most recent 30 from http://mathoverflow.net 2013-05-18T11:35:01Z http://mathoverflow.net/feeds/question/12613 http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/rdf http://mathoverflow.net/questions/12613/different-conceptions-of-z Nick Salter 2010-01-22T07:13:56Z 2010-01-22T15:54:01Z

<p>To the algebraist, $\mathbb{Z}$ is just the free group with one generator. To the algebraic topologist, $\mathbb{Z}$ is just the fundamental group of the circle. To be glib, what do $\mathbb{Z}$ mean to you?</p>

http://mathoverflow.net/questions/12613/different-conceptions-of-z/12614#12614 Kevin Lin 2010-01-22T07:20:10Z 2010-01-22T07:20:10Z

<p>Initial object in the category of commutative rings.</p>

http://mathoverflow.net/questions/12613/different-conceptions-of-z/12617#12617 Ilya Grigoriev 2010-01-22T07:25:10Z 2010-01-22T07:25:10Z

<p>To a number theorist, shouldn't $\mathbb Z$ be the world? </p>

http://mathoverflow.net/questions/12613/different-conceptions-of-z/12619#12619 Joel Dodge 2010-01-22T08:24:56Z 2010-01-22T08:24:56Z

<p>Final object in the category of schemes.</p>

http://mathoverflow.net/questions/12613/different-conceptions-of-z/12645#12645 Johannes Hahn 2010-01-22T15:37:34Z 2010-01-22T15:37:34Z

<p>Just $\mathbb{Z}$ ? ;-)</p>

http://mathoverflow.net/questions/12613/different-conceptions-of-z/12649#12649 Tom LaGatta 2010-01-22T15:54:01Z 2010-01-22T15:54:01Z

<p>An infinite discrete subset of $\mathbb R$.</p>