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2023-11: Warosu is now out of extended maintenance.

/sci/ - Science & Math

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6585522 No.6585522 [Reply] [Original]

Why is the math section so huge compared to everything else?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unsolved_problems
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_unsolved_problems_in_mathematics

>> No.6585524

Because mathematicians are too incompetent to solve their problems.

>> No.6585527

>>6585524
But doesn't it take more than just competence to create a problem that no one has solved yet?

>> No.6585531

because mathematicians know what their unsolved problems are
physics main unsolved problem is "our equations don't predict exactly what our instruments measure, and we're not sure why"

>> No.6585535

>>6585531
But it's interesting that something so absolute like math has more unsolved problems than something always changing, like science.

>> No.6585539

>>6585531
Not every insignificant variable can be accounted for

>> No.6585543

>>6585535
I don't think you understand what that anon is saying.

It's precisely because math is so "absolute" that it has so many unsolved problems.

>> No.6585548

mathematics is a very broad field that can continuously be generalised/abstracted/advanced without requiring improvements in machinery or engineering

>> No.6585596

>>6585543
But that doesn't make any sense.

>> No.6585608

Because mathematicians as a matter of course propose a problem right before they die and handily knock over their notes into the fireplace.

>>6585596
It does when you consider that all the questions, an infinite number of them, have been there from the start and will always be there. Science has an equally infinite number of questions, but they are answered in broad swathes, and questions can be wiped out with new discoveries.

>> No.6585611

>>6585596
its because with an absolute field, it is easy to define the problems.

with something like physics or cosmology, the problems are not just hard to define, there are much more of them that are simply unknown.

>> No.6585621
File: 339 KB, 500x750, 1399886717561.png [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
6585621

>>6585522
Because mathematicians invent math problems, but the universe comes up with the science problems. Math is unconstrained by material reality.

>> No.6585643

>>6585527
No. Look at religion.

>> No.6585654

>>6585522
Because asking GOOD questions is more than half the battle in mathematics.

>> No.6585741

>>6585539
>Not every insignificant variable can be accounted for
>"What is, dark matter, Alex."
well there's one example fucking you in the ass.

>> No.6585745

>>6585621
>this image
lol, what the fuck is this?

>> No.6585749

>>6585745
a horseshit meme

>> No.6585784

>>6585745
CIA guy

>> No.6585800

>>6585749
yeah, but it's like my childhood colliding with shitty internet garbage and violent movies. Thanks 4chan. I chuckled.