Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Mathematics
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To view an explanation to the answer, click on the [show] link to the right of the question. Are Wikipedia's mathematics articles targeted at professional mathematicians?
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Abstraction is a fundamental part of mathematics. Even the concept of a number is an abstraction. Comprehensive articles may be forced to use abstract language because that language is the only language available to give a correct and thorough description of their topic. Because of this, some parts of some articles may not be accessible to readers without a lot of mathematical background. If you believe that an article is overly abstract, then please leave a detailed comment on the talk page. If you can provide a more down-to-earth exposition, then you are welcome to add that to the article. Why don't Wikipedia's mathematics articles define or link all of the terms they use?
Sometimes editors leave out definitions or links that they believe will distract the reader. If you believe that a mathematics article would be more clear with an additional definition or link, please add to the article. If you are not able to do so yourself, ask for assistance on the article's talk page. Why don't many mathematics articles start with a definition?
We try to make mathematics articles as accessible to the largest likely audience as possible. In order to achieve this, often an intuitive explanation of something precedes a rigorous definition. The first few paragraphs of an article (called the lead) are supposed to provide an accessible summary of the article appropriate to the target audience. Depending on the target audience, it may or may not be appropriate to include any formal details in the lead, and these are often put into a dedicated section of the article. If you believe that the article would benefit from having more formal details in the lead, please add them or discuss the matter on the article's talk page. Why don't mathematics articles include lists of prerequisites?
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It would be much appreciated if people could read the Emmy Noether article and check for statements that are unclear, under-cited, or otherwise unbecoming the encyclopedia project. XOR'easter (talk) 22:06, 12 October 2024 (UTC)
- For those more knowledgeable with the subject matter than I am, the two sections that may need some more citations the most are the ones on ascending and descending chain conditions and algebraic invariant theory. Sgubaldo (talk) 23:29, 12 October 2024 (UTC)
- My impression from working on the article previously was that everything discussed in it is addressed in the references already present (and for a math topic, having a clickly blue linky number for each sentence doesn't necessarily go further to satisfying WP:V than having one per subsection). But this would be a good opportunity to point readers at references that are particularly good. Anybody have favorite books about either of those? XOR'easter (talk) 18:30, 13 October 2024 (UTC)
- The section on algebraic invariant theory doesn't make enough contact with Noether's work in the area, which was eclipsed by that of Hilbert. Both the Rowe and Dick source describe her dissertation done under Gordan, which was devoted to symbolic computation of invariants, and in fact a later source of some embarrassment. The section would benefit by emphasizing this, and summarizing the sources better (and referring to them). Tito Omburo (talk) 19:33, 13 October 2024 (UTC)
- Care to tackle that? I could try, but I'm not sure when I'll have an uninterrupted block of time long enough. XOR'easter (talk) 21:00, 13 October 2024 (UTC)
- @Sgubaldo, @Tito Omburo, @XOR'easter. The discussion now is into FARC: one delist and one keep. I have found some of the unsourced sections after looking up at its content. Dedhert.Jr (talk) 11:55, 29 October 2024 (UTC)
- Care to tackle that? I could try, but I'm not sure when I'll have an uninterrupted block of time long enough. XOR'easter (talk) 21:00, 13 October 2024 (UTC)
