@ColinTGraham Hello everyone, welcome to today's #mathchat

Mon May 09 19:31:34 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67673082059436032 - #1

@ColinTGraham If it's your first time, don't try to follow everything, but interact with one or
two people instead. And try to remember the --> #mathchat
Mon May 09 19:32:45 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67673380647735296
6 - #2

@mathonthemind RT @ColinTGraham: If it's your first time, don't try to follow everything,
but interact with one or two people instead. And try to remember the -->#mathchat
#mathchat
Mon, 09 May 2011 19:33:25 +0000 - tweet id 67673547941740545 - #3

@ColinTGraham If your tweets are protected, you can @ reply to me for RTing or
unprotect them for 90 mins or so. #mathchat
Mon May 09 19:33:47 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67673637603377153 - #4

@ColinTGraham Today's topic is "What is the progression of 'Big Ideas' in mathematics?"

#mathchat
Mon May 09 19:35:33 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67674082560327680 - #5

@mathonthemind I'm in a training, but will try to follow. #mathchat

Mon May 09 19:36:27 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67674309841272832 - #6

@ColinTGraham We got as far as identifying some of the big ideas in the last discussion,
so let's see if we get to how they join together today #mathchat
Mon May 09 19:36:42 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67674373515001856 - #7

@ColinTGraham @mathonthemind Fine, Anthony, jump in when you can! #mathchat

Mon May 09 19:37:55 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67674678436700160 - #8

@ColinTGraham Do we need a summary from last time or are we going to generate our
own list of 'Big Ideas' (fundamental principles or concepts)? #mathchat
Mon May 09 19:38:57 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67674937560801281 - #9

@mathonthemind @colintgraham A short summary would be great! #mathchat

Mon May 09 19:39:50 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67675160190255104 - #11
Mon May 09 19:40:09 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67675241958223872 - #12

@pavkahu RT @colintgraham: Hello everyone, welcome to today's #mathchat

Mon May 09 19:40:20 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67675285776117760 - #13

@pavkahu RT @colintgraham: Today's topic is "What is the progression of 'Big Ideas' in

mathematics?" #mathchat
Mon May 09 19:40:39 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67675365451116544 - #14

Monday, 9th May 2011 What is the progression of 'Big Ideas' in mathematics? (follow-up
(follow discussion)
 @ColinTGraham OK, some ideas from last time: time: commutativity was first to be mentioned,
although not associativity or distributability... #mathchat
Mon May 09 19:43:56 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67676193486417920 - #15

@oldak RT @ColinTGraham: Today's topic is "What is the progression of 'Big Ideas' in

mathematics?" #mathchat
Mon May 09 19:44:52 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67676429256634369 - #16

@ColinTGraham The link between Differentation and integration was also mentioned
#mathchat
Mon May 09 19:46:30 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67676837559541760 - #17

@MrHonner @ColinTGraham @CutTheKnot mentioned the importance of how counting

something in different ways gives the same result. #mathchat
Mon May 09 19:46:45 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67676903460442112 - #18

@MrHonner Someone suggested that quadratics were fundamental to the study of

algebra #mathchat
Mon May 09 19:48:03 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67677231295635456 - #19

@ColinTGraham I also suggested zero as a placeholder, and rephrased

@CutTheKnotMath's counting as 'oneness' 'twoness' etc. #mathchat
Mon May 09 19:49:12 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67677516889985024 - #20

@MrHonner I personally feel like "modeling / interpreting" is a big idea, although you and I
quarreled over that. #mathchat
Mon May 09 19:50:11 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67677765012430848 - #21

@MrHonner We mostly had fun arguing about what we though "big ideas" were.
#mathchat
Mon May 09 19:51:35 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67678117124243456 - #22

@ColinTGraham @MrHonner The disagreement was probably more about level of

complexity. I see modelling
ing as a combination of more fundamental things #mathchat
Mon May 09 19:51:46 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67678162988969984 - #23

@MrHonner @ColinTGraham So what do see "modeling" as? Not to take us off-topic

off or
anything. #mathchat
Mon May 09 19:52:53 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67678447203397632 - #24

@ColinTGraham One that wasn't mentioned, but seems to be a constant bugbear, is the
manipulation or use of fractions... #mathchat
Mon May 09 19:53:07 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67678503126048768 - #25

