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What can't be explained by maths, directly or indirectly.


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Posted

So, light can be explained by math by equations, heat can, water droplets can with surface tension, motion can be explained. What can't be, or is life just one big math equation?

Posted

There was a long discussion about this recently.

 

http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/72725-is-mathematics-alone-a-safe-medium-for-exploring-the-frontiers-of-science-or-should-observation-and-hypothesis-lead-in-front/

 

 

My answer is that yes, there are some technical subjects that cannot be described by mathematics.

These are often described by processes.

The example I gave was the mixing of concrete, which cannot be prescribed exactly in advance by mathematics. There is an element of 'add water until the consistency is as desired'

Another example is the colouring of squares by some cellular automata at successively reducing scales. It is imposiible to state the final colour of a point, it depends upon the scale.

Posted

Sorry, I didn't look, I had to get off when I posted it so I just quickly posted it. Won't do that again. Sorry, mods, you can delete this thread.

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