Nothing Special   »   [go: up one dir, main page]
Jump to content

Mathematical folklore: Difference between revisions

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Yobot (talk | contribs)
Bots
4,733,870 edits
m →Notes: WP:CHECKWIKI error fixes using AWB (11715)
m Added some stories. (I'll fix the citations later)
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile app edit iOS app edit App section source
 
(32 intermediate revisions by 23 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Communally-attributed mathematical results}}
:''See also [[folk theorem (disambiguation)|folk theorem]] for other uses of this expression.''
{{other uses of|folk theorem|Folk theorem (disambiguation)}}


As the term is understood by [[mathematician]]s, '''folk mathematics''' or '''mathematical folklore''' means theorems, definitions, proofs, or mathematical facts or techniques that are found by investigation and may circulate among mathematicians by word-of-mouth but have not appeared in print, either in books or in scholarly journals. Knowledge of folklore is the coin of the realm of academic mathematics, showing relative insight of investigators.
In common mathematical parlance, a mathematical result is called '''folklore''' if it is an unpublished result with no clear originator, but which is well-circulated and believed to be true among the specialists. More specifically, '''folk mathematics''', or '''mathematical folklore''', is the body of theorems, definitions, proofs, facts or techniques that circulate among mathematicians by word of mouth, but have not yet appeared in print, either in books or in scholarly journals.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://ncatlab.org/nlab/show/folklore|title=folklore in nLab|website=ncatlab.org|access-date=2019-11-30}}</ref>


Quite important at times for researchers are '''folk theorems''', which are results known, at least to experts in a field, and considered to have established status, but not published in complete form. Sometimes these are only alluded to in the public literature.
Quite important at times for researchers are '''folk theorems''', which are results known, at least to experts in a field, and are considered to have established status, though not published in complete form.<ref name=":1" /> Sometimes, these are only alluded to in the public literature.
An example is a book of exercises, described on the back cover:
An example is a book of exercises, described on the back cover:
:This book contains almost 350 exercises in the basics of [[ring theory]]. The problems form the 'folklore' of ring theory, and the solutions are given in as much detail as possible.<ref>Grigore Calugareau & Peter Hamburg (1998) ''Exercises in Basic Ring Theory'', Kluwer,[ISBN 0792349180]</ref>
{{quote|This book contains almost 350 exercises in the basics of [[ring theory]]. The problems form the "folklore" of ring theory, and the solutions are given in as much detail as possible.<ref>Grigore Calugareau & Peter Hamburg (1998) ''Exercises in Basic Ring Theory'', Kluwer,[{{isbn|0792349180}}]</ref>}}


Another distinct category is '''wellknowable''' mathematics, a term introduced by [[John Horton Conway|John Conway]]. This consists of matters that are known and factual, but not in active circulation in relation with current research. Both of these concepts are attempts to describe the actual context in which research work is done.
Another distinct category is '''well-knowable''' mathematics, a term introduced by [[John Horton Conway|John Conway]].<ref>[[J. W. S. Cassels]] (1976) "An embedding theorem for fields: Addendem", ''Bulletin of the [[Australian Mathematical Society]]'' 14: 479–80 {{doi|10.1017/S0004972700025442}}</ref> These mathematical matters are known and factual, but not in active circulation in relation with current research (i.e., untrendy). Both of these concepts are attempts to describe the actual context in which research work is done.


Some people, principally non-mathematicians, use the term ''folk mathematics'' to refer to the [[informal mathematics]] studied in many ethno-cultural studies of mathematics.
Some people, in particular non-mathematicians, use the term ''folk mathematics'' to refer to the [[informal mathematics]] studied in many ethno-cultural studies of mathematics.{{Citation needed|date=September 2019}} Although the term "mathematical folklore" can also be used within the mathematics circle to describe the various aspects of their esoteric culture and practices (e.g., slang, proverb, limerick, joke).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ams.org/notices/200501/fea-dundes.pdf|title=Foolproof: A Sampling of Mathematical Folk Humor|last1=Renteln|first1=Paul|last2=Dundes|first2=Alan|date=|website=American Mathematical Society|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-11-29}}</ref>