@oldak If we take "Big Ideas" to mean fundamentals, interesting to consider

Russell/Whitehead's Principia. Then Russell's paradox & Gödel #mathchat
Monday, 9th May 2011 What is the progression of 'Big Ideas' in mathematics? (follow-up
(follow discussion)
Mon May 09 19:53:48 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67678677361639424 - #26

@ColinTGraham @MrHonner Modelling

Mode ling to me is about visualization and the exploration
of approaches, based on earlier principles,... so higher level #mathchat
Mon May 09 19:54:51 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67678940319322112 - #27

@oldak Also, Wittgenstein's criticism of Principia: logic not fundamental basis of arithmetic,
counting is. #mathchat
Mon May 09 19:55:43 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67679156984492033 - #28

@ColinTGraham @oldak Those are certainly Big in the sense of what can or cannot be
built on them, probably more for (under)grad mathematicians #mathchat
Mon May 09 19:56:20 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67679314111500288 - #29

@ColinTGraham It is also worth remembering that while counting has been around for a
very long time, number theory is only about 150 years old #mathchat
Mon May 09 19:57:54 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67679706744492032
67 - #30

@MrHonner So the question is "What do we mean by 'Big' ?" Basic? Elementary? Even
that word has sophisticated connotation. #mathchat
Mon May 09 19:58:01 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67679737207726080 - #31

@oldak @ColinTGraham yes: perhaps not appropriate to develop these using this
medium. But interesting points on counting tho. #mathchat
Mon May 09 19:59:22 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67680078070427648 - #32

@ColinTGraham In a practical sense, I see it as a concept which leads to "efficiency" or

"efficacy" and, maybe, a connection between topics #mathchat
Mon May 09 19:59:44 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67680171179782144 - #33

@suburbanlion Big Ideas in #math:: counting, sets, generalizing patterns, logical

deduction/induction, communicating abstract ideas #mathchat
Mon May 09 19:59:48 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67680185981480960 - #34

@ColinTGraham It's interesting for me that lots of people will mention commutativity, but
not associativity or distributability. Why? #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:01:04 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67680504874414080 - #35

@MrHonner To be honest, I think people use "commutativity" as a proxy for "operations".

#mathchat
Mon May 09 20:01:52 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67680708356878336 - #36

@MrHonner Big idea in math, for me: Objects --> Operations -->
> Structures -->
Transformations #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:02:38 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67680900825092096 - #37

Monday, 9th May 2011 What is the progression of 'Big Ideas' in mathematics? (follow-up
(follow discussion)
 @ColinTGraham @MrHonner I'm never sure about that! Not many people remember
which name applies to which Law of Arithmetic either... ;-)
; #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:03:17 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67681064876900353 - #38

@MrHonner @suburbanlion How do you handle the "communication" aspect?#mathchat

aspect?
Mon May 09 20:03:19 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67681071596179458 - #39

@mathonthemind I think many students understand commutative but not the associative
or distributive. What makes c more of a big idea? #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:03:30 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67681117628678146 - #40

@mathonthemind I agree: RT @mrhonner: Big idea in math, for me: Objects -->
Operations --> Structures -->
> Transformations #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:05:11 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67681539244310528 - #41

@ColinTGraham @mathonthemind I think the idea of swapping over is related in a way to

the counting things in any order gives the same result. #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:06:03 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67681757541048320 - #42

@oldak @MrHonner Does this boil down to symbolic representations of objects, and
manipulation of these representations? #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:06:52 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67681964601257984 - #43

@ColinTGraham @mathonthemind It may be that commutativity is remembered because

it is 'earlier' ... assoc and distrib are moving into algebra... #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:07:33 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67682137909899264 - #44

@leomeloxp Same RT @mathonthemind: I agree: RT @mrhonner: Big idea in math, for

me: Objects --> Operations -->
> Structures --> Transformations #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:08:05 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67682272551251969 - #45geo info: Point - lat = -22.2739874
22.2739874 - long = -46.1669539

@MrHonner Maybe because it's rare to see examples of non-distributive

non distributive and/or non-
non
associative things. Counterexamples are important! #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:08:11 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67682297863864321
676822978 - #46

@ColinTGraham I must say I was surprised that no-one

no one mentioned order of operations in
last week's discussion... PEDMAS or whatever you use! #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:08:44 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67682433750941696 - #47

