Why Math is the “Language of the Universe”:

In response to : http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/why-math-is-the-language-of-the-universe/

Why Math is the "Language of the Universe":

First, lets start off with a few quotes

“Mathematics is the language with which God has written the universe.”
― Galileo Galilei

"Number rules the universe."
―Pythagoras

"Go down deep enough into anything and you will find mathematics."
―Dean Schlicter

 "Mathematics directs the flow of the universe, lurks behind its shapes and curves and holds the reins of everything from tiny atoms, to the biggest stars."
― Edward Frenkel

“The interaction between math and physics is a two-way process, with each of the two subjects drawing from and inspiring the other. At different times, one of them may take the lead in developing a particular idea, only to yield to the other subject as focus shifts. But altogether, the two interact in a virtuous circle of mutual influence.”
― Edward Frenkel


The latter quote especially emphasizes the distinction between physics and mathematics. Both influence each other, but more importantly is being able to describe the physical with math. The fact that we as humans are smart enough to take what we saw thousands of years ago with just our eyes and create this abstract idea called mathematics is astonishing. Euclid was only armed with a straightedge and a compass in his book Elements in which he laid the foundations to geometry that we still use today. Throughout history it seems that every once in a while, someone sees the power and the freedom of mathematics and utilizes it to the fullest extent. These geniuses that had the ability to see what math could do are foundational to the abstract idea itself. Without the groundwork set before us, there would be nothing to climb.

This leads to the idea of mathematics in different cultures here on Earth and far far away from our home here on Earth. That is, can mathematics be different here on Earth in other places and is there a universally accepted mathematics? First we will examine the Earthly mathematics. No matter where you go on this planet, 2 + 2 will always equal 4. It does not matter if you are in Michigan or Australia, this will always be true. Granted things in different places are expressed with different symbols and objects, but the validly and logic of mathematics will still be there. When we start to ponder about alien lifeforms further away from us then we can ever our imagine is when things get interesting.

We have developed this notion of gravity which is about 9.80665 m/s2 on this planet, but what happens if we go three hundred million light years away from here? Nobody has ever traveled this far and knows what is out there. The physical laws we have established here may be different in other places. I do not think that the way we express these quantities is different from other beings, but the numbers may be slightly off.  We can argue about the numbers and the physics, but we cannot argue about how it is explained and expressed.

Its been said many times how much math is around us. Lurking and stalking behind, and in front of us, we sometimes forget how much and how great math is. Easily overlooked, we would not be where we are today without the advancements. The only way we advance through this realm of numbers is to keep building from what we already know, and understanding that we could not of done it without the tools and discoveries that were presented to us by the great minds before us.