- The section on algebraic invariant theory doesn't make enough contact with Noether's work in the area, which was eclipsed by that of Hilbert. Both the Rowe and Dick source describe her dissertation done under Gordan, which was devoted to symbolic computation of invariants, and in fact a later source of some embarrassment. The section would benefit by emphasizing this, and summarizing the sources better (and referring to them). Tito Omburo (talk) 19:33, 13 October 2024 (UTC)
- My impression from working on the article previously was that everything discussed in it is addressed in the references already present (and for a math topic, having a clickly blue linky number for each sentence doesn't necessarily go further to satisfying WP:V than having one per subsection). But this would be a good opportunity to point readers at references that are particularly good. Anybody have favorite books about either of those? XOR'easter (talk) 18:30, 13 October 2024 (UTC)
- As an update to this, there's now 13 citation needed tags left to take care of. 5 are specifically in the ascending and descending chain conditions section. Sgubaldo (talk) 15:29, 3 November 2024 (UTC)
- Thanks. XOR'easter (talk) 17:21, 4 November 2024 (UTC)
- The first epoch of algebraic invariant theory says "an example, if a rigid yardstick is rotated, the coordinates (x1, y1, z1) and (x2, y2, z2) of its endpoints change ...". How is this related to the article but does not explicitly says about that example? Dedhert.Jr (talk) 07:25, 5 November 2024 (UTC)
- I think that line was just trying to explain what "invariant" means. I trimmed the notation, since we don't use it later. 10 {{citation needed}} tags remain. XOR'easter (talk) 21:35, 10 November 2024 (UTC)
- Needed: a readable introduction to algebraic invariant theory, and likewise for ascending/descending chain conditions. XOR'easter (talk) 20:17, 15 November 2024 (UTC)
- I've reached out to an algebraist colleage to ask for assistance. --JBL (talk) 21:03, 16 November 2024 (UTC)
- The first epoch of algebraic invariant theory says "an example, if a rigid yardstick is rotated, the coordinates (x1, y1, z1) and (x2, y2, z2) of its endpoints change ...". How is this related to the article but does not explicitly says about that example? Dedhert.Jr (talk) 07:25, 5 November 2024 (UTC)
- I've done the cn tag relating to Abstrakter Aufbau der Idealtheorie in algebraischen Zahl- und Funktionenkörpern, which was mentioned in the FAR. I have a question about one of the sentences in that paragraph. Full disclosure that I am not familiar with much abstract algebra. The sentence currently reads "...the Dedekind domains:[1] integral domains that are Noetherian, 0- or 1-dimensional, and integrally closed in their quotient fields.[2]" and defines Dedekind domains.
- This is what Page 13 of Noether, 1983 (collected papers) says (formatted slightly for brevity):
In Abstrakter Aufbau der Idealtheorie ... Noether gave the first characterization of the class of rings now known as Dedekind rings: the commutative rings in which factorization of ideals as products of prime ideals holds. She showed that the following conditions were necessary and sufficient for the validity of the prime ideal factorization theorem:
I – The ascending chain condition for ideals.; II – The descending chain condition modulo every non-zero ideal.; III – Existence of a unit element.; IV – Non-existence of zero divisors.; V – Integral closure in the field of fractions.- This is what Page 96 of Rowe, 2021 says:
In [Noether 1927a], Emmy Noether was able to give a general proof of Dedekind’s fundamental theorem and its converse on the basis of five axioms for a Dedekind ring. In her earlier paper [Noether 1921b], “Theory of Ideals in Ring Domains,” she introduced a general concept for rings that merely had to satisfy one axiom: the ascending chain condition. This acc now became Axiom 1 in [Noether 1927a] and its counterpart, the descending chain condition (dcc), was formulated as Axiom 2. She had not, however, explicitly stated that the ring R must possess an identity element for multiplication. Pavel Urysohn brought this oversight to her attention in 1923, and so she introduced this as Axiom 3, while pointing out that Urysohn had alerted her to it [Noether 1927a, 494]. Axiom 4 further stipulates that the ring must have no zero divisors. Finally, Axiom 5 introduces the decisive condition that the ring R must be algebraically closed in its associated quotient field (i.e. the smallest field that contains R). These are the five axioms for a Dedekind ring found in textbooks today.
