99,000 Essays & Term Papers: Where You Buy Essays and Papers Online
Direct Essays, Where You Can Buy Essays and Papers Online

Instant Access to Buy Essays and Papers Online!
Acceptable Use Policy
Customer Service
Site Search


Login to View Essays and Papers Online

Join Now - Instant Access to Essays and Research Papers!

  Essay and Research Paper Topics
Acceptance Essays
Arts Essays
Custom Essays
English Literature Essays
Foreign
History Essays
Miscellaneous Research Papers and Essays
Movie Essays and Papers
Music Term Papers
Novels
People and Biography Research Papers
Politics Research Papers
Religion Research Papers
Science Essay Topics
Sports Research Papers
Technology Research Papers
 
  FAQ
Technical Support
Site Map
Direct Essays
 

 



Welcome to Direct Essays

This is a short summary of this paper!

Already a member? Go here to log in and view the entire paper!


Join Now!
by: Credit Card
Join Now!
by: Online Check
Join Now!
by: Phone 1-900
Special! View this paper for FREE!
  

Is Mathematics Invented or Discovered

Mathematics is of key importance to most aspects of modern life. Due to the great diversity and nature of mathematics it is a subject that is hard to define. Over the years great mathematicians have given there own definitions of mathematics. In general we can define it as " a group of related sciences, including algebra, geometry, and calculus, concerned with the study of number, quantity, shape and space and there interrelationships using a specialized notation." Maths has often been described as the language of science because it is often used by scientists to express new theories. Unlike science though, maths is based on a set of axioms and postulates and not on experimentation or observation. Axioms and postulates are statements that are assumed to be true without being proven. For example "the whole is greater than the part." An axiom is a statement common to all sciences whereas a postulate is a statement peculiar to the particular science being studied. Other statements or theorems must be logically implied by the set of postulates and axioms. The theorem is considered valid if it is consistent with itself and the mathematical system that it is a part and does not create any contradictions within the system. If something


Whether mathematics is invented or discovered is an impossible question to answer because it is impossible to prove or disprove and it will probably remain so no matter how far our mathematical knowledge advances in the future. There will always be maths that can be applied to the physical world and maths that seems to be just made up by someone. Though there is evidence to support both the Formalists and the Platonists neither can be absolutely sure the other is wrong. Maybe both are right. Does it really matter? Whether maths is real or just a product of our imaginations it will continue to be developed and applied to different areas of our lives and maybe one day we will come close to answering this question.

There is disagreement between mathematicians over the relationship between maths and reality and whether mathematical objects are real. There are three different groups that have oposing ideas on the subject. One, the Platonist, says that mathematical objects are real and exist independent of our knowledge of them. So mathematicians discover mathematical theories and formulas. Formalists on the other hand argue that there are no mathematical objects and that mathematicians just create them. Constructivists disagree with both and say that genuine mathematics is only what can be obtained by a finite construction. The set of real numbers or any other infinite set cannot be obtained.

Accordin

Some common words found in the essay are:
, Janos Bolyai, Tulio Levi-Civita, Formalists Platonists, set axioms, axioms postulates, mathematical objects, pure maths, mathematical objects real, applied physical world, set axioms postulates, applied physical, real world, based set axioms, objects real, physical world, geometric systems, maths applied,
Approximate Word count = 949
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)


  

More Essays on Is Mathematics Invented or Discovered

Mathematics: Invented or Discovered300 words
The scope of Egyptian Mathematics7987 words
The mathematics of computers and logic circuits773 words
The Calculus Controversy or lack thereof1321 words
Biography of Galileo677 words

Look at even more essays on Is Mathematics Invented or Discovered
More Misc Essays

Professional Papers:
The Nature of Mathematics1734 words
Early Greek Culture ampamp Mathematics2274 words
Higher mathematics2006 words
The Evolution of Mathematics4509 words
The Evolution of Mathematics4440 words
Galileoamp39s Life928 words
Special! View this paper for FREE!
Click here to JoinNow!
by: Credit Card
Click here to Join Now!
by: Online Check
Click here to Join Now!
by: Phone 1-900

 

All papers and essays are for research and reference purposes only!
Copyright 2002-2009 Direct Essays , LLC. All Rights Reserved. DMCA
Webmasters make $$$$
Saved Papers