@Sundayteatime Can you solve differential equations such as dy/dx = y^2 by flipping as
well as separating variables? #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:09:14 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67682560137895936 - #48

@MrHonner @oldak I don't think it has to be symbolic, but I would say symbolic
manipulation is a big idea. #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:09:22 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67682593398734848 - #49

Monday, 9th May 2011 What is the progression of 'Big Ideas' in mathematics? (follow-up
(follow discussion)
 @suburbanlion @MrHonner imo, math has developed its own language specifically for
communicating abstract ideas #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:09:51 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67682715348115456 - #50

@mathonthemind I always try to teach associ. in a way for them to understand. Placing
them in groups and visiting. Move around in group = same. #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:10:18 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67682829324128257 - #51

@mathonthemind I think they understand and see associ. better in that way.#mathchat
way.
Mon May 09 20:10:36 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67682904255381504 - #52

@MrHonner @ColinTGraham For me that falls under "operations" in general. Order of

operations is a detail of operations, in my mind. #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:10:53 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67682974140862464 - #53

@mathonthemind @suburbanlion Math is it's own language. . . .but that's a whole other
ball of wax. #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:11:19 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67683082773340160 - #54

@suburbanlion @ColinTGraham i think order of operations is more of a social convention

rather than a central idea of mathematics #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:11:21 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67683093800173568 - #55

@ColinTGraham @suburbanlion Many, including me, would argue mathematics IS the

language of abstraction, ideas which can only be communic in math #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:11:37 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67683158707015680 - #56

@mathonthemind RT @MrHonner: @ColinTGraham For me that falls under "operations"

in general. Order of operations is a detail of operations, in my mind.#mathchat
min #mathchat
Mon, 09 May 2011 20:11:43 +0000 - tweet id 67683186573967361 - #57

@ColinTGraham @MrHonner but parts of the order need to be done before others, so
there is a 'bit' of concept in terms of impact on result. #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:12:51 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67683469672714240
676834 - #58

@oldak @MrHonner Aren't symbolic representations all we have access to? Must create
cognitive models of what these reps signify. #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:13:12 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67683556469641216 - #59

@MrHonner @suburbanlion I agree. But there's more than one way to present a proof,
say. It's important to communicate math in diff. ways. #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:13:18 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67683581870346241
676 - #60

@dmarain Back in the 60's,70's (New Math!) all 3 were stressed with questions like
a(b+c)=a(c+b) (Comm of +) Most students struggled. #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:13:18 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67683584886050816 - #61

Monday, 9th May 2011 What is the progression of 'Big Ideas' in mathematics? (follow-up
(follow discussion)
 @oldak @suburbanlion @ColinTGraham Order of operations =?= syntax in natural
language #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:14:32 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67683892752154625 - #62

@ColinTGraham @dmarain I was a student of the 'New Maths' ... I still think that
assoc/distrib are a degree slightly more complex than comm #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:14:39 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67683922749833216 - #63

@MrHonner @oldak I don't think so. You can explore "groups" by rotating objects; sets by
collecting/grouping things. Not all abstract. #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:14:53 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67683983990857728
676839 - #64

@suburbanlion @ColinTGraham then i guess we agree that expressing abstract

concepts is a "big idea" in math? #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:15:27 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67684126764965888 - #65

@ColinTGraham @MrHonner @oldak The symbolic representation of those is an

abstraction though... #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:15:57 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67684248550772736 - #66

@oldak @MrHonner Arguable that both these are manipulations of sets of abstract
representations,with hope these accurately model objects #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:17:09 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67684553925476353 - #67

@ColinTGraham @suburbanlion Absolutely! Which is where @MrHonner's comments

about modelling come in... the model representing some abstraction #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:18:04 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67684781223190528 - #69

@MrHonner @ColinTGraham @oldak Any symbolic rep. is an abstraction. Rotating a

square 90 deg, four times = identity needs no symbolism. #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:19:11 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67685063562772480
67685 - #70

@MrHonner @oldak Seems like you think reality is an attempt to model ideals. I see
ideals as an attempt to model reality! #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:20:27 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67685383260995584 - #71