- I wanted to change it to something like "... Dedekind domains. Noether showed that five conditions were necessary for this to be valid: the rings have to satisfy the ascending and descending chain conditions, they must possess a unit element, but no zero divisors, and they must be integrally closed in their associated quotient fields.[3][1]" but I was worried it was either wrong or redundant. Sgubaldo (talk) 21:25, 18 November 2024 (UTC) Sgubaldo (talk) 21:25, 18 November 2024 (UTC)
- The current version is heavy on modern terminology. I suggest "the ideals have unique factorization into prime ideals (now called Dedekind domains). Noether showed that these rings were characterized by five conditions: they must satisfy the ascending and descending chain conditions, they must possess a unit element but no zero divisors, and they must be integrally closed in their associated fields of fractions." + appropriate wikilinks. --JBL (talk) 23:39, 19 November 2024 (UTC)
- Done, thanks. Sgubaldo (talk) 00:24, 20 November 2024 (UTC)
- The current version is heavy on modern terminology. I suggest "the ideals have unique factorization into prime ideals (now called Dedekind domains). Noether showed that these rings were characterized by five conditions: they must satisfy the ascending and descending chain conditions, they must possess a unit element but no zero divisors, and they must be integrally closed in their associated fields of fractions." + appropriate wikilinks. --JBL (talk) 23:39, 19 November 2024 (UTC)
- Thanks. XOR'easter (talk) 17:21, 4 November 2024 (UTC)
- Update: citation needed tags are down to 5. Per XOR'easter's message above, two are in the the algebraic invariant theory section and two are under the acc and dcc section. The algebraic invariant theory section, or perhaps both, could do with a better introduction. Sgubaldo (talk) 19:16, 21 November 2024 (UTC)
References
- ^ a b Noether 1983, p. 13.
- ^ Atiyah & MacDonald 1994, pp. 93–95.
- ^ Rowe 2021, p. 96.
Locally Recoverable Codes
[edit]Recently, I published my first Wikipedia page about Locally Recoverable Codes, which are linear codes from a family of error correction codes, and it is still an orphan article. If someone can help improve this, I would highly appreciate it. Yaroslav-Marta (talk) 02:14, 15 November 2024 (UTC)
- I suggest you expand the article slightly with a section built out of the first 5 references. It might be called "Overview" (before Definition) or "Relation to error correction codes" (just after Definition). In this section set the context. One sentence for the orients general readers on what an error correction code is and then more content how this article relates to error correction codes. Especially look for related error correction code topics which have articles. Then go into those articles and link this one in See Also or better in an appropriate sentence with a ref in the other article. Presto not an orphan. Johnjbarton (talk) 02:41, 15 November 2024 (UTC)
- Ok, thank you. Yaroslav-Marta (talk) 13:55, 18 November 2024 (UTC)
I fixed the title and some capitalization per our conventions; I haven't made any substantive edits to the article. --Trovatore (talk) 02:59, 15 November 2024 (UTC)- Thank you. Yaroslav-Marta (talk) 13:56, 18 November 2024 (UTC)
- @Yaroslav-Marta: I see we have an article titled locally decodable code. I can't immediately tell whether this is the same thing (in which case the articles should be merged), or a closely related topic, in which case you might be able to de-orphanize yours by linking from there. --Trovatore (talk) 03:16, 15 November 2024 (UTC)
- This is a different type of codes, but I might refer my article from it I think. Yaroslav-Marta (talk) 13:56, 18 November 2024 (UTC)
- Hi, Yaroslav-Marta! Nice job with the article. For further improvement, please see the Manual of Style guidance on direct speach use: MOS:WE & MOS:YOU. For example, "Observe that we constructed an optimal LRC;" at the end of the Example of Tamo–Barg construction section could be better said in passive voice as "The constructed LRC is optimal;". If you want to show some kind a proof, you might add "because ...(a reference to the criterion of optimality)", or say something like "It can be shown the LRC obtained is optimal" and then follow with a proof. --CiaPan (talk) 09:06, 21 November 2024 (UTC)
- I wouldn't take MOS:WE too strictly in the context of mathematics articles. As mentioned there, the so-called "author's we" is used extensively in mathematical and other technical writing, and is generally fine (though is certainly not required). –jacobolus (t) 19:32, 21 November 2024 (UTC)
Someone changed the article's title from "Locally Recoverable Codes", which is incorrect under WP:MOS, to "Locally recoverable code", which conforms to WP:MOS. I fixed three links from other articles so that they link to the correct title, and I deleted the "orphan" tag. Michael Hardy (talk) 03:42, 28 November 2024 (UTC)
Scope of List of theorems
[edit]I raised some questions at Talk:List of theorems#Scope of this list last month. There haven't been any comments there, but I suspect not many people watch that page. Thus, I'm drawing attention to those questions here in the hope that this is where more people with an interest in that list can be found. Joseph Myers (talk) 20:33, 19 November 2024 (UTC)
If anyone here wants to contribute to this new stub, please do! Geometry guy 01:54, 24 November 2024 (UTC)
Request for opinion on edit to List of Mersenne primes
[edit]On 3 November, I made two edits Special:Diff/1255182695 and Special:Diff/1255197206 which were promptly reverted Special:Diff/1255250737 by Szelma W (talk · contribs). On 5 November, I created Talk:List of Mersenne primes and perfect numbers#Recent reversion - is anything salvageable? to discuss the matter, as the revert's edit summary "It was better" didn't really give me a lot to go on.
