Talk:Areas of mathematics

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WikiProject Mathematics This article is within the scope of WikiProject Mathematics.
Mathematics grading: B Class High Importance  Field: General
several sections need expanding. Tompw 13:43, 7 October 2006 (UTC)

Contents

[edit] about cryptology

Nothing on the page about either computational number theory or cryptology, as far as I can see. This makes me sceptical about the claim that all areas are covered. Charles Matthews 23:00, 19 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Cryptology belongs under 'Information and communication' (#94) and computational number theory belongs under 'Number theory' (#11).

What I would like to see is the raw sub-headings expanded in the same way as those under Geometry and some of the Physical sciences. Tompw 14:44, 28 Apr 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Other lists

Charles Matthews had some other lists/categorizations, but I can't find these now. I've been staring at bits of AMS for a while, and, while the top-level categories make sense, some of the subcategories seem insane to me. 11B in particular seemed bizarre. For example, where can we classify stuff published in "Journal of Integer Sequences"? Thus, I am lead to look for Charles other lists ... linas 18:22, 24 July 2005 (UTC)

I don't know if this is helpful, but see Wikipedia:Classifications_of_mathematics_topics which I made redirect to Areas of mathematics. Oleg Alexandrov 20:45, 24 July 2005 (UTC)
There was some non-AMS list that he'd scavenged from somewhere. I didn't much care for such questions when I first saw it. Maybe I should ask directly. linas 03:27, 25 July 2005 (UTC)
Actually, Intereger sequences come under 11Y55. I agree that the AMS has severe limitations when used in a context like Wikipedia. However, as the article states, the AMS classifcation "has been used as a starting point to ensure all areas are covered, and related areas are close together". I fully expect the headings to be tweaked and moved around within the article. Tompw 15:11, 25 July 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Deletion of MSC numbers?

I note User:Tompw recently deleted, without explaination, some MSC numbers I'd just added. Why? Maybe I misunderstand the purpose of this list, but it seems that it was trying to be a cross-list to the MSC numberigng system, so I'm wondering why these are now being deleted. linas 21:39, 25 July 2005 (UTC)

I thought I had replied to this, but it seems not. I didn't delete it because it had the extra AMSC numbers, I deleted it because I felt it went into too much detail for the page, although I should've stated this under the edit summary. On reflection, it would be nice to re-include them as easily comprehended areas of Number Theory. I also feel that putting in AMSC numbers below the top level makes the article less readable. (There is something to be said for removing all AMSC numbers - they are a hang over of a copy and paste of the AMSC top levels. - see first few edits). Anyway, hope tha tclears that one up. Tompw 00:21, 9 December 2005 (UTC)
OK, not too big a deal, otherwise I would ave argued. I think it might be useful to have, somewhere, a cross-reference between MSC numbers and WP categories. However, this is not so urgent that I'll push on this. BTW, you may want to (re-) announce this page on Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Mathematics, as this may get you help filling out some missing sections. linas 23:21, 9 December 2005 (UTC)
I think I wrote about it a while ago. I have a map between MSC and WP categories, at User:Mathbot/msc. Oleg Alexandrov (talk) 01:02, 10 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] about differential geometry

Wouldn´t it be more appropiate to include differential geometry in applied mathematics and appart of the algebraic structures? --anon


[edit] Intro line to analysis

I think it is misleading to say that analysis is primarily related to rates of change. Many aspects to the theory do not arise in this way. I think it would be better to say that analysis is the study of inequalities, because this is the theme that runs through every branch, at least it seems to me. To quote Krantz (from a book review of 'A Companion to Analysis: A Second First and First Second Course in Analysis') "Analysis is dirty, rotten, hard work. It is estimates and more estimates. And what are those estimates good for? Additional estimates, of course. We do hard estimates of integrals in order to obtain estimates for operators. We obtain estimates for operators in order to say something about estimates for solutions of partial differential equations. And so it goes." Any comments? I tried to change it initially myself, but instantly got reverted. :) I should have started here I suppose. Thenub314 02:51, 28 September 2006 (UTC)

Inequalities play an important role in analysis, but this is not what the analysis is about however. I would argue that derivatives and integrals are much more important. Either way, I would suggest you copy your post to Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Mathematics where more people will see it. Oleg Alexandrov (talk) 03:15, 28 September 2006 (UTC)

Will do thanks. Thenub314 03:26, 28 September 2006 (UTC)


[edit] Combinatorics

I don't see the reason for classifying combinatorics under algebra. It is not algebra. Some combinatorics is algebraic, much is not. Any replies? (Is this the wrong place for this comment?) Zaslav 06:15, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

seems ok to me. go ahead and split it. Mct mht 06:34, 1 December 2006 (UTC)