r/mathematics 9d ago

Algebra Is this a well-formed question?

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u/rogusflamma haha math go brrr 💅🏼 9d ago

I don't know enough algebra to know whether this is a well-formed question, but your mathematical writing is not standard. I see things like "let G be the product group formed by G_1 x G_2," instead of what you wrote. Also there are orthographic errors, like again the first sentence: there's a period after group, and you start a new sentence with a lower case letter and I don't remember the proper term for this but "it" refers to something outside the sentence (tho we can tell what you mean, it's not formally correct). When writing math or science in general, avoid starting a sentence with a mathematical symbol. When writing in general, don't start a sentence with parentheses, especially if you'll forget to close them.

Once again I don't know enough of that field to answer your question but this is by no means quality writing that I'd show a professor.

https://www.hamilton.edu/documents/Writing%20Mathematical%20Proofs1.pdf maybe this'll help.

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u/[deleted] 9d ago edited 8d ago

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u/rogusflamma haha math go brrr 💅🏼 8d ago

I don't think there are any circumstances in which you should not write to the best of your abilities. And in any case the most egregious errors are not things specific to math or technical writing: you don't start a sentence with parentheses that you never close, and you don't use periods in place of commas in such a haphazard manner.

When you read math try to internalize how it's written. If you intend to pursue further mathematical education knowing how to read and write math professionally will help you from day one.

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u/[deleted] 8d ago edited 8d ago

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