Hi. For those of you that are mathematicians or grad students in math, what's the hardest concept or area of study EVER in the entire history of math that you've encountered or heard of?
Can you explain in simple terms what made it so difficult?
2007-07-01 15:42:41 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
I took a Real Analysis 2 Course about something called "measure theory." I found it very difficult because of the abstract theory presented. Look it up on wikipedia if you are interested. I enjoyed it, but it was by far the most difficult math course I took as an undergrad. It required higher level, challenging thinking and problem solving skills not found in calculus, statistics nor simple Real Analysis.
2007-07-01 15:49:17 · answer #1 · answered by triplea 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, the hardest thing I have probably ever studied (that means a class that I took) was group theory in the field of (pun intended) of what is today called Abstract Algebra. I hated it. It was so boring and appeared useless as if some completely unrelated things were chosen at random and put together. Of course, a year learned, as I grew wiser, I realized its full potential and how and where it can be useful.
As for general mathematics, regarding the problems I have heard throughout history, I would say that the field of number theory and Fermat's Last Theorem would probably get my vote. I mean it literally took centuries to solve. Entire fields of math had to be created before it was solved. The interesting part is that, it seems very obvious. The problem is so easy to understand. Number Theory deals with whole numbers like 0,1,2,3,4,5,... but some of the best problems come out of it. There are PLENTY of problems concerning prime numbers.
2007-07-01 16:05:24 · answer #2 · answered by The Prince 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I will tell you about the hardest problem I ever encountered. A group of about ten of us was responsible for grading a professional exam taken by about 500 people, and for setting the passing score. The people that passed would get raises and promotions, and the people who failed would not. People would fail for being 1/4 point below the passing grade. Each of the ten of us had a different opinion on the passing grade, and we had a fixed timeframe to make our choice; after that we left and went home to different parts of the country. There was no predetermined passing grade such as 70%. We looked at lots of data on how difficult the exam was and how prepared the students were, and of course the data was contradictory. Somehow we made a decision that the majority supported.
2016-05-20 23:36:28 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A few days ago we had the question "What is the most abstract area of mathematics?". My answer was algebraic topology. I don't know if that makes it the most complicated, but it certainly belongs on any such list.
2007-07-01 16:01:14 · answer #4 · answered by TFV 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Logic
2007-07-01 15:47:15 · answer #5 · answered by cattbarf 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