Talk:Mathematics/FAQ

Below are answers to frequently asked questions about the corresponding page Mathematics. They address concerns, questions, and misconceptions which have repeatedly arisen on the talk page. Please feel free to change this material in light of new discussion.

What citations style are you using?[edit]

The citation style we are aiming for is the one used in the 0.999... article. The inline citations are either an author's name, or a quote with the author's name and the references contains the work. This approach is nice because it puts the references in one place and it removes clutter from the body of the article. It is also easy to cite a work multiple times with different page numbers. The order and naming of the end sections follow Wikipedia:Guide_to_layout#Standard_appendices.

The citation style is a slightly modified form of Harvard referencing.

Why don't you give a proper definition of math as a science like the Encyclopaedia Britannica?[edit]

Whether math is a science is an issue that does not need to be treated in the lead section; we can just choose a neutral word, like "study" or "discipline", and defer the question to later in the article.

What is a notable theorem or conjecture?[edit]

A theorem or conjecture is notable if it should be mentioned in a general encyclopedia.
It is one that has been mentioned in the news or is taught in schools in a standard curriculum.
It is one that has historical significance or is associated with interesting personalities.
It is one for which a prize has been awarded.

At what technical level is the article written?[edit]

This article is an overview of mathematics that introduces all of its branches.
Branch articles get progressively more technical as they become more specific.

I'm not a mathematician. Where should I start reading to learn more about the subject?[edit]

The mathematics article introduces you to the subject.

This is the end of the FAQ section[edit]

Please put new FAQ entries above this section and append discussion to the end of this page.

Discussion about the FAQ[edit]

What do you think? Feel free to edit the FAQ area, but keep in mind that it should reflect the consensus or disagreement already achieved in the discussion pages. All new arguments should be presented there! --Vesal 12:01, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

But surely Mathematics is a Science[edit]

We are not that sure. <And this is the reason>