Will Math Ever Stop Using Paper? [closed]
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This is an odd question, yet I must still inquire: will math ever stop using paper? In the writing industry, paper is dead; we do all our writing on computers. Yet with all of mathematics' complex symbols and equations, I don't doubt that we must continue to write them out on paper. Writing is so efficient on computers, but math equations are slow and monotonous to type out. At the same time, are there better ways to do math?
EDIT: According to some of these comments, I should have been more clear. I do indeed mean before the earth is swallowed up by the sun.
education math-history article-writing
asked Nov 19 at 18:12
Little Boy Blue
1094
closed as off-topic by TheGeekGreek, amWhy, Will Jagy, Rebellos, Jack M Nov 19 at 19:27
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "This question is not about mathematics, within the scope defined in the help center." – amWhy, Will Jagy, Rebellos, Jack M
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
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This is an odd question, yet I must still inquire: will math ever stop using paper? In the writing industry, paper is dead; we do all our writing on computers. Yet with all of mathematics' complex symbols and equations, I don't doubt that we must continue to write them out on paper. Writing is so efficient on computers, but math equations are slow and monotonous to type out. At the same time, are there better ways to do math?
EDIT: According to some of these comments, I should have been more clear. I do indeed mean before the earth is swallowed up by the sun.
education math-history article-writing
asked Nov 19 at 18:12
Little Boy Blue
1094
closed as off-topic by TheGeekGreek, amWhy, Will Jagy, Rebellos, Jack M Nov 19 at 19:27
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "This question is not about mathematics, within the scope defined in the help center." – amWhy, Will Jagy, Rebellos, Jack M
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
7
You mean, before or after the heat death of the universe?
– Servaes
Nov 19 at 18:14
5
Ever heard of $LaTeX$?
– TheGeekGreek
Nov 19 at 18:14
3
@TheGeekGreek Knowledge of LaTeX does not imply that you no longer make all your fast scribbling and graphics on your paper napkin during lunch ...
– Hagen von Eitzen
Nov 19 at 18:16
3
For beginners, there is real value in practicing drawing graphs such as $y = x^3 - 3 x$ by hand, on graph paper. It gives concrete meaning to later calculus studies.
– Will Jagy
Nov 19 at 18:26
2
Certainly as long as I live I will use paper for sketching and rough work before typing it up. I also use paper for my writing as well to make outlines and organize my thoughts. Math was done before paper existed though and I don't see it being required, just useful.
– CyclotomicField
Nov 19 at 18:33
|
show 2 more comments
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
This is an odd question, yet I must still inquire: will math ever stop using paper? In the writing industry, paper is dead; we do all our writing on computers. Yet with all of mathematics' complex symbols and equations, I don't doubt that we must continue to write them out on paper. Writing is so efficient on computers, but math equations are slow and monotonous to type out. At the same time, are there better ways to do math?
EDIT: According to some of these comments, I should have been more clear. I do indeed mean before the earth is swallowed up by the sun.
education math-history article-writing
asked Nov 19 at 18:12
Little Boy Blue
1094
This is an odd question, yet I must still inquire: will math ever stop using paper? In the writing industry, paper is dead; we do all our writing on computers. Yet with all of mathematics' complex symbols and equations, I don't doubt that we must continue to write them out on paper. Writing is so efficient on computers, but math equations are slow and monotonous to type out. At the same time, are there better ways to do math?
EDIT: According to some of these comments, I should have been more clear. I do indeed mean before the earth is swallowed up by the sun.
education math-history article-writing
education math-history article-writing
asked Nov 19 at 18:12
Little Boy Blue
1094
asked Nov 19 at 18:12
Little Boy Blue
1094
edited Nov 19 at 18:25
asked Nov 19 at 18:12
Little Boy Blue
1094
asked Nov 19 at 18:12
Little Boy Blue
1094
asked Nov 19 at 18:12
Little Boy Blue
1094
1094
closed as off-topic by TheGeekGreek, amWhy, Will Jagy, Rebellos, Jack M Nov 19 at 19:27
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "This question is not about mathematics, within the scope defined in the help center." – amWhy, Will Jagy, Rebellos, Jack M
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
closed as off-topic by TheGeekGreek, amWhy, Will Jagy, Rebellos, Jack M Nov 19 at 19:27
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "This question is not about mathematics, within the scope defined in the help center." – amWhy, Will Jagy, Rebellos, Jack M
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
7
You mean, before or after the heat death of the universe?
– Servaes
Nov 19 at 18:14
5
Ever heard of $LaTeX$?
– TheGeekGreek
Nov 19 at 18:14
3
@TheGeekGreek Knowledge of LaTeX does not imply that you no longer make all your fast scribbling and graphics on your paper napkin during lunch ...
– Hagen von Eitzen
Nov 19 at 18:16
3
For beginners, there is real value in practicing drawing graphs such as $y = x^3 - 3 x$ by hand, on graph paper. It gives concrete meaning to later calculus studies.
