A New Level

I have really found a new level of love for mathematics as of late. I think it sparked a lot last semester and really came to a head over break. You see, after I spent 29 hours of my life reading The Count of Monte Cristo, I began to read a brief history of mathematics, Infinite Ascent. Now, I learned that a lot of the mathematics that I am studying now is at most 4oo years old! And, much of what I’m studying this semester (including my research which I will talk about later) is at most 150-200 years old! That is absolutely astounding to me. The fact that so much of what I’m studying is so new and fresh excites me. I really have loved learning about so much of this history.

Now, one of my professors this semester is quite boring. He has a monotone voice and is slightly hard of hearing, I think. Many of my classmates complain he is a bad teacher (and he has his moments of being horrendous), but a lot of the things the complain about are things that simply need to be done. There are things we are asked to prove that are just obvious, yet, the proofs don’t come by easily all the time and so they complain. I feel I’m coming off as a prick sometimes, but for the first time EVER, I understand the importance of these “duh” proofs and showing work. I feel almost dirty saying it. I think a lot of it has come from the research I’ve done and the way I’ve handled past classes. I also really love what my Topology professor said last semester, “If you say ‘duh’, then it should be easy to prove. So prove it.”

Now, I mentioned my previous math experience may have something to do with my understanding. Well, freshman year of high school, I accelerated through mathematics. Specifically, Algebra II and Geometry. Now, I still had to take tests but the learning was all up to me. It was a sweet deal. I did enough to get by with Bs in both classes. There were concepts (especially in Algebra II) that I just didn’t understand. I scraped past them so I could do well enough on a test but chose not to really learn it. What would I need it for? One of those concepts was logirithms. I found out my mistake when Calculus rolled around. I did it in Modern Algebra as well with bijectivity. I scraped by with minimal understanding and had to crash course for my research last semester.

What my friends don’t understand is how important these simple concepts are. And yes, we can just state the definition and theorems, but you gain so much understanding in proving it. Yes, there are concepts that talk about the exact same thing, but in a different light. Well, one way may be more beneficial for one proof and another for a different proof. There are needs for all of these things. The moment you decide you won’t need something is the moment it will haunt you. Trust me.

Now, my research has taught me one very important thing about mathematics, especially modern mathematics: it is very field based. That is, we have certain concepts that break into all sorts of branches of mathematics, yet, each field may define it slightly differently or need to show it differently to use it. So, we may be repeating material, but it’s important until you know where you’re going to study. And even then it’s great to know so that you may be able to bridge a gap between fields on a concept or take a concept from one field and apply it to yours. It’s really a beautiful thing.

My research proposal to my adviser went better than I expected. I am hoping to plug into work that will not just be a simple one semester thing. Actually, the concept I want to study (the Riemann Hypothesis which has go 150 years without being proved true or false) will be a much longer endeavor. But, my research from last semester has ties into some of its concepts and it’s something that has interested since 5th grade when I learned what a prime number was (though, I didn’t know it then). I’m excited for my research and taking a couple classes (well, one class and a seminar) on concepts I enjoy and would probably study if I go to grad school. Needless to say, I’m excited and I’m finding this amazing new love for mathematics. I’ve jumped a step in understanding (not to say I always understand concepts easily) what mathematics really is. It’s just pure beauty. God definitely created math and is in the workings of it all.

Hodge-Podge

The way some charity work happens confuses me sometimes. Specifically, prize fundraisers or matches. Now, I should rephrase what I initially said. I understand why it works that way, but the need for that motivation is sad. I admit I fall into that a lot myself. I mean, seriously, I remember not that long ago a computer company would give underprivileged kids or third world countries or something like that  a computer when you bought one. So, either they overly priced your computer so they could afford it or they could just send them anyway. And the donation match? I mean, if you’ll match anything, just put up a sum yourself. Obviously you can give more than most so just put up a big number. Why are you dependent on what others are doing? Now, I understand that it motivates people to buy products or actually donate money or even donate more than they would have. I also understand there are tax benefits and the like. The sad thing, people are called to tithe (Malachi 3:10), yet we still expect something in return. Maybe it’s just the American mindset. I mean, I’m putting away money for my tithe right now. Yet, I plan on using my tithe at Riverside’s quilt auction. I’m giving the money, yes, but I’m also receiving something for it. It feels more like I’m buying something for a much higher price than I normally would. I could simply write Riverside a check. Just something I’ve been thinking about today.

Speaking about money, I’m also realizing I need to really start being more financially aware. My best friend and his girlfriend talked about that on New Year’s and the things the were going to do to “train” their lives in this responsibility. I realized how much I need to evaluate today. Now, I take 20% from every paycheck. 10% for tithe and 10% for savings. The savings was strongly motivated for future planning (be it a home, apartment, car, ring), but it’s keeping me in check as well. All-in-all, the money does “not” exist to me. However, I still have money. Now, I don’t make much and I’ve been getting jacked on hours, but I’ve had a little bit of extra cash. I bought some new filters (a certain percentage of the money spent goes to purifying third-world countries water…not why I bought them but furthers my previous point) because CF water is overly chlorinated and I can’t stand the taste anymore. Those cost me about $20 for 2 with s&h. Now, I’ve been really wanting to write more (specifically to friends) and I needed some stamps. I intelligently bought Forever Liberty stamps so I didn’t have to worry about the yearly cent increase, but 40 of those cost nearly $20. Now, are these bad? No. The filters I really probably could do without and the stamps are merely personal, but I still bought them. Why? Because I had the money. Valentine’s Day is coming up. I want to drive to Des Moines (and back) which is about a 1/2 to 2/3 a tank plus dinner. I know that may be about all I can afford. My budgeting isn’t leaving me with much left. I’m really thinking I need to save more and spend less (I know, sucks to do with this economy, but hey, I have a future to think about as well).

There are a few other things I still want to change in my life as well. I still need to work on reading more. This past week was really busy, but I had times I could’ve read and didn’t. I also want to eat healthier and workout more. I bought dumbells a year ago and used them quite a bit for a while. I stopped and haven’t gotten back into it since.  I also want to focus more on the things I enjoy. One of which is math. I may not know what to do the rest of my life, but I might as well enjoy my life now while I figure it out. A friend of mine recently said something that really made me feel better about it: Jesus didn’t start doing what he was supposed to until he was 30.

Back to the math stuff. I’ve been thinking a lot about research for this semester. My goal was to have something that I could possible get a grant for and do research this summer. But, I’m strongly considering working on a problem that is 150 years old and will probably not get an undergraduate (maybe not ever a PhD) a grant for. It falls right into the field of mathematics I enjoy and would probably do grad work in if I go. And it’s unlikely I’d solve it (at least anytime soon). We’ll see. I have a meeting with my adviser on Thursday. I’d also like to take a much more solo job on this next project. We will have to see. My life is beautifully chaotic right now. I just need to focus.

My Heart

I have two great passions right now: math and writing. Math, it seems, has always fascinated me and I love learning and doing it. If I had the money and time right now, I would buy text books and any other books I could find and sit down and read and learn. Math is so fascinating and fun.

I also want to take more time to write. It’s been nearly a month since my last blog. I hope to write more this semester. I hope to blog more, I hope to write on paper more, I hope to write more letters and I hope to use my typewriter some. I love writing. I don’t know why, but it’s a huge passion of mine.

The kicker: I do NOT want to write about math, at least in terms of a book about math. I will have no problem writing about my passion for it, but to write a book or even a paper (outside of a proof or something) on a mathematical concept or idea or history does not excite me. Oh, what am I going to do with my life?