Math Department
What is Mathematics?
Mathematics: deductive study of numbers, geometry, and various abstract constructs, or structures. The latter often arise from analytical models in the empirical sciences, but may emerge from purely mathematical considerations.
Some definitions of mathematics heard from others:
- That which mathematicians do.
- The study of well-defined things.
- The study of statements of the form “P implies Q”.
- The branch of science which you could continue to do if you woke up and the universe were gone.
Contrary to many a layman’s perception, mathematics does not consist only of crunching numbers or solving equations. There are also parts of mathematics which have nothing at all to do with numbers or equations, though at Snow College it seems that we do a lot of number-crunching before we can get to the more interesting stuff. For a taste of a mostly-non-number crunching math experience check out MATH 1030.
