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Wow. You're so lucky you got to study the Elements and the Principia. I've only picked them up as a college student. One of the books I'm currently "reading" is called "God Created the Integers" by Stephen Hawking. It has excerpts from all the great mathematical works in history. So, naturally, it has the Elements and the Principia. Interesting stuff.
My love for math began around the same time as you. It was when I first learned about Algebra. I was immediately hooked: you had these problems where you knew apparently nothing and by simply dabbling with abstract symbols you could know everything; it looked like magic to me.
I guess this is what still attracts me to Maths to this day: as one Mooter put it... wonder. And I, like you, am interested in books that deal with math abstractly :)
Now I hear about your college plans I'm all the more impressed. I wish I had your passion and motivation when I was in high school. I'm really rooting for your MIT application to go through :)
Thanks for the well wishes, but the sad fact is, a major in Pure Mathematics in Egypt is still not appreciated. Your most likely career prospect is as a teacher. We don't (yet) have the concept of technical consultancy whereby a mathematician will specialize in (say) the stock market and lend his/her expert opinion on such matters to business people. Hopefully things will start to look up after the recent revolution.
Also, great quotes about Maths.
If you want to really see mathematical beauty, go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fractal
Also do a Google Images search on fractals and be amazed! :)
By the way, did you know that Euler's formula is considered by many to be the most beautiful mathematical formula of all time:
e^(i*pi)+1=0
The reasons it's considered beautiful:
1- It contains 2 of the most ubiquitous numbers in nature: e and pi
2-It incorporates complex numbers
3-It contains the elementary mathematical operations of exponentiation, multiplication and addition
4-It contains 0 (the additive identity element) and 1 (the multiplicative identity element)
"Basically I have always enjoyed mathematics as an art in contrast to its use as a practical tool"
WOW!!
You are looking at your new friend :)
I have always thought of math as poetry.
I wanted to go into Pure Maths in college but I opted for the "more practical" career of engineering because in my part of the world, Pure Maths isn't appreciated at all, so my career prospects would've been bleak.
I'm actually a grad. student now; I already have a BSc. in electronics and telecomm. and I'm currently pursuing a Master's in it.
But I'm also considering going for a second Master's in Pure Maths. :)
MIT!!! Great stuff! I really hope you get it. Are you applying there for undergrad. or postgrad. studies? What level of your studies are you currently at?
And... more importantly.... what branches of mathematics do you like best?
Talk to me :)
Hey EV!
Welcome to Shelfari :)
So... a student whose hobby is Mathematics!
Do tell... :)
