29/05/2023
Mathematics is Discovered
For the most part, the beginning of many subdomains of mathematics took root because of an act of invention, but what was invented gave rise to a body of knowledge that has an innate structure and properties in itself. These structures were discovered by generations of mathematicians who devoted their thoughts and diligence to studying mathematics.
Euclidean geometry best exemplifies this development. The five postulates, for example, are an act of choice for Euclid to begin geometry. However, the collection of theorems the postulates gave rise to were discoveries. These were discoveries made by generations of mathematicians after Euclid who devoted themselves to geometry. By way of analogy, Euclid dug a hole in the soil and deliberately planted the seed of a mango tree when he could have planted the seed of a coconut tree instead.
A similar analogy applies to calculus and graph theory. The genesis of both calculus and graph theory must be directly credited to Newton, Leibnitz, and Euler, but the body of knowledge that now composes them are discoveries contributed by succeeding generations of mathematicians.
by Juan Apolinario Reyes, UNLIMITED BOOKS Library Services and Publishing Inc.
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