Mathematics

Scope
What’s Mathematics?
The abstract science of number, quantity, and space, either as abstract concepts, or as
applied to other disciplines such as physics and engineering.
Introduction to mathematics
● Produces nearly certain knowledge
● Is studied to determine how mathematical certainty is achieved
● Is studied to possibly apply mathematical techniques to other subjects/AOKs
Personal Connection
● Math learned in school = personal knowledge
● Mathematics as an AOK is concerned with shared knowledge (between
mathematicians)
● Shared mathematical knowledge = new mathematical knowledge shared within the
mathematical community.
● (New theorems and equations)
Scope and Applications:
Math helps us understand patterns in the world through models:
-To trade with each other
-To help us build-Geometry
-To help us communicate-Trigonometry
-To help us measure, analyze and review the world-Statistics
As said before, this AOK is tied to certainty above other AOK.
 What are the various forms it accommodates?
Pure Mathematics: mathematical knowledge Applied Mathematics: applying mathematical
created solely for the sake of expanding our concepts to help in the real world. (Uses these
mathematical knowledge; not applied to the theories)
real world. (finds new theories) Dynamical systems and differential equations.
Algebra Mathematical physics
Calculus and analysis Computing
Geometry and topology
Information theory and signal processing
Combinatory
Logic Probability and statistics
Number theory Game theory
 To what extent is mathematics influenced by the society and culture in which its
pursued?
Almost all societies encourages mathematics as a fundamental AOK.
-Modelling abstract patterns of numbers is a part of the human experience.
-The intensity with which one pursues mathematics is mostly determined by the person,
rather than society.
 Why is mathematics so important in other areas of
knowledge, particularly the natural sciences?
History: So historians now have to get their heads around mathematics, too. While a database is never much more than an
expression of arithmetic or linear algebra, the increasing amount of available data is calling for a more sophisticated approach.
Many historians, in fact, already use numbers and data in their research. Tax rolls, census data, electoral records, business
ledgers—all constitute examples of numeric primary sources that historians use regularly and that can influence the kinds of
research questions they ask. (certainty)

The arts: Mathematics has itself been described as an art motivated by beauty. Mathematics can be discerned in arts such as
music, dance, painting, architecture, sculpture, and textiles. Persistent popular claims have been made for the use of the
golden ratio in ancient art and architecture, without reliable evidence. Many great artists consciously use math in the process
of making a sculpture or painting. Mathematical understanding is often required to create art, especially in the case of
sculptures where balance or symmetry is necessary to create the desired effect, or in a painting where correct perspective is
needed. (Responsibility and certainty)
Natural science: The most important additional feature for the natural sciences is mathematics. It deals with problems that can
be represented by numbers and geometric figures, and with the formal structures and systems derived from them. Mathematics
and science form the foundations of engineering. In a nutshell, math is the basis of foundational proofs, axioms and theories
that have been applied to science in general.( Evidence, Truth, Explanation, responsibility and justification).
Hamid Naderi Yeganeh's computer illustrations

Iranian arist Hamid Naderi Yeganeh uses mathematical formulae to create intricate, computer-generated illustations - his
program can create thousands a day. The emerging shapes were always beautiful, but he began to realise that some of them also
randomly represented real-life objects.
Differential Equations (Ordinary and Partial) and Fourier Analysis is used in Underwater acoustic signal processing
Is absolute certainty attainable in mathematics?
Achieving complete certainty isn’t possible in mathematics. In basic arithmetic, achieving certainty is possible but
beyond that, it seems very uncertain. For example, few question the fact that 1+1 = 2 or that 2+2= 4. One can be
completely certain that 1+1 is two because two is defined as two ones. The same certainty applies for the latter sum,
2+2 is four because four is defined as two twos. Though certainty seems achievable in basic mathematics, this doesn’t
apply to all aspects of mathematics. Mathematics makes use of logic, but the validity of a deduction relies on the
logic of the argument, not the truth of its parts. For the most part, this truth is simply assumed, but in
mathematics this truth is imperative. It could be that a mathematician creates a logical argument but uses a
proof that isn’t completely certain. Consequently, the mathematician’s proof cannot be completely certain even
if it may be valid. In other cases, logic can’t be used to get an answer. Kurt Gödel’s incompleteness theorem
states that there are some valid statements that can neither be proven nor disproven in mathematics
(Britannica).