==Stories, sayings and jokes==
==Stories, sayings and jokes==
{{See also|Mathematical joke}}
{{See also|Mathematical joke}}
⚫
{{Wikiquote|Mathematics}}
{{Wikiquote|Mathematicians}}
{{Wikiquote|Mathematicians}}
⚫
{{Wikiquote|Mathematics}}
Mathematical folklore may also refer to unusual (and possibly apocryphal) stories or jokes involving mathematicians or mathematics that are told verbally in mathematics departments. Compilations include tales collected in [[G. H. Hardy]]'s ''[[A Mathematician's Apology]]'' and {{Harv|Krantz|2002}}; examples include:
Mathematical folklore can also refer to the unusual (and possibly apocryphal) stories or jokes involving mathematicians or mathematics that are told verbally in mathematics departments. Compilations include tales collected in [[G. H. Hardy]]'s ''[[A Mathematician's Apology]]'' and {{Harv|Krantz|2002}}; examples include:
* [[Srinivasa Ramanujan]]'s [[taxicab numbers]].
*[[Galileo]] dropping weights from the [[Leaning Tower of Pisa]].
*[[Galileo]] dropping weights from the [[Leaning Tower of Pisa]].
*An apple falling on [[Isaac Newton]]'s head to inspire his theory of gravitation.
*An apple falling on [[Isaac Newton]]'s head to inspire his theory of gravitation.
*[[John von Neumann]]'s encounter with the famous [[John von Neumann#Mathematical quickness|fly puzzle]].<ref>{{cite web |date=February 15, 2014 |title=Fly Puzzle (Two Trains Puzzle) |url=http://mathworld.wolfram.com/TwoTrainsPuzzle.html |access-date=February 25, 2014 |publisher=Wolfram MathWorld}}</ref>
*The drinking, duel and early death of [[Galois]].
*The drinking, duel, and early death of [[Galois]].
*[[Richard Feynman]] cracking safes in the Manhattan Project.
*[[Richard Feynman]] cracking safes in the Manhattan Project.
*[[Alfréd Rényi]]'s definition of a mathematician - "''a mathematician is a device for turning coffee into theorems''".
*[[Alfréd Rényi]]'s definition of a mathematician: "a device for turning coffee into theorems".<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://mathworld.wolfram.com/Theorem.html|title=Theorem|last=Weisstein|first=Eric W.|website=mathworld.wolfram.com|language=en|access-date=2019-11-30}}</ref>
*[[Pál Turán]]'s suggestion that weak coffee was only suitable for [[Lemma_(mathematics)|lemma]].<ref name=":2" />
*The "[[turtles all the way down]]" story told by [[Stephen Hawking]].
*The "[[turtles all the way down]]" story told by [[Stephen Hawking]].
*[[Fermat]]'s [[Fermat's Last Theorem#Did Fermat possess a general proof?|lost simple proof]].
*[[Fermat]]'s [[Fermat's Last Theorem#Fermat's conjecture|lost simple proof]].
*The unwieldy proof and associated controversies of the [[Four Color Theorem]].
*The unwieldy proof and associated controversies of the [[Four Color Theorem]].
*The murder of [[Hippasus]] by the [[Pythagoreans]] for his discovery of [[irrational numbers]], specifically, [[square root of 2|√2]].<ref>https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-a-secret-society-discovered-irrational-numbers/</ref>
*Sir [[William Rowan Hamilton]], in a sudden moment of inspiration, [[History of quaternions|discovered quaternions]] while crossing [[Brougham Bridge]].<ref>https://md.spacegrant.org/quaternions-turn-175/#:~:text=The%20discovery%20was%20made%20%E2%80%94%20in,famous%20equations%20on%20the%20bridge.</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==

* [[List of mathematical jargon]]
{{Portal|Mathematics}}
{{Portal|Mathematics}}


==Notes==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
<!--
* MM Hoque and SS Mostafizur Rahman, Wari-Bateshwar, Banglapedia: The National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Retrieved: 20 February 2012
* Kamrul Hasan Khan (1 April 2007). "Wari-Bateswar reminds Ptolemy's 'Sounagoura'". The Daily Star.
* Enamul Haque 2001. Excavation at Wari-Bateshwar: A Preliminary Study. Edited by Enamul Haque. Dhaka, The International Centre for Study of Bengal Art, 2001, {{ISBN|984-8140-02-6}}
-->


