Yes, that's applied maths.... a trivial case of course but it fulfills the requirement.
Applied Mathematics v Mathematics.
Once a prick - always a prick.
[QUOTE=rover;280850]Applied Mathematics v Mathematics.
[/QUO the human hair size in diamiter is 0.003" what is that in mm?
Westside
Perhaps the best exploration of the difference between pure and applied mathematics is given in G H Hardy's book "The Mathematicians Apology". Hardy is famous for his quote that - "I have never done anything 'useful'. No discovery of mine has made, or is likely to make, directly or indirectly, for good or ill, the least difference to the amenity of the world." - in effect he is saying that his Mathematical work is entirely of a "pure" (i.e. theoretical) nature with no practical applications (i.e. "applied").
The irony is that much of Hardy's work (and, indeed many areas of pure mathematical research) have found extensive practical application. However, and this is I guess the key distinction, pure mathematicians do not pursue research for or in the hope of finding practical applications - if they do, great, but this is not the primary motivation. The motivation for pure research is more of an esoteric intellectual challenge.
As an aside, it is, perhaps, interesting to note that the 20th century has also seen the reverse process occurring where practical or experimental science has driven research in pure mathematics - for the interested reader (if any!) an example would be the initial work of Bohrs, Schrodinger et al in quatum mechanics leading Paul Dirac etc. to develop a comprehensive underlying Mathematical theory of Operators, Hilbert Spaces, QED etc.
Right, definitely time for a drink!
hd.
nicegirlsarenice (03-09-10)