1.2 Recognizing mathematics
You were asked to consider what mathematics means to you as you study this course. Should you continue your studies your ideas about mathematics will develop and change. In this sub-section, you will continue to think about the nature of mathematics as you look at four very different pieces of mathematical writing.
All four pieces of writing are instantly recognizable as mathematics. Some can be easily understood but others are much more difficult. Please do not worry about that for the moment. The four pieces of writing have been chosen with some care in order to make particular points about the nature of mathematics.
Activity 5 Yes, but is it maths?
On the next few screens you will see four pieces of writing labelled Examples 1, 2, 3 and 4.
In later activities you will be asked to read each of them in detail but for now spend no more than a minute looking at each one. Identify what it is that indicates that this is mathematical writing and decide what sort of mathematics is being used.
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