Who is the Greatest? Definition Problems in Mathematics and Elsewhere - Ian Thompson

31st October 2015
Mathematicians like to define the terms they use very precisely. This isn't just important in mathematics; clear definitions are also needed in other areas of science, as well as engineering, law, politics, and even sport. Some definitions are difficult to compose, either because language itself can be ambiguous, or because the ideas involved are inherently difficult to describe. This includes some ideas that seem very simple. In this talk, we will examine some familiar concepts from mathematics that are not easy to define in precise terms. We will also look at how definitions are used in mathematics, and at some similar problems from other disciplines.