– Will Jagy
Nov 19 at 18:26
2
Certainly as long as I live I will use paper for sketching and rough work before typing it up. I also use paper for my writing as well to make outlines and organize my thoughts. Math was done before paper existed though and I don't see it being required, just useful.
– CyclotomicField
Nov 19 at 18:33
|
show 2 more comments
7
You mean, before or after the heat death of the universe?
– Servaes
Nov 19 at 18:14
5
Ever heard of $LaTeX$?
– TheGeekGreek
Nov 19 at 18:14
3
@TheGeekGreek Knowledge of LaTeX does not imply that you no longer make all your fast scribbling and graphics on your paper napkin during lunch ...
– Hagen von Eitzen
Nov 19 at 18:16
3
For beginners, there is real value in practicing drawing graphs such as $y = x^3 - 3 x$ by hand, on graph paper. It gives concrete meaning to later calculus studies.
– Will Jagy
Nov 19 at 18:26
2
Certainly as long as I live I will use paper for sketching and rough work before typing it up. I also use paper for my writing as well to make outlines and organize my thoughts. Math was done before paper existed though and I don't see it being required, just useful.
– CyclotomicField
Nov 19 at 18:33
7
7
You mean, before or after the heat death of the universe?
– Servaes
Nov 19 at 18:14
You mean, before or after the heat death of the universe?
– Servaes
Nov 19 at 18:14
5
5
Ever heard of $LaTeX$?
– TheGeekGreek
Nov 19 at 18:14
Ever heard of $LaTeX$?
– TheGeekGreek
Nov 19 at 18:14
3
3
@TheGeekGreek Knowledge of LaTeX does not imply that you no longer make all your fast scribbling and graphics on your paper napkin during lunch ...
– Hagen von Eitzen
Nov 19 at 18:16
@TheGeekGreek Knowledge of LaTeX does not imply that you no longer make all your fast scribbling and graphics on your paper napkin during lunch ...
– Hagen von Eitzen
Nov 19 at 18:16
3
3
For beginners, there is real value in practicing drawing graphs such as $y = x^3 - 3 x$ by hand, on graph paper. It gives concrete meaning to later calculus studies.
– Will Jagy
Nov 19 at 18:26
For beginners, there is real value in practicing drawing graphs such as $y = x^3 - 3 x$ by hand, on graph paper. It gives concrete meaning to later calculus studies.
– Will Jagy
Nov 19 at 18:26
2
2
Certainly as long as I live I will use paper for sketching and rough work before typing it up. I also use paper for my writing as well to make outlines and organize my thoughts. Math was done before paper existed though and I don't see it being required, just useful.
– CyclotomicField
Nov 19 at 18:33
Certainly as long as I live I will use paper for sketching and rough work before typing it up. I also use paper for my writing as well to make outlines and organize my thoughts. Math was done before paper existed though and I don't see it being required, just useful.
– CyclotomicField
Nov 19 at 18:33
|
show 2 more comments
1 Answer
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Mathematics isn't particularly unique on this front.
While professional writers are often typing out their work and yet occasionally when you are driven to jot down an inspired idea you just reach for the closest writing instrument. Computer, Napkin, Journal, your hand, whatever.
My experience has been that professional mathematicians are very much the same way. All communication between professionals is basically typed. The symbols required are not really much of an issue given our typesetting languages. We use latex here (And so do all mathematicians really) and I can produce the oddest of symbols pretty darn quickly.
$$int_0^r{(r^m-x^m)^{1/m}dx}=frac{Gammaleft(frac{1}{m}+1right)Gammaleft(frac{1}{m}+1right)}{Gammaleft(frac{2}{m}+1right)}r^2$$
Integrals and greek letters are pretty tame in comparison to what the technology is capable of...
Anyway just like the writing industry the fact that we CAN communicate very efficiently via computers doesn't really stop most mathematicians from asking the waiter for a pen so we can jot a thought down on the back of a napkin before the thought is lost into the ether...
Paper writing isn't going away for either discipline. But correspondence is now almost exclusive digital for both disciplines.
answered Nov 19 at 18:50
Mason
1,8191427
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
1
down vote
accepted
Mathematics isn't particularly unique on this front.
While professional writers are often typing out their work and yet occasionally when you are driven to jot down an inspired idea you just reach for the closest writing instrument. Computer, Napkin, Journal, your hand, whatever.
My experience has been that professional mathematicians are very much the same way. All communication between professionals is basically typed. The symbols required are not really much of an issue given our typesetting languages. We use latex here (And so do all mathematicians really) and I can produce the oddest of symbols pretty darn quickly.
$$int_0^r{(r^m-x^m)^{1/m}dx}=frac{Gammaleft(frac{1}{m}+1right)Gammaleft(frac{1}{m}+1right)}{Gammaleft(frac{2}{m}+1right)}r^2$$
Integrals and greek letters are pretty tame in comparison to what the technology is capable of...
