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Is math a young man's game?

Anonymous Mon 27 Jan 07:24:07 2020 No.11335691 View Reply Original Report

Quoted By: >>11335731

>“No mathematician should ever allow himself to forget that mathematics, more than any other art or science, is a young man's game.”

What does /sci/ think of this quote? I'm particularly interested in the responses of college students majoring in math.

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 27 Jan 2020 07:31:34 No.11335699 Report

Quoted By: >>11335706 >>11335746

My raw mathematical ability, in the sense of being able to hold several variables in my head and explore a proof to a certain depth, peaked around 24. Since then I had to use experience to compensate for that lack of mental force, i.e. I recognise that certain proofs are similar to what I had previously proved or written and am able to adapt those techniques to the case at hand. But when I'm faced with something completely new, I struggle.

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 27 Jan 2020 07:37:24 No.11335706 Report

Quoted By:

>>11335699
Same :-(
Wish I were more career-focused in my 20s.

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 27 Jan 2020 07:52:40 No.11335731 Report

Quoted By: >>11335739

>>11335691
Personally I've started to understand math concepts much better now that I'm older, whereas in younger years I was a total brainlet at it. Sure I'll never become a great mathematician, but my point is that it is not imposible if you devote effort to improve.

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 27 Jan 2020 07:55:45 No.11335739 Report

Quoted By: >>11335764 >>11335801

>>11335731
He’s talking about peak quantitative and logical-symbolic reasoning which are both tied to fluid intelligence, and this tends to peak around 19-23 years old give or take a few years. I don’t buy that the greatest mathematical accomplishments are typical around this period only that the most efficient period of learning and mastery occur during this period for people with the requisite baseline intelligence to do higher maths. You are fleshing out a very underdeveloped and already decreasing potential not exceeding your genotypic limits.

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 27 Jan 2020 08:02:32 No.11335746 Report

Quoted By:

>>11335699
OP here. In my opinion, I think that the older a man gets he has never been more at his prime. I wanted to see how much truth this quote holds. Unfortunately, the context of which this quote was written has been lost to history, so I cannot provide much insight there.

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 27 Jan 2020 08:12:26 No.11335764 Report

Quoted By:

>>11335739
I think you are right, but I believe underdeveloped types can sometimes compensate in novel ways. Mathematics isn't a sport. It is much more open. When it is something as worthwhile as mathematics, if they are deeply motivated, I believe that they ought to try.

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 27 Jan 2020 08:36:01 No.11335801 Report

Quoted By:

>>11335739
>He’s talking about peak quantitative and logical-symbolic reasoning which are both tied to fluid intelligence, and this tends to peak around 19-23 years old
I believe logical-symbolic reasoning can be trained and learning mathematics a good way to do this. The speed of which this learning happens statistically slows down (linearly and leisurely) when we age, but this doesn't mean that we can't learn foreign and advanced material in advanced age. I believe a part of the reason why young mathematicians do the most novel work is that their learning is fresh. Have you experienced this effect? Marrying new skills and knowledge takes you on a wonderful honeymoon where you explore your bride to the fullest.

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