The abbreviation for mathematics is ‘maths’ or ‘math’. Mathematics is the study of space, structure, change and quantity. Through the use of logical reasoning and abstractions, maths evolved from calculation, measurement and counting and the systematic study of the motions and shapes of physical objects.
As far back as written records go, mathematics has been in use as a human activity. Euclid’s Elements is a mathematical and geometric treatise that consists of 13 books and was the first example of rigorous arguments. Mathematics developed in China in 300 BC, in India in 100 AD and in the Muslim world in 800 AD. This slow development began to rapidly increase during and after the Renaissance. During this time, mathematical innovations began interacting with new scientific discoveries to bring with it developments and discoveries at an exceedingly fast rate. These fast-paced discoveries are still being made at the same rate today.
Mathematicians aim to resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs. They are arguments that are strong enough to convince other mathematicians of the validity. Some mathematical problems can take years or even centuries to solve with many mathematicians dedicating their lives to finding a solution. Even still, mathematical proofs are less painstaking and formal than any proofs in mathematical logic. The 19th-century work of Guiseppe Peano, David Hilbert and others on axiomatic systems established the view that mathematical research is considered as finding truth by rigorous deduction from appropriately chosen logical statements that are assumed to be true and definitions.
Mathematics is used by humans across the world and is an essential tool in many fields such as medicine, engineering, social sciences and natural sciences. Mathematics can branch into applied mathematics. This is concerned with applying maths to other fields and can inspire the discovery of new mathematical disciplines. Pure mathematics is considered maths for its own sake, with no intentions to make any practical applications.
As far back as written records go, mathematics has been in use as a human activity. Euclid’s Elements is a mathematical and geometric treatise that consists of 13 books and was the first example of rigorous arguments. Mathematics developed in China in 300 BC, in India in 100 AD and in the Muslim world in 800 AD. This slow development began to rapidly increase during and after the Renaissance. During this time, mathematical innovations began interacting with new scientific discoveries to bring with it developments and discoveries at an exceedingly fast rate. These fast-paced discoveries are still being made at the same rate today.
Mathematicians aim to resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs. They are arguments that are strong enough to convince other mathematicians of the validity. Some mathematical problems can take years or even centuries to solve with many mathematicians dedicating their lives to finding a solution. Even still, mathematical proofs are less painstaking and formal than any proofs in mathematical logic. The 19th-century work of Guiseppe Peano, David Hilbert and others on axiomatic systems established the view that mathematical research is considered as finding truth by rigorous deduction from appropriately chosen logical statements that are assumed to be true and definitions.
Mathematics is used by humans across the world and is an essential tool in many fields such as medicine, engineering, social sciences and natural sciences. Mathematics can branch into applied mathematics. This is concerned with applying maths to other fields and can inspire the discovery of new mathematical disciplines. Pure mathematics is considered maths for its own sake, with no intentions to make any practical applications.
