Linked Questions
10 questions linked to/from When is one 'ready' to make original contributions to mathematics?
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How to escape the inclination to be a universalist or: How to learn to stop worrying and do some research.
As an undergraduate we are trained as mathematicians to be universalists. We are expected to embrace a wide spectrum of mathematics. Both algebra and analysis are presented on equal footing with ...
43
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7
answers
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On starting graduate school and common pitfalls...
Hi,
I'll be starting graduate school soon, and when I look back at my college career, there are certain things I wish I could have done differently. In hindsight, I wished I wasn't in such a rush to ...
48
votes
3
answers
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How to read an article and make it actually useful?
I've been wondering for a while: how should mathematicians read an article in order to "take most" from it?
For example, when I did my Master's thesis I based it on an article (I'm into ...
15
votes
3
answers
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Research in mathematics without a degree in mathematics
This question might not make much sense or be a big deal for someone but I genuinely would like to know the opinions.
I am currently a software developer in a small start-up. I had to drop out of ...
9
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A starting point for research in Graph Theory as a high schooler [closed]
I am a 10th grader and I'm very interested in mathematics. As of now, I'm into math contests and I take great pleasure in solving problems from contests such as the AIME/USAMO/IMO. These only require ...
27
votes
3
answers
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The relevance of knowing "just facts"
When you are new to a research area, whether as a PhD student, a young postdoc or even a more experienced researcher, you have to absorb a lot of information. Of course you have to learn the math ...
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6
votes
2
answers
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Canon in algebraic combinatorics and how to study
1) In subjects such as algebraic geometry, algebraic topology there is a very basic standard canonical syllabus of things one learns in order to get to reading research papers.
Is there a similar ...
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12
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"Antipodal" maps on regular graphs?
This question is related to Realizing the diameter of a finite regular graph
Let $X=(V,E)$ be a finite, connected, regular graph of diameter $D$. Assume that, for every vertex $x\in V$, there exists ...
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How difficult will it be to start doing research in pure mathematics in the near future? [closed]
I am a first year PhD student in mathematics (complex differential and Kahler Geometry) and the other day I had a thought about the difficulty of starting to do research. This is my first post here ...
4
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0
answers
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Are there topics of contemporary mathematics that simply require too much knowledge to be given as 3-year PhD problems? [closed]
Just out of curiosity, is there a topic where even an excellent graduate student wouldn't be able to master all the necessary background within 3 years (I say 3 because in many European countries a ...
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