Anyway just like the writing industry the fact that we CAN communicate very efficiently via computers doesn't really stop most mathematicians from asking the waiter for a pen so we can jot a thought down on the back of a napkin before the thought is lost into the ether...
Paper writing isn't going away for either discipline. But correspondence is now almost exclusive digital for both disciplines.
answered Nov 19 at 18:50
Mason
1,8191427
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
accepted
Mathematics isn't particularly unique on this front.
While professional writers are often typing out their work and yet occasionally when you are driven to jot down an inspired idea you just reach for the closest writing instrument. Computer, Napkin, Journal, your hand, whatever.
My experience has been that professional mathematicians are very much the same way. All communication between professionals is basically typed. The symbols required are not really much of an issue given our typesetting languages. We use latex here (And so do all mathematicians really) and I can produce the oddest of symbols pretty darn quickly.
$$int_0^r{(r^m-x^m)^{1/m}dx}=frac{Gammaleft(frac{1}{m}+1right)Gammaleft(frac{1}{m}+1right)}{Gammaleft(frac{2}{m}+1right)}r^2$$
Integrals and greek letters are pretty tame in comparison to what the technology is capable of...
Anyway just like the writing industry the fact that we CAN communicate very efficiently via computers doesn't really stop most mathematicians from asking the waiter for a pen so we can jot a thought down on the back of a napkin before the thought is lost into the ether...
Paper writing isn't going away for either discipline. But correspondence is now almost exclusive digital for both disciplines.
answered Nov 19 at 18:50
Mason
1,8191427
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
accepted
up vote
1
down vote
accepted
Mathematics isn't particularly unique on this front.
While professional writers are often typing out their work and yet occasionally when you are driven to jot down an inspired idea you just reach for the closest writing instrument. Computer, Napkin, Journal, your hand, whatever.
My experience has been that professional mathematicians are very much the same way. All communication between professionals is basically typed. The symbols required are not really much of an issue given our typesetting languages. We use latex here (And so do all mathematicians really) and I can produce the oddest of symbols pretty darn quickly.
$$int_0^r{(r^m-x^m)^{1/m}dx}=frac{Gammaleft(frac{1}{m}+1right)Gammaleft(frac{1}{m}+1right)}{Gammaleft(frac{2}{m}+1right)}r^2$$
Integrals and greek letters are pretty tame in comparison to what the technology is capable of...
Anyway just like the writing industry the fact that we CAN communicate very efficiently via computers doesn't really stop most mathematicians from asking the waiter for a pen so we can jot a thought down on the back of a napkin before the thought is lost into the ether...
Paper writing isn't going away for either discipline. But correspondence is now almost exclusive digital for both disciplines.
answered Nov 19 at 18:50
Mason
1,8191427
Mathematics isn't particularly unique on this front.
While professional writers are often typing out their work and yet occasionally when you are driven to jot down an inspired idea you just reach for the closest writing instrument. Computer, Napkin, Journal, your hand, whatever.
My experience has been that professional mathematicians are very much the same way. All communication between professionals is basically typed. The symbols required are not really much of an issue given our typesetting languages. We use latex here (And so do all mathematicians really) and I can produce the oddest of symbols pretty darn quickly.
$$int_0^r{(r^m-x^m)^{1/m}dx}=frac{Gammaleft(frac{1}{m}+1right)Gammaleft(frac{1}{m}+1right)}{Gammaleft(frac{2}{m}+1right)}r^2$$
Integrals and greek letters are pretty tame in comparison to what the technology is capable of...
Anyway just like the writing industry the fact that we CAN communicate very efficiently via computers doesn't really stop most mathematicians from asking the waiter for a pen so we can jot a thought down on the back of a napkin before the thought is lost into the ether...
Paper writing isn't going away for either discipline. But correspondence is now almost exclusive digital for both disciplines.
answered Nov 19 at 18:50
Mason
1,8191427
answered Nov 19 at 18:50
Mason
1,8191427
answered Nov 19 at 18:50
Mason
1,8191427
answered Nov 19 at 18:50
Mason
1,8191427
1,8191427
add a comment |
add a comment |
7
You mean, before or after the heat death of the universe?
– Servaes
Nov 19 at 18:14
5
Ever heard of $LaTeX$?
– TheGeekGreek
Nov 19 at 18:14
3
@TheGeekGreek Knowledge of LaTeX does not imply that you no longer make all your fast scribbling and graphics on your paper napkin during lunch ...
– Hagen von Eitzen
Nov 19 at 18:16
3
For beginners, there is real value in practicing drawing graphs such as $y = x^3 - 3 x$ by hand, on graph paper. It gives concrete meaning to later calculus studies.
– Will Jagy
Nov 19 at 18:26
2
Certainly as long as I live I will use paper for sketching and rough work before typing it up. I also use paper for my writing as well to make outlines and organize my thoughts. Math was done before paper existed though and I don't see it being required, just useful.
– CyclotomicField
Nov 19 at 18:33