, we can begin to correct the racism inherent in the current version of the article and create a more comprehensive and accurate understanding of the history of mathematics.

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The ancient Africans also made important contributions to the field of calculus. The Yoruba people of Nigeria developed a system of infinite series in the 14th century, which they used to approximate the value of pi. The series was later discovered independently by European mathematicians in the 17th century. 102.218.103.6 (talk) 05:37, 3 May 2023 (UTC)

References

Please propose specifically how you would work this into the article. 331dot (talk) 08:09, 3 May 2023 (UTC)

Four paragraphs of nothing. Either propose specific changes or don't bother at all Kulloth (talk) 12:38, 11 May 2023 (UTC)

"MathematicsAndStatistics" listed at Redirects for discussion

The redirect MathematicsAndStatistics has been listed at redirects for discussion to determine whether its use and function meets the redirect guidelines. Readers of this page are welcome to comment on this redirect at Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion/Log/2023 May 10 § MathematicsAndStatistics until a consensus is reached. Duckmather (talk) 19:18, 10 May 2023 (UTC)

"Mathematics and Statistics" listed at Redirects for discussion

The redirect Mathematics and Statistics has been listed at redirects for discussion to determine whether its use and function meets the redirect guidelines. Readers of this page are welcome to comment on this redirect at Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion/Log/2023 May 10 § Mathematics and Statistics until a consensus is reached. Duckmather (talk) 19:18, 10 May 2023 (UTC)

Add logarithms to History

I realize that the history section is a very brief overview and that that are many possible adds, but the impact of logarithms on the usability of mathematical results was massive, leading to Kepler which led to Newton. The text I propose adding is:

"The introduction of logarithms by John Napier in 1614 greatly simplified numerical calculations." agr (talk) 15:55, 18 May 2023 (UTC)

I suggest to expand this sentence into "The introduction of logarithms by John Napier in 1614 greatly simplified numerical calculations, especially for astronomy and marine navigation". This (with or without the added phrase) would make sense in the paragraph beginning with "During the early modern period". However, as logarithms are one of the "innovations that revolutionized mathematics", the whole paragraph should be edited, for coherency. D.Lazard (talk) 16:28, 18 May 2023 (UTC)

I added the sentence with your addition. Could you be a bit more specific about what the paragraph lacks?--agr (talk) 12:14, 19 May 2023 (UTC)

Your edit is fine. However, summarizing in a single sentence one of the three major revolutions of mathematics does not give a WP:DUE weight to this revolution. IMO (this may be considered as WP:OR) there are three major revolutions in the history of mathematics: the systematization of proofs with Euclid's Elements, the introduction of mathematical notation, algebrization of geometry and calculus around the 16th century, and the systematization of axiomatic method and set theory, at the beginning of the 20th century (after the foundational crisis of mathematics). None of these three revolutions receive their due weight in this history section. D.Lazard (talk) 12:55, 19 May 2023 (UTC)