REAL Mathematicians Unhindered by Laws of Physics
By Ann Finkbeiner | November 15, 2010 | 11 Comments
I think this is funny because it explains a problem I’ve had with math all along, which is that math just makes stuff up: makes up number, and space between numbers, and relations between numbers, and I’m not even mentioning zero. Also I know that the horizon problem went something like, the universe shouldn’t have been born as uniform as it was because it was farther across than light — which created the uniformity — could have traveled by then. Something like that. So AG’s mathematicians solve the problem by making light travel faster than light. For some reason, physicists resent that. Now that I reflect on it, I suspect that AG and I are the only ones who think this is funny.
Credit: http://abstrusegoose.com/316
Tags: abstruse goose > cosmic inflation > cosmic microwave background > cosmology > horizon problem > mathematicians > physics > speed of light
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11 Responses to “REAL Mathematicians Unhindered by Laws of Physics”
What’s that quote?
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November 15th, 2010 @ 7:44 am
I do find this funny but I have no idea why…except I relate to the hand in the air.
November 15th, 2010 @ 8:23 am
I think what i find funny is that physicists are so worried whether their theories will turn out to be real, and mathematicians just say “Reality? Pssh.”
November 15th, 2010 @ 9:05 am
I have always suspected that economists just make things up, but perhaps that’s because, like astronomy and higher math, I have trouble understanding economics.
November 15th, 2010 @ 9:52 am
I don’t understand economics either, but with math I just hit a blank, infinite wall.
November 15th, 2010 @ 11:39 am
Another funny thing is that physicists have to use the funny made up things (i.e. numbers) to prove “real” things that happen.
November 15th, 2010 @ 11:48 am
I suspect infiltration from the mathematicians’ camp here, Nick. Though I admit, a sound and convincing argument.
November 15th, 2010 @ 2:01 pm
[...] REAL Mathematicians Unhindered by Laws of Physics : The Last Word … because-it-explains, funny-because, had-with, makes-stuff, math-all, november, Physics, [...]
November 15th, 2010 @ 5:21 pm
[...] problem by making light travel faster than light.” —I’m with Awl pal Ann Finkbeiner: Math sucks! (Especially zero!) After that, she kind of loses me. And hurts my brain. But I’m pretty sure [...]
November 24th, 2010 @ 2:26 am
Charitable interpretation of the mathematician’s point: Here’s an explanation of the horizon problem we think might be more plausible. They are being kind of trollish though, probably because they probably can’t defend the “more plausible” part.
I am new here but your AG digests are pretty cool! Keep ‘em coming.
November 25th, 2010 @ 8:59 am
I think of the mathematicians’ point as less of an explanation than a quick fix. I’m glad you like AG.
July 18th, 2011 @ 12:57 pm
Scientists need math for things that the Chinese have known for thousands of years. Math is rubbish, then again, so is physics.