Questions tagged [popularization]
The popularization tag has no usage guidance.
8 questions
195
votes
30
answers
78k
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Real-world applications of mathematics, by arxiv subject area?
What are the most important applications outside of mathematics of each of the major fields of mathematics? For concreteness, let's divide up mathematics according to arxiv mathematics categories, e.g....
188
votes
47
answers
101k
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Magic trick based on deep mathematics
I am interested in magic tricks whose explanation requires deep mathematics. The trick should be one that would actually appeal to a layman. An example is the following: the magician asks Alice to ...
144
votes
24
answers
19k
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Occurrences of (co)homology in other disciplines and/or nature
I am curious if the setup for (co)homology theory appears outside the realm of pure mathematics. The idea of a family of groups linked by a series of arrows such that the composition of consecutive ...
120
votes
33
answers
15k
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Examples of theorems misapplied to non-mathematical contexts
For something I'm writing -- I'm interested in examples of bad arguments which involve the application of mathematical theorems in non-mathematical contexts. E.G. folks who make theological arguments ...
87
votes
61
answers
44k
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Favorite popular math book [closed]
Christmas is almost here, so imagine you want to buy a good popular math book for your aunt (or whoever you want). Which book would you buy or recommend?
It would be nice if you could answer in the ...
28
votes
3
answers
2k
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Intuitive pictures in characteristic p
This is a tough one, but does anyone know of any images that recall characteristic p geometry (over algebraically closed fields) in some sense? It is not enough if it is some picture that can be also ...
- 2,215
15
votes
1
answer
2k
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A fun game related to knot theory
I recently learned the following rather fun game: a group of people is standing up roughly in circle, facing each other. Then participants randomly join hands, in such a way that nobody holds its own ...
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3
votes
2
answers
2k
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Popular books written by great mathematicians [closed]
I read:
H. Poincare. Value of science
F. Klein. Development of Mathematics in the 19th Century
J.E. Littlewood. A Mathematicians Miscellany
G.H. Hardy. A Mathematician’s Apology
R. Courant, H....