Timeline for How do you decide whether a question in abstract algebra is worth studying?
Current License: CC BY-SA 2.5
8 events
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| Sep 27, 2010 at 15:05 | vote | accept | Alex B. | ||
| Sep 27, 2010 at 2:03 | comment | added | S. Carnahan♦ | I'm not really qualified to comment on all of the generalizations of Kac-Moody algebra that are in the literature, but I think it is generally accepted that even among ordinary Kac-Moody algebras, the affine (i.e., smallest infinite dimensional) case has been far more theoretically fruitful than anything else. I think this is mostly because they have a straightforward tie to geometry, namely loop algebras (and from there, punctured algebraic curves), while the more general Kac-Moody constructions, even the small hyperbolic cases, do not have this interpretation. | |
| Sep 26, 2010 at 16:23 | history | edited | Minhyong Kim | CC BY-SA 2.5 |
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| Sep 26, 2010 at 1:13 | comment | added | Minhyong Kim | I'm not quite sure I'm addressing your question, but what I meant was that VOAs look very interesting to me now, and I could have learned quite a bit if I'd paid more attention. As with much of interesting mathematics, it's so much easier to learn it from the inside. Of course, I suppose I learned other things. By the way, Frenkel was really very nice the whole time. I don't think anything was held against me, to the extent that he thought about my disagreement at all. | |
| Sep 25, 2010 at 23:56 | comment | added | The Mathemagician | Why is it foolish to disagree with an expert as long as you have sufficient background knowledge to make an informed evaluation,Minhyong? It would be very disappointing to say the least if Frenkel held your disagreement with him against you.He may very well be right,but that's not the point. We should be able to agree to disagree-that should be part of the process of making the transition from student to professional. | |
| Sep 25, 2010 at 14:14 | history | edited | Minhyong Kim | CC BY-SA 2.5 |
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| Sep 25, 2010 at 8:48 | comment | added | Alex B. | Dear Minhyong, that's another excellent example of the sort I was looking for. Thanks! I also find your financial analogy quite helpful. | |
| Sep 25, 2010 at 8:31 | history | answered | Minhyong Kim | CC BY-SA 2.5 |