@ColinTGraham @MrHonner @oldak Agreed, to an extent. Rotation through 90 deg then

through 270 deg also=identity is arrival @ identity important? #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:21:37 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67685677759873024 - #72

@oldak RT @MrHonner: @oldak Seems like you think reality is an attempt to model
ideals. I see ideals as an attempt to model reality! #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:22:31 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67685903732178944 - #73

@ColinTGraham Communicating mathematical 'results' and how they were arrived at is

part of the process of proof, isn't it? #mathchat
Monday, 9th May 2011 What is the progression of 'Big Ideas' in mathematics? (follow-up
(follow discussion)
Mon May 09 20:22:51 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67685988079644672 - #74

@oldak @MrHonner More that I don't believe that a "square" exists *in [external] reality*.
Such objects are emergent properties of rules. #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:24:08 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67686308050518016 - #75

@MrHonner @ColinTGraham @oldak I'm just offering a mathematical conclusion free of

abstraction. You can experience x^4 = x, without the x. #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:24:17 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67686346688434176
67 - #76

@MrHonner @oldak That's going to be hard to refute in 140 characters! Point taken,
though. #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:25:06 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67686551508881409 - #77

@ColinTGraham @MrHonner @oldak Certainly, the experience is probably what leads

someone somewhere to write it down! #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:25:07 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67686557963911168 - #78

@ColinTGraham Something else which did not come up last week was the idea of
postulates. #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:25:52 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67686744400736256 - #79

@ColinTGraham We probably assume

assume we are talking about Euclidean
Euclide space when we
refer to geometry in K-12... #mathchat
#math
Mon May 09 20:26:52 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67686997539553281 - #83

@MrHonner @ColinTGraham @oldak Totally agreed. Communication, symbolism, writing

is all key. But math does exist outside of that, I think. #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:27:11 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67687079475281922 - #84

@ColinTGraham I see the minimum number of postulates on which to base later

assumptions as being a big idea in mathematics... basic assumptions #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:28:17 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67687352784531456 - #86

@MrHonner @ColinTGraham Right. Soundness and validity of the axioms. The idea of
"necessary and sufficient conditions". #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:29:33 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67687674030465024 - #88

@ColinTGraham For example 1+1=2 is only true in base systems where twoness is
represented by the numeral 2 (ie not in binary!) #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:29:34 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67687678853914624 - #89

@oldak @MrHonner @ColinTGraham 2 objects in world w/ property "twoness". This

property arises from model of grouping, not ext. reality? #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:32:36 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67688441416134656
67 - #95

Monday, 9th May 2011 What is the progression of 'Big Ideas' in mathematics? (follow-up
(follow discussion)
 @ColinTGraham Another big idea, for me, is that = carries the sense of "has equal value
to", where many ss see it as "identical to" or worse... #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:33:34 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67688685365231616 - #97

@oldak @MrHonner @ColinTGraham Does "soundness and validity of the axioms" rest
on logic? #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:33:43 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67688720014389248 - #98

@ColinTGraham @oldak @MrHonner I'd say the other way round that the logic rests on
the "soundness and validity"... #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:34:35 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67688939988852737 - #99

@MrHonner @oldak "Soundness and validity" refer to logical systems. I'm not a
mathematical empiricist, if that's what you are getting at. #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:35:12 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67689093244522497 - #100

@RSeddon @ColinTGraham I redraw the = as the middle of weighing scales. #mathchat

Mon May 09 20:35:43 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67689226568871939 - #101

@ColinTGraham In what sense? RT @Asem_93: @MrHonner @oldak Well to be honest

with you, mathematics dictates life #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:36:22 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67689387701440512 - #102

@oldak RT @ColinTGraham: @oldak @MrHonner I'd say the other way round that the
logic rests on the "soundness and validity"... #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:36:43 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67689474942959616 - #103

@ColinTGraham @RSeddon That's one way to help with explaining the concept. 3
groups of 4 do not look the same as 4 groups of 3 = ss problem :-?
: #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:38:13 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67689856054210560 - #104

@ColinTGraham This also comes back to the commutativity again. Once Ss see that 3x4
has an equivalent value to 4x3, it leads to more complexity #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:40:50 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67690512286625792 - #105

@oldak @ColinTGraham @RSeddon Set is same size (12), but sets differ in cardinality.
"not look the same" == differing cardinality? #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:42:41 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67690978961653760
6769097 - #106

