TED Conversations

Tomas Fernandez Nuñez

Student System Engineering, TEDxUTN

TEDCRED 500+
TEDx Organizer

This conversation is closed. Start a new conversation
or join one »

Do Mathematics really help us to think and open our minds?

Well, i put that TED talk because was the only one that i found kinda related to this topic.
So a year ago I was in secondary school where teach about many subjects but very little mathematical content. I saw this as a problem, since my intention after leaving school was to pursue a engineering carrier, which obviously has a lot of math. So i studied and practiced hard to pass the entrance examination. After weeks of study, i noticed that was starting to think like in a more clear and analytical way.
I'm sure that most advanced mathematics might can help us when time to think.
Maybe was a growth phenomenon? or caused by mathematics?

Related Talks:
Topics: Imagination Mathematics creativity
+2
Share:

Showing single comment thread. View the full conversation.

  • thumb

    John Locke

    • 0
    Nov 19 2011: Mathematics uses the right side of your brain which is not creative. Math is not creative. However, I believe that learning math will allow you to think through a more realistic and rational approach to problems in everyday life. However, if you want to open your mind to new ideas and inovations you need to use your left side of your brain which involves music, art, science, literature, etc. Together, both sides of your brain keep your mind in check and provide you with a perfect amount of both creativity as well as rationality.
    • thumb

      Tomas Fernandez Nuñez 500+

      • +1
      TEDx Organizer
      Nov 20 2011: I'm not entirely agree with what you propose. Mathematics actually uses creativity. The mathematicians´s theorems were created based on their creativity and imagination. They are fundamental. When someone tries to solve a complex Geometry problem must inevitably resort to the imagination and the ideas. Then comes the "technical "process. Thanks for your reply.
      • thumb

        John Locke

        • 0
        Nov 20 2011: When you solve a mathematics problem, you use a set of formulas/theorems that have already been discovered. Geometry is no different. When you want to solve a geometry problem, depending on the problem, you graph it or you solve it using a set of formulas/theorems. Now, the people who created those theorems and formulas needed to think creatively, but most people do not find formulas/theorems.
        • thumb

          Tomas Fernandez Nuñez 500+

          • 0
          TEDx Organizer
          Nov 20 2011: It is not just a matter of raising a formula or follow a particular theorem. That would not be efficient. What you propose is a prelude to the ideas. The problems of calculus, and geometry agebra need ideas. think that is irrefutable. If you ever had an opportunity of solving a geometry problem you'll notice what I mean. Also you said that "left side of your brain which involves music, art, science, literature, etc.".Is important to clarify that Math is the one most important science for not say the most important.

          I recommend you a nice book:

          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathematics_and_the_Imagination_(book)

        • Hyungsup Kim

          • 0
          Nov 21 2011: You don't need creativity to read a Shakespeare but you need lots of it to create one!

          Even past PhD in Mathematics it's extremely difficult to be creative.

          But that doesn't mean that maths is not creative is it?
      • thumb

        John Locke

        • 0
        Nov 22 2011: I am taking Geometry right now. I have/done many geometry problems some of which I did today. Solving math, whatever type it may be, involves logical thinking and formulas to solve a problem. The person who thinks of formulas or who comes up with math problems is creative, the person who solves them is not.
        • thumb

          Paul Lillebo

          • 0
          Nov 23 2011: Isn't geometry fun? It was one of my favorite subjects in school (in the 1950s). No other subject illustrates logic so clearly, and when you really understand geometry you'll find thousands of times throughout life that a problem, especially (but not only) in the physical sciences, engineering and mathematics, can be reduced to geometric relationships, which improves insight into the problem and helps solutions to spring forth. Having the tools of geometry, trigonometry, and analysis at hand allows you to be creative in problem solving in ways that you can't be without that knowledge. Enjoy your study of geometry, which is a study of space itself. Nothing is more fundamental.

    • Zachary Williams

      • 0
      Nov 21 2011: thats sad i love art and math! to me they go together, sometimes i see a math problem and think, DAMN THATS PRETTY, it happens.

Showing single comment thread. View the full conversation.