Deeksha Chandraprathaban 7 September 2010

TOK 12 (3)

3. To what extent is there certainty in mathematics?

Mathematics is an area of knowledge and certainty is the quality of being true. For mathematical
knowledge to be true it has to be coherent, correspond with reality and achieve consensus in the
mathematical society. Mathematics may be studied in its own right (pure mathematics) or as it is
applied to other disciplines such as physics and engineering (applied mathematics).

In pure mathematics, many key theorems have been found to have proofs that contain statements that
make use of axioms that are difficult to prove or disprove. For example, the Four-Color Theorem has a
statement that is so simple a child could grasp it but requires a proof involving lengthy and intensive
computer calculations. Many other theorems of a similar type are now known, and more are being
discovered every year. Thus, a problem that can be formulated in a few sentences could have a solution
more than ten thousand pages long. Thus, it is likely that many proofs could never been written down
in its entirety and, as presently conceived, would be rarely comprehensible to anyone other than the
maker. Thus, the proofs in pure mathematics are seldom coherent to even those in the field.

Even in one of the more basic concepts in mathematics, and one that is frequently seen in applied
mathematics, such as counting and measuring, there is uncertainty. The problem lies in the application
of the basic arithmetic to physical phenomena. For example, one raindrop added to another does not
make two raindrops. Two pools of water, one at 40°C another pool of water at 50°C when mixed
together do not make a pool of water at 90°C. Henri Lebesgue, a French mathematician, facetiously
pointed out that if one puts a lion and a rabbit in a cage, one will not find two animals an hour later!
The overarching point is that even basic arithmetic is not absolutely applicable to the physical world.
This brings to attention that there are instances in mathematics where it may not completely correspond
with reality.

Yet, mathematics is so highly esteemed as an area of knowledge as it is objective. It does not rely upon
observation, which is limited by our senses, or experience which differs for each person. Moreover,
many mathematical statements make known the conditions in which it is valid or invalid. Thus, this is
superior to many other areas of knowledge as it can be both supported and challenged. Furthermore,
any proofs for theorems are considered the best possible explanation on the matter only until new
evidence can be found to disprove it.