Who came up with different areas for math?

gmackematix

While at school, it is convenient to study shapes (geometry), numbers (arithmetic) and unknowns and variables (algebra) separately. As you study mathematics at a higher level, the boundaries between these categories blur but the need for categorisation is ever more important to navigate our way through the sea of complexity. The most general definition of maths (sorry if that abbreviation jars with Americans as much as "math" jars with me) is the study of patterns of structure, change and space. It is an immensely huge subject with thousands of new research papers on various topics within it coming out every year. More and more, mathematicians can spend a lifetime specialising in a narrow field and know little about what others may be studying in other mathemaical areas. As for it all being "basically the same thing", well, music is all basically just rhythmic vibrations so why subdivide it into pop, classical, jazz, folk, etc...? Dec 16 04, 7:40 PM

peasypod

I believe the Babylonians are partly to blame. Dec 16 04, 9:12 PM