==References==
==Bibliography==
{{Refbegin}}
{{Refbegin}}
* {{ Citation | title = Mathematical Apocrypha: Stories & Anecdotes of Mathematicians & the Mathematical | first = Steven G. | last = Krantz | authorlink=Steven G. Krantz | year = 2002 }}
* {{ Citation | title = Mathematical Apocrypha: Stories & Anecdotes of Mathematicians & the Mathematical | first = Steven G. | last = Krantz | authorlink=Steven G. Krantz | year = 2002 }}
* David Harel, "On Folk Theorems", ''[[Communications of the ACM]]'' '''23''':7:379-389 (July 1980)
* David Harel, "On Folk Theorems", ''[[Communications of the ACM]]'' '''23''':7:379-389 (July 1980)
{{Refend}}
{{Refend}}

== External links ==

* [https://www.math.utah.edu/~cherk/mathjokes.html Mathematical humor: Collection of mathematical folklore]


[[Category:Philosophy of mathematics]]
[[Category:Philosophy of mathematics]]
Line 41: Line 58:
[[Category:Scientific folklore]]
[[Category:Scientific folklore]]
[[Category:Sociology of scientific knowledge]]
[[Category:Sociology of scientific knowledge]]

[[de:Mathematische Folklore]]
[[ja:フォーク定理]]

Latest revision as of 21:52, 7 September 2024

For other uses of "folk theorem", see Folk theorem (disambiguation).

In common mathematical parlance, a mathematical result is called folklore if it is an unpublished result with no clear originator, but which is well-circulated and believed to be true among the specialists. More specifically, folk mathematics, or mathematical folklore, is the body of theorems, definitions, proofs, facts or techniques that circulate among mathematicians by word of mouth, but have not yet appeared in print, either in books or in scholarly journals.[1]

Quite important at times for researchers are folk theorems, which are results known, at least to experts in a field, and are considered to have established status, though not published in complete form.[1] Sometimes, these are only alluded to in the public literature. An example is a book of exercises, described on the back cover:

This book contains almost 350 exercises in the basics of ring theory. The problems form the "folklore" of ring theory, and the solutions are given in as much detail as possible.[2]

Another distinct category is well-knowable mathematics, a term introduced by John Conway.[3] These mathematical matters are known and factual, but not in active circulation in relation with current research (i.e., untrendy). Both of these concepts are attempts to describe the actual context in which research work is done.

Some people, in particular non-mathematicians, use the term folk mathematics to refer to the informal mathematics studied in many ethno-cultural studies of mathematics.[citation needed] Although the term "mathematical folklore" can also be used within the mathematics circle to describe the various aspects of their esoteric culture and practices (e.g., slang, proverb, limerick, joke).[4]

Stories, sayings and jokes

[edit]
See also: Mathematical joke
Wikiquote has quotations related to Mathematicians.
Wikiquote has quotations related to Mathematics.

Mathematical folklore can also refer to the unusual (and possibly apocryphal) stories or jokes involving mathematicians or mathematics that are told verbally in mathematics departments. Compilations include tales collected in G. H. Hardy's A Mathematician's Apology and (Krantz 2002); examples include:

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "folklore in nLab". ncatlab.org. Retrieved 2019-11-30.
  2. ^ Grigore Calugareau & Peter Hamburg (1998) Exercises in Basic Ring Theory, Kluwer,[ISBN 0792349180]
  3. ^ J. W. S. Cassels (1976) "An embedding theorem for fields: Addendem", Bulletin of the Australian Mathematical Society 14: 479–80 doi:10.1017/S0004972700025442
  4. ^ Renteln, Paul; Dundes, Alan. "Foolproof: A Sampling of Mathematical Folk Humor" (PDF). American Mathematical Society. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
  5. ^ "Fly Puzzle (Two Trains Puzzle)". Wolfram MathWorld. February 15, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  6. ^ a b Weisstein, Eric W. "Theorem". mathworld.wolfram.com. Retrieved 2019-11-30.
  7. ^ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-a-secret-society-discovered-irrational-numbers/
  8. ^ https://md.spacegrant.org/quaternions-turn-175/#:~:text=The%20discovery%20was%20made%20%E2%80%94%20in,famous%20equations%20on%20the%20bridge.

Bibliography

[edit]
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mathematical_folklore&oldid=1244571776"