This book discusses some ways of doing mathematical work and the subject matter that is being worked upon and created. It argues that the conventions we adopt, the subject areas we delimit, what we can prove and calculate about the physical world, and the analogies that work for mathematicians - all depend on mathematics, what will work out and what won't. And the mathematics, as it is done, is shaped and supported, or not, by convention, subject matter, calculation, and analogy. The cases studied include the central limit theorem of statistics, the sound of the shape of a drum, the connection between algebra and topology, the stability of matter, the Ising model, and the Langlands Program in number theory and representation theory.
- ISBN13 9789812382009
- Publish Date 27 January 2003 (first published 1 January 2003)
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country SG
- Imprint World Scientific Publishing Co Pte Ltd
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 472
- Language English
- URL https://worldscientific.com/worldscibooks/10.1142/5133