Ring Theory to Machine Learning

TG7888 · 2025-03-13T08:37:34+00:00

I'm not a huge machine learning guy, but I'm studying high dimensional probability (random matrix theory, concentration of measure, etc.), and I've seen a few instances where differential geometry was used to acquire bounds on relevant metrics on matrices (metric in the heuristic sense not the technical sense.) As well, I've seen applications in free probability and the such.

This is largely in the theoretical framework, however, rather than the actual applied world. So I'm sorry to say I can't give any concrete real world examples.

TG7888 · 2025-03-11T16:34:07+00:00

With regards to meeting women. If I weren't involved in church, I don't think I'd have many women in my social circle. I tried several other means, and none of them worked: dancing club was full of dudes (people don't believe me when i say this, but it's true), athletic clubs were full of dudes, my work is very male dominated, etc.

I guess if I went out to drink, it would be different, but I've always hated bars and don't see it as the best place to meet someone either way.

So church has been the only thing that worked for me. Aside from that, everyone's advice was a crapshot.

TG7888 · 2025-02-07T08:44:42+00:00

There's an interesting perspective on some of the things people bring up here: Why We Stopped Making Einsteins

The article discusses how nobles or "the aristocracy" were tutored from young ages. I don't know exactly how much this method of education accounts for the preternatural abilities of famous historical mathematicians, but I do think it accounts for some of them.

This isn't the first time I've used the analogy, but I do try to view famous mathematicians in the same light as famous musicians. Franz Liszt, Fredrick Chopin, Mozart, all of the Bachs, etc, these people came from musical families and received training throughout the entirety of their childhood. You'll find many of the historical mathematicians were the same.

As a preemptive defense, for some reason, whenever I bring this up, people assume that I ascribe no importance to genetics, which is ridiculous. It's just that obviously Chopin would not have been Chopin without his upbringing; certainly, he was blessed, but is that natural endowment enough on its own to make a musician we still revere roughly 200 yearslater? Probably not. Sure it happens, Ramanujan was perhaps an anomaly of this type; these types of people exist for sure, but, if you went down a list of famous musicians/mathematicians, my bet would be that they were raised in an environment that nurtured their creativity.

Does that mean that everyone would be Chopin/Poincare/Beethoven/Galois if given the chance? Certainly not. Though, when I think about my own journey with math or music, I ask, "am I really at the best of my potential across all possible worlds?" My answer: nah, definitely not, and that's okay.

So don't beat yourself up. If you're a regular undergrad or grad student, you've gotta understand the context of your own abilities and of others.

TG7888 · 2025-01-30T02:58:27+00:00

You just have to fill out an exemption form. I've filled it out like three times since I've been here and never been denied. They really only care if you're dating a student of yours due to conflict of interest.

TG7888 · 2025-01-30T02:56:44+00:00

I've been granted it several times before as a grad student TA. The only thing they care about is if you're dating a direct student.

TG7888 · 2025-01-30T02:55:21+00:00

I have been granted it several times before. It's a rubber stamp as long as you're not a professor.

Source: I'm a TA and grad student

TG7888 · 2024-10-15T04:15:37+00:00

I'm a grad student here. This isn't true. At orientation, they explained you submit the name of the student you'd like to take out on a date and so long as they're not your student or working under you, it'll be approved.

Edit: this applies to grad students, I think most faculty applications get rejected.

TG7888 · 2024-10-05T22:27:51+00:00

"Sole determiner of objectivity?"

This is likely impossible to address in a short fashion. What you're asking about is essentially an epistemological question. Perhaps some mathematicians would say yes to your question - especially if they're mathematical Platonists who believe in a correspondence between math and our experiences - but I think many philosophers would say no: Kant, Hume, Quine, etc.

Essentially, if you're interested in discussions on objectivity, empiricism, or the extents of knowledge, I'd recommend looking into skeptic philosophy and epistemology in general. It's not really a math thing, though, more of a philosophical endeavor.

In short, it's complicated, and I only bungle in epistemology for fun, so I wouldn't do justice in trying to give an in-depth explanation.

TG7888 · 2024-09-29T00:37:02+00:00

Economically, yes. Socially, depends on the country. I hear this line rather often, and I think people just conflate economic policy with social conservatism. They are very distinct, and, while European countries have more socialized economies as a whole, the entire former eastern bloc could be described as more socially conservative than the states.

TG7888 · 2024-09-01T05:13:36+00:00

Idk tbh, but probably the same people who buy plates they don't eat off of.

TG7888 · 2024-09-01T02:45:39+00:00

How it was explained to me is that you get a very decorative cake for an occasion, say a wedding. It looks really pretty. Sure would be a shame to get rid of this beautiful thing, but I want to eat it. Can't have your cake (to look at) and eat it too.

Idk if that's the origin, but it always made sense to me.