@josh_at_STP #mathchat My 2 cents: Zero Product Property as important early step for
solving higher order algebraic equations.
Mon May 09 20:42:53 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67691028668354560 - #107

@ColinTGraham Dont forget the hashtag everyone!! #mathchat

Mon May 09 20:43:00 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67691057571311616 - #108

Monday, 9th May 2011 What is the progression of 'Big Ideas' in mathematics? (follow-up
(follow discussion)
 @oldak @ColinTGraham @RSeddon Set is same size (12), but subsets differ in
cardinality. "not look the same" == differing cardinality? #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:43:08 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67691091595501568 - #109

@mramidon My m.s. stus quest. abt probability is how many users have 2 participate in
order for exper prob meets theory prob. <-Their
< words #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:44:26 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67691417459367936
6 - #110

@ColinTGraham @oldak That is the earlier point about counting though, arriving at 12 by
grouping in 3s and 4s has same end result.... #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:44:29 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67691429459279873 - #111

@ColinTGraham RT @Asem_93: Maths is all around us, it revolves around us,

everywhere you look, see it has to be linked with mathematics #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:45:07 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67691592319901697
676915923 - #112

@ColinTGraham @mramidon This is where @MrHonner's modelling comes in...

important to realize that models are approximations? #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:46:12 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67691861174796288 - #113

@Asem_93 #mathchat just out of interest tweeps, why do the Americans use "math" and
not the British "maths"
Mon May 09 20:46:43 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67691993597349888 - #114

@oldak @Asem_93 @ColinTGraham @MrHonner IMO: math not around us. We use
math as "filter" to model/simplify complex natural patterns #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:46:46 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67692004947136513 - #115

@ColinTGraham As deductive reasoning or inductive or both? RT @profprioleau:

@ColinTGraham mathematical reasoning should get added #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:47:15 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67692129413107712
67692129413107 - #116

@mramidon @ColinTGraham No doubt. Thx 4 input.We got close to 15,6,15 today & they
want 2 get exactly on.Their theory is we need more users. #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:47:56 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67692300884639744 - #117

@Asem_93 @oldak I think that is belittling maths, don't you think? #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:48:23 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67692411031265280 - #118

@ColinTGraham exactness and approximation are probably big ideas too, especially in
measurement why is 1 upper limit not 0.9999999999999999... #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:49:19 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67692647300595712 - #119

@ColinTGraham @Asem_93 I think @oldak is wearing his philosopher's hat ;-)

;
#mathchat
Mon May 09 20:49:50 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67692775851823104 - #120

Monday, 9th May 2011 What is the progression of 'Big Ideas' in mathematics? (follow-up
(follow discussion)
 @oldak @Asem_93 I don't think it is giving any size/shape to math. Question of whether
math exists outside human mind or not (platonism). #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:50:30 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67692945687576576 - #121

@nick_chater RT @ColinTGraham: exactness and approximation are probably big ideas

too, especially in measurement why is 1 upper limit not 0.9999999999999999...#mathchat
0.9999999999999999...
Mon, 09 May 2011 20:50:54 +0000 - tweet id 67693047718227968 - #122

@Asem_93 @oldak #mathchat That is exactly the issue... maths in not a size or
o shape it
is everywhere... it is not restricted
Mon May 09 20:51:58 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67693313091837952 - #123

@ColinTGraham @Asem_93 @oldak Maybe fair to say that mathematics is one way in
which we choose to represent the world around us? #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:53:18 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67693649856700416 - #124

@Asem_93 @ColinTGraham @oldak Yeah... but I do see where he is coming from

#mathchat
Mon May 09 20:53:39 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67693739186995200 - #125

@oldak @Asem_93 Whether "math is everywhere" or not is a metaphysical position. We

should continue this later. #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:53:57 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67693814181134336 - #126

@oldak @ColinTGraham @Asem_93 Yes: parsimoniously, we use mathematics as

system of representation for world around us. #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:54:55 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67694055399751680 - #127

@josh_at_STP Different orders of infinity, a la Cantor, probably a "big idea." Infinity of

continuum differing from that of rationals. #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:55:37 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67694233850621952 - #128

@ColinTGraham So, before we get into Plato's cave... :-): ) any final thoughts on big
ideas...? (think we can give up on the progression part now!) #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:56:16 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67694395645890561 - #129