The problem is, that editor normally edits about once a week with occasional longer gaps, but it's approaching 3 weeks now and they haven't been around to expand on those words. That in itself is not grounds for me to take offence; presumably their Real Life got busy and WP:NOT#Wikipedia is not compulsory.
But I'd like to discuss it with someone before just un-reverting. Is anyone up to having a look at those edits (particularly the larger second one) and their justification on the talk page, and expressing an opinion? Note that this is not the usual after-lengthy-debate request for a 3rd opinion; in this case there has been almost no debate and there are no hurt feelings to worry about. You're free to make your own edit in lieu of any of the available versions, or give me some advice or whatever you like. I just don't trust my own judgment on what's an improvement in this particular case.
Thank you very much!
(I'm sure that re-reading my own edit after three weeks, I'll find something to improve, but I've avoided doing that so far since adding a third version to the discussion is of no use until there's a discussion to add it to.) 97.102.205.224 (talk) 07:02, 24 November 2024 (UTC)
- One question from me: why would you break the whole paragraph into several pieces? For example, the first paragraph is meant to be a basic explanation of the background of the Mersenne primes and perfect numbers briefly, with the target started for the audience who did not understand anything about those classes of numbers; the second one is meant to the next step advanced level to understand more about the relationship between those numbers. Breaking them up into several paragraphs, just like you did in your edits, was meant to be each paragraph with overlapping topics between two classes as in the second paragraph you wrote about the perfect numbers and Euler proved the relationship between Mersenne primes and even perfect numbers, with this and that and this and that ... Dedhert.Jr (talk) 04:29, 29 November 2024 (UTC)
WikiProject RS guideline
[edit]Is there a dedicated page for WP:WPM's guidelines on reliable sources?
I came across Pairing function which heavily cites MathWorld - I am guessing the reason the page has been littered with {{vfn}}
s wherever MathWorld is cited is due to MathWorld's unverifiability? I see there were discussions on similar topics back in 2012. (See also.) I'm sure many more have occured before and since. I've also seen discussions on reliability of math.stackexchange and mathoverflow citations.
I understand that the material in such a 'MathRS' page risks repeating what is better written elsewhere. However, it seems it would be worthwhile to collect relevant pages, especially if they are presented in a tailored fashion for this WikiProject. Tule-hog (talk) 17:58, 28 November 2024 (UTC)
- I think I was looking for Wikipedia:WikiProject_Mathematics/Reference_resources, where it says MathWorld is to be treated as a reliable source. I will remove the
{{vfn}}
from Pairing function where I can confirm the validity of the citation. Tule-hog (talk) 18:03, 28 November 2024 (UTC)- That page is very old. I would definitely NOT trust MathWorld on terminology and would look for a better source than it for everything else.
- The other advice I would give is to avoid mathematics journals that are not indexed by MathSciNet or zbMATH, and to treat arXiv preprints as self-published sources rather than reliably peer-reviewed. —David Eppstein (talk) 19:00, 28 November 2024 (UTC)
- I made an attempt to express a more up-to-date consensus in this advice page. XOR'easter (talk) 20:51, 29 November 2024 (UTC)
Requested move at Talk:Attitude (psychology)#Requested move 23 November 2024
[edit]There is a requested move discussion at Talk:Attitude (psychology)#Requested move 23 November 2024 that may be of interest to members of this WikiProject. Raladic (talk) 18:50, 30 November 2024 (UTC)