Mathematics Definition
mathematics
Wikipedia has an article on: Mathematics
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English
Alternative forms
- mathematicks (obsolete)
Etymology
From Latin mathēmatica (“mathematics”), from Ancient Greek μαθηματικός (mathematikos, “fond of learning”), from μάθημα (máthema, “knowledge, study, learning”).
Pronunciation
Noun
mathematics (uncountable)
- An abstract representational system used in the study of numbers, shapes, structure and change and the relationships between these concepts.
- 2001, David Salsburg, The Lady Tasting Tea: How Statistics Revolutionized Science in the Twentieth Century, page 8
- In many cases, the mathematics involved are deep and complicated.
- 2002, Ian Stewart, Does God Play Dice?: The New Mathematics of Chaos, page 38
- The answer is 'yes', and the mathematics needed is the theory of probability and its applied cousin, statistics.
- 2001, David Salsburg, The Lady Tasting Tea: How Statistics Revolutionized Science in the Twentieth Century, page 8
- A person's ability to count, calculate, and use different systems of mathematics at differing levels.
- My mathematics is not very good.
- Their mathematics are not very good.
- Their mathematics is not very good.
Usage notes
- Before the beginning of the 20th century, it was proper to say "My mathematics are not very good".
Synonyms
- (ability to use mathematics): numeracy
- abbreviation: maths (UK), math (US)
- See also Wikisaurus:mathematics
Derived terms
- applied mathematics
- astromathematics
- biomathematics
- discrete mathematics
- ethnomathematics
- metamathematics
- pseudomathematics
- pure mathematics
- recreational mathematics
Related terms
See also
- Mathematics on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
- Definitions of mathematics on Wikipedia.Wikipedia:Definitions of mathematics
- polymath
External links
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Mathematics (from Greek μάθημα máthēma, “knowledge, study, learning”) is the study of quantity, structure, space, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proof. The research required to solve mathematical problems can take years or even centuries of sustained inquiry. Since the pioneering work of Giuseppe Peano (1858–1932), David Hilbert (1862–1943), and others on axiomatic systems in the late 19th century, it has become customary to view mathematical research as establishing truth by rigorous deduction from appropriately chosen axioms and definitions. When those mathematical structures are good models of real phenomena, then mathematical reasoning often provides insight or predictions.
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