How would you answer a child's question "What does a mathematician do?" I think I'd start by saying that we notice patterns and try to explain them, but I'd love to hear other answers! - ThreadSky

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alisonkiddle.bsky.social • 94 days ago

How would you answer a child's question "What does a mathematician do?"

I think I'd start by saying that we notice patterns and try to explain them, but I'd love to hear other answers!

Comments

mathforge.org•94 days ago

Really *big* sums!

Slightly more seriously, this post (which I think I sent you on mathstodon in a different context!) was an attempt to partially answer that question:

https://loopspace.mathforge.org/IMathematician/StoryOfAProof/

alisonkiddle.bsky.social•94 days ago

I started reading it, but my brain is very tired from being on trains for most of today ☹️

paddymacmahon.com•94 days ago

📌

islesofwhatif.bsky.social•94 days ago

Yes but the context for those patterns has to exist first. So we constantly create and expand upon the space that mathematical patterns live within.

taxisphyllo.bsky.social•93 days ago

We look for patterns and the relationship between patterns. One relationship is how rectangles fit together. Another is how the sum of the first n odd numbers is n squared. Both of these are easy to describe using blocks.

paddymacmahon.com•94 days ago

Maths!

alisonkiddle.bsky.social•94 days ago

Ok clever clogs, now define maths without saying it's what mathematicians do!!!

paddymacmahon.com•94 days ago

I think your definition actually sums it up very nicely. Perhaps add 'seek' to 'notice'. And something about extending and generalising.

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