We will conduct a learning seminar in Spring 2025 on the book, The Structure of Finite Algebras, by David Hobby and Ralph McKenzie.
The structure of finite algebras
Thu, Jan. 30 12:05pm (MATH …
Kempner
Tadashi Tokieda (Dept of Physics, Stanford University)
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Humans tend to be better at physics than at mathematics. When an apple falls from a tree, there are more people who can catch it — they sense physically how the apple moves — than people who can compute its trajectory from a differential equation. Applying physical ideas to discover and explain mathematical results is therefore natural, even if it has seldom been tried in the history of science. The exceptions include Archimedes, some old Russian sources, a recent book of Mark Levi’s, as well as my articles and lectures. A variety of elementary yet surprising examples will be presented.
The structure of finite algebras