If you have a PDE that models physical phenomena, it is fundamental that:
  • there must exist a solution for every physically valid initial condition, otherwise it means that the equation does not describe certain cases of reality
  • the solution must be unique, otherwise how are we to choose between the multiple solutions?
Unlike for ordinary differential equations which have the Picard–Lindelöf theorem, the existence and uniqueness of solution is not well solved for PDEs.
OurBigBook.com by Ciro Santilli 37 Updated 2025-07-16
The website is the reference instance of OurBigBook Web, which is part of the OurBigBook Project, the other main part of the project are software that users can run locally to publish their content such as the OurBigBook CLI.
This page contains further information about the project's rationale, motivation and planning.
Video 1.
Intro to the OurBigBook Project
. Source.
Figure 1.
The topics feature allows you to find the best version of a subject written by other users user
. Live demo: derivative.
Public relations by Ciro Santilli 37 Updated 2025-07-16
The reason public relations is evil in modern society is because, like discrimination, public relations works by dumb association and not logic or fairness.
If you're the son of the killer, you're fucked.
This is unlike our ideal for law which attempts, though sometimes fails, at isolating cause and effect.
Degree (algebra) by Ciro Santilli 37 Updated 2025-07-16
The degree of some algebraic structure is some parameter that describes the structure. There is no universal definition valid for all structures, it is a per structure type thing.
This is particularly useful when talking about structures with an infinite number of elements, but it is sometimes also used for finite structures.
Examples:
The BSD conjecture states that if your name is long enough, it will always count as two letters on a famous conjecture.
Maybe also insert a joke about BSD Operating Systems if you're into that kind of stuff.
The conjecture states that Equation 1. "BSD conjecture" holds for every elliptic curve over the rational numbers (which is defined by its constants and )
Equation 1.
BSD conjecture
. Where the following numbers are defined for the elliptic curve we are currently considering, defined by its constants and :
The conjecture, if true, provides a (possibly inefficient) way to calculate the rank of an elliptic curve over the rational numbers, since we can calculate the number of elements of an elliptic curve over a finite field by Schoof's algorithm in polynomial time. So it is just a matter of calculating like that up to some point at which we are quite certain about .
The Wikipedia page of the this conecture is the perfect example of why it is not possible to teach natural sciences on Wikipedia. A million dollar problem, and the page is thoroughly incomprehensible unless you already know everything!
Figure 1.
as a function of for the elliptic curve
. Source. The curve is known to have rank 1, and the logarithmic plot tends more and more to a line of slope 1 as expected from the conjecture, matching the rank.
Video 1.
Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer conjecture by Kinertia (2020)
Source.
Video 2.
The $1,000,000 Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer conjecture by Absolutely Uniformly Confused (2022)
Source. A respectable 1 minute attempt. But will be too fast for most people. The sweet spot is likely 2 minutes.
MathWorld by Ciro Santilli 37 Updated 2025-07-16
Written mostly by Eric W. Weisstein.
Ciro once saw a printed version of the CRC "concise" encyclopedia of mathematics. It is about 12 cm thick. Imagine if it wasn't concise!!!
Infinite Napkin is the one-person open source replacement we needed for it! And OurBigBook.com will be the final multi-person replacement.
If a Big Company makes a product that Does Something, they just call it Big Company Does Something.
If a product is called "Big Company Catchy Name Does Something", then it came from an acquisition, and they wanted to keep the name due to its prestige and to not confuse users.
Tangent space by Ciro Santilli 37 Updated 2025-07-16
TODO what's the point of it.
Bibliography:

There are unlisted articles, also show them or only show them.