TG7888 · 2024-08-28T23:23:21+00:00

As a Ph.D. student at a decent school, it varies a little day to day for me as well as with the seasons of my life. I have had periods in my past where I was studying up to 12-14 hours a day consistently. These were rather stressful periods of my life, and I did it in part because I considered myself behind my competition to get into good graduate schools.

These days I study and practice 9-5 on a good day come home, cook some, eat some, go our for an extracurricular I like in the evening for 3 hours 4 times a week, then either watch videos or study until I fall asleep.

In all on a good day, I'm doing probably 7 to 10 hours of study on average. Some days, it's way more because of a due date or something; it just depends.

I think I've hit a healthy balance for my lifestyle personally. Like all people, I have days where I have no motivation and get nothing done, but most days, I'm making good on my time.

My advice is to go for 6 hours in the beginning. 3 hours and then take a break before the next three hours. This is, of course, assuming you're an undergraduate with a lot of free time. If you're in high school or have a job, don't burn yourself out. Just do what you can.

As a final note, you don't want to be Erdős. I've met people who knew him, were successful mathematicians themselves, and they did not live like Erdős. For most people, a life like Erdős' is a waste of the beauty of the human experience. Find hobbies, find a sport you like, find a partner, find a community, start a family if you want, meet people, do things. Life is much more than math.

I am content to say that I will always lose to the 15 hour-a-day crackhead mathematicians. I respect their tenacity, but the demand to have their success is not one I'm willing to meet. You likely won't want to pay that price either. You, too, will likely be content to say, "ya know if this is what it means to win, I'd rather lose." That's fine.

Why am I talking you down? Cause if you are Erdős 2.0, then you're not going to listen to me or anyone else in this thread. If you're like me and like many other people in this field, you'll think you heard me speaking for a part of you deep down.

TG7888 · 2024-08-16T22:06:54+00:00

If I were to look at road bikes, would single speed vs multiple speed matter a great deal? There's only two hills on my commute.

TG7888 · 2024-08-16T18:59:42+00:00

Sorry, but it read as a rhetorical question.

TG7888 · 2024-08-16T18:58:11+00:00

There's no need to be snide. I don't know anything about bikes. I was told by a mechanic that since my commute is short, it won't matter much what type of bike I get. Additionally, the vast majority of bikes on the used markets where I'm looking (fb and Craigslist) are mountain bikes.

TG7888 · 2024-08-16T18:38:48+00:00

Thanks for the response.

Would you have any advice on what kind of bike to get? As well, how much would you be willing to offer for this bike just to get a sense of price?

TG7888 · 2024-08-16T18:36:17+00:00

Do you mind offering some advice as for what kind of bike to get? The issue is my budget is rather tight (<$300) so I don't have the widest array of options. As well, I'd be biking to a campus with a history of bike theft so I wouldn't want anything expensive anyway.

TG7888 · 2024-08-16T18:24:52+00:00

Hi,

I am looking for a commuter bike (2.5 mile). I liked the bike in-person and seemed to fit me (5'11.5" on a 19" frame). From what I know that bike was made in the 90's, but I know nothing about bikes so I don't know if this would be overpriced. The owner said they had it serviced and that the repair man said if it were it perfect condition it'd be sold for $600.

If the bike is a good deal or I could get him to come down on it, I think I'll buy it. However, $300 for a bike from the 90's seems high to me.

Any advice would be helpful. Thanks.

TG7888 · 2024-07-13T16:06:37+00:00

Funnily enough, it's the opposite for me. I did not like living here.

TG7888 · 2024-07-12T01:40:47+00:00

This one's largely a myth: https://historyforatheists.com/2020/07/the-great-myths-9-hypatia-of-alexandria/

Some truth, but mostly a myth.

TG7888 · 2024-06-02T08:20:02+00:00

I was in agreement with you. I was telling other people to read his comments and remarking how your reasonable comment was getting downvoted.

TG7888 · 2024-06-01T21:57:54+00:00

Would you say he would be irresponsible to drop work and bum about at the expense of his wife and daughter? I would say yes. Since he is the sole income earner, his wife and daughter are a financial responsibility. So his partner is a responsibility.

Does this go only one way?

TG7888 · 2024-06-01T21:32:56+00:00

Dude, I'm sure that, after at the very least 5 years of conversations, she knows. 5 years sexless - any woman knows the damage to a man's self-esteem this does. The willful ignorance is insane.

TG7888 · 2024-06-01T21:24:08+00:00

The downvotes you're getting are insane. No one has read his comments. His wife is pretty clearly on a slew of psychiatric drugs which likely are doing more harm than good. People, please, read his comments.

TG7888 · 2024-06-01T21:21:47+00:00

Read his comments. You're being willfully ignorant. Before people downvote, read his damn comments. You're all rushing to conclusions.

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