@ColinTGraham @josh_at_STP How about infinity itself... sums of infinite series caused
problems for many ancient Greeks! #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:57:16 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67694646163279872 - #130

@nick_chater RT @ColinTGraham: RT @Asem_93: Maths is all around us, it revolves

around us, everywhere you look, see it has to be linked with mathematics
mathema #mathchat
Mon, 09 May 2011 20:57:50 +0000 - tweet id 67694792770985984 - #131

@ColinTGraham @profprioleau Yes, many students have problems seeing that rounding
is telling you how exact an approximation is... #mathchat
Monday, 9th May 2011 What is the progression of 'Big Ideas' in mathematics? (follow-up
(follow discussion)
Mon May 09 20:58:45 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67695022065205249
676950220652052 - #132

@josh_at_STP no problem w/ what you're saying. I'm just saying that Cantor's bifurcation
of infinity alters the very concept. #mathchat
Mon May 09 20:58:45 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67695022958587904 - #133

@suburbanlion @ColinTGraham = can also be used as both a comparative or

assignment, as in "is x = to 5?" vs "let x = 5". very complex word #mathchat
Mon May 09 21:00:00 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67695338114400256 - #134

@oldak @josh_at_STP If we define "Big Ideas" as inspiring, infinity is one. If as

fundamental/useful, infinity is not (pre-undergrad)
(pre #mathchat
Mon May 09 21:00:35 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67695483778371584 - #135

@ColinTGraham Maybe the Big Ideas are the ones studied at university that most of us
get some of the time, or some of us get most of the time! #mathchat
Mon May 09 21:01:31 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67695717749227520
67 - #136

@ColinTGraham Thank you all for your contributions... another lively discussion
today!#mathchat
Mon May 09 21:02:34 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67695981386403840 - #137

@oldak @ColinTGraham Is "infinity" is a symbolic representation for which there is no

underlying object? A band-aid
aid concept. #mathchat
Mon May 09 21:03:10 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67696131425058816 - #138

@ColinTGraham Nice to see new faces joining us each time too. Spread the word, and
follow @mathchat for updates. #mathchat
Mon May 09 21:03:11 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67696138635055104 - #139

@ColinTGraham @oldak I prefer to think of infinity as eight when he's drunk! :-

:
P#mathchat
Mon May 09 21:03:55 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67696319908679680 - #140

@oldak RT @ColinTGraham: @oldak I prefer to think of infinity as eight when he's

drunk! :-P #mathchat
Mon May 09 21:04:20 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67696425387040768 - #141

@Asem_93 @ColinTGraham @oldak #mathchat HAHA! Brilliant... deserves RT

Mon May 09 21:05:34 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67696735920717825 - #142

@Asem_93 RT @ColinTGraham: @oldak I prefer to think of infinity as eight when he's

drunk! :-P #mathchat
Mon May 09 21:05:42 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67696770251096064 - #143

@ColinTGraham Don't forget to vote for the next topic: http://bit.ly/e72g8r and I'd
appreciate your contributions to: http://bit.ly/ipPXVQ #mathchat
Monday, 9th May 2011 What is the progression of 'Big Ideas' in mathematics? (follow-up
(follow discussion)
Mon May 09 21:06:47 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67697041354129408 - #144

@Asem_93 @ColinTGraham Wouldn't do you any harm if you followed me; Thanks :)
#mathchat
Mon May 09 21:07:43 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67697278701404160 - #145

@suburbanlion @oldak @colintgraham i think of infinity like axiom of choice. interesting

things happen both when u use it and when u dont #mathchat
Mon May 09 21:08:59 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67697598143803392 - #146

@suburbanlion RT @ColinTGraham: @oldak I prefer to think of infinity as eight when

he's drunk! :-P #mathchat
Mon May 09 21:09:24 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67697703412449281 - #147

@ColinTGraham @Asem_93 Re: #MathMaths question Travels in a Mathematical World:

Math/Maths in Google Books Ngrams http://bit.ly/jiyG27 explains #mathchat
Mon May 09 21:11:25 +0000 2011 - tweet id 67698208117239808 - #148

Monday, 9th May 2011 What is the progression of 'Big Ideas' in mathematics? (follow-up
(follow discussion)