Mathematics as an Art Form—Visualizing Equations

When I was younger, I held the naive and incorrect view that mathematics was divorced from the arts. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more aware of not only how mathematics is the foundation for any of the hard sciences, but also how it is intrinsically linked to essentially any form of creativity. Certainly users of our Wolfram Music Theory Course Assistant could have told me that, but I’m not just referring to music. In truth, I’m not even trying to make some highbrow appeal to abstract art, either, although I happen to rather like that sort of thing. What I’m trying to say is that mathematical equations can make pretty pictures.

How awesome is that? And you know, as much as I adore butterflies—and I love them with all of my heart—I like other things that fly, too. Many people were enthralled when we showed off the bat insignia, but while I appreciate bats and the men who follow them, in truth I’ve always found a deeper beauty in men who can fly, and without the aid of machinery. They’re super.

That said, to go back to the introduction, music and mathematics do go hand in hand with each other. It’s argued that mathematics is the basis of sound, in fact. That could be true, but what I know for certain is that I see a red door and I sincerely wish it were painted black.

A thing I learned from a reliable source several years ago is that if you leave something that has a battery—a laptop or, say, an electric razor—plugged in too long, the battery begins to lose its zero point. Its total capacity will begin to drop. I believe an expert on electricity can elucidate further on this matter.

Electricity gets me charged up, so let’s talk about  something polarizing, like ethics. Wolfram|Alpha defines ethics as either “motivation based on ideas of right and wrong” or “the philosophical study of moral values and rules.” Ethics is one of my favorite topics of discussion, and the next expert adviser we’ll be bringing in certainly has some passionate viewpoints related to what he suggests are the light-side and dark-side binary.

Stay tuned to future posts showing off more curves and laminae, as well as a discussion on how we make them. Until then, you can try to find some of our curves and laminae yourself. We have famous people, fictional characters, animals, logos, and more. Be sure to share your favorites with us on our Facebook page and Twitter account. Happy exploring!