Q: Which is better: Math or Physics?

Posted on January 28, 2010 by The Physicist

Physicist: Physics.

Mathematician: Math, of course. Can physics do this?

1 = \sum_{k=0}^{\infty} \frac{(2 \pi)^{2 k}}{(2 k)!} (-1)^{k}

Physicist: Lasers, dude.

Mathematician: Lasers, shmasers.

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65 Responses to Q: Which is better: Math or Physics?

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  1. sjk says:
    January 29, 2010 at 1:51 am

    Physics: applied Math. Math: dressed up Logic (Gödel, hush). The natural conclusion, of course…

  2. Alterego says:
    March 6, 2011 at 12:18 pm

    Without light, darkness cannot exist.

    Without physics, math holds no meaning, without math, physics cannot be sensical. Both are equally needed and important. (Also, only haters ask that kind of question. So stop drinking haterade and stop hatin’.)

  3. Neal says:
    May 3, 2011 at 9:33 pm

    “Physics is to math as sex is to masturbation.” -Feynman. (What a badass.)

  4. sharafali.a says:
    February 25, 2012 at 4:57 am

    “physics is a golden ball… if you want to take it… you should take a ladder called mathematics”

  5. Dr. D. K. Jha says:
    May 7, 2012 at 7:53 am

    mathematics is the father of all subjects

  6. Shobhit Kumar Panday says:
    May 11, 2012 at 10:50 am

    Math is better than Physics because in physics math is used.There can not be Physics Without Math.

  7. Akash Das says:
    June 8, 2012 at 10:53 am

    To proof any theorem of physics,math is must..nothing can be proved without math..but one of my fiends says that the thought of adding two no. is physics and the process is done by math.So physics is first.

  8. Jake says:
    October 4, 2012 at 4:29 pm

    Say it’s a dark night in winter and you need to do some mathematics and its pitch black so you go to turn on a light but oh no the light because nobody ever used physics to create a lightbulb

  9. hawk says:
    March 5, 2013 at 12:58 pm

    math of course,Physics without math is nothing1

  10. Josh says:
    March 20, 2013 at 10:29 pm

    This is an easy question to answer, mathematics is more abstract and less practical. Physics is necessary and utilized in every facet of modern technology, mathematicians are more concerned with manipulating numbers than implementing numbers and constructing systems (other than statisticians.)

    I am convinced mathematics and physics are codependent upon one another in many regards. However, I think a person can be good at math and not physics, while a person can be good at “physics” and not math. There have been physicists who could observe nature and understand how systems work WITHOUT mathematics. There are also mathematicians who are excellent at abstract proofs, while being terrible at applying their knowledge.

  11. Jacob Mahto says:
    May 30, 2013 at 5:07 am

    Mathematics is the language in which the Physics (which is subject) is communicated as well as implemented ! Just like English is important for an American , Hindi to Indian , and so and so.

  12. An astronomer says:
    July 21, 2013 at 9:53 pm

    NONE

  13. Musa Aku says:
    August 14, 2013 at 1:01 pm

    Mathematics drags realities from imaginaries and its practical assimilation/(possible) application in the natural field is classified as Physics.

  14. Kimi Lee says:
    October 2, 2013 at 11:57 pm

    Math is a language through which physics is conveyed. We model the occurances observed in reality through math, why because you should use a model that’s already created instead of trying to make another model. But I think physics (the things in the physical world essentially) don’t need math to be described, but math makes it easier for us to make predictions, and also to convince sceptics.
    But math, I still don’t know what it is (I’m still learning, and no one has answered my deep burning questions). I understand geometry, but everything else I don’t get how they came up with it? It’s like how’d you get there if you didn’t need to apply it to something first, that’s where physics comes in.
    But this view of mine may be biased, so who knows.

  15. mettaysan keodara says:
    February 23, 2014 at 12:53 am

    Math is the most important subject for me but I still nees physics to the tool.

  17. Sadha Vishwa says:
    July 9, 2014 at 8:04 am

    Guyz u may say the better aspects of physics and can say physics is ore important than maths but think on selling, marketing or even just adding the cost of your household provisions there are more field were no physics is employed and there is no nook and corner of universe where maths has its scope and I LIKE TO BE A MATHEMATICIAN

  18. Lori says:
    November 29, 2014 at 4:52 pm

    Step 1: Creation of the concept of 1 & 0 by Mathematicians
    Step 2: Use of 1 & 0 in binary
    Step 3: Create computers
    Step 4: Create the internet
    Step 5: Use your computer on the internet to ask whether Math is better than Physics and argue your side.

    Theorem: Math is better than Physics since you can not have this argument without Mathematics.

  19. Ayush Jaiswal says:
    January 19, 2015 at 1:48 pm

    Mathematics is the KING of all subjects physics we can say
    MATHS=Father
    Physics=Kid
    Damn Physics is so boring at some stages especially the electrical part and typical semiconductors fuck that subject chemistry is far better than it Maths is fun

  20. Saikat says:
    March 4, 2015 at 3:01 am

    Physics is far more interesting than Math. It’s a mind bending subject (relativity, quantum mechanics etc.)

    Math is BOOOOOORING!!

    and you’re made up of electrons & that’s pure physics!! so don’t even open your mouth against PHYSICS!!

    sooooooooooooooo, interesting!!! it’s like an adventurous, mysterious and thrilling movie! mind bender!

    MATH IS NOWHERE NEAR!

    you go out there and feel the nature and wonder what’s happening and why is that!! wow! what a feeling! you are a truth seeker!!

    YOU HAVE THE WHOLE COSMOS IN PHYSICS waiting for u!!

    where’s all these in math?!

    I know math is vital. But Physics is more INTERESTING! and surely more influential than math! 😛

  21. xxx says:
    April 10, 2015 at 7:26 am

    comparing both means comparing appetizers with main course meal. Both are important for a complete meal.

  22. outsidethebox says:
    May 1, 2015 at 11:07 pm

    To do physics you need math, but you can do math without physics.

  23. Someone says:
    August 31, 2015 at 3:12 am

    Worth spending more money,effort and time on physics than maths anyone disagree

  24. Taa says:
    September 14, 2015 at 9:02 am

    Physics Does not exist without Maths

  25. Rittik chakraborty says:
    September 27, 2015 at 4:08 am

    With out mathematics , physics in null set. So math is father of physics.

  26. Rittik chakraborty says:
    October 5, 2015 at 11:00 pm

    With out mathematics, physics is null set. So mathematics is father of physics.

  27. What are you people on about says:
    December 2, 2015 at 1:35 pm

    Without maths there is no physics? What?

    PHYSICS and CHEMISTRY exist with or without human influence.
    MATHS only exists because man made it up.

    Without physics and chemistry there would be no brain – without brain there would be no maths.

    The ability to feel nature is of much more greater value than knowing what 1+1 is.

  28. irshad says:
    December 9, 2015 at 12:01 pm

    if maths is excluded from universe even then Physics will be there.
    Physics is created in mind and Maths is used to describe it, interpret it.
    1+1=2
    is maths , but without Physical imagination it doesn’t means any thing.
    Maths is a tool to describe Physics.
    just like thoughts are produced in mind and words are used to describe them, Physics is crested in mind maths is used to describe it.
    a thing which is used for description of an other thing can’t be superior than the thing for which it is used.

  29. rodel says:
    January 23, 2016 at 2:00 am

    only god can answer this! for who is better in physics and in mathematics!

  30. rodel says:
    January 23, 2016 at 2:01 am

    but i think its mathematics

  31. rodel says:
    February 7, 2016 at 3:59 am

    physics is more in math but you can solve mathematics without physics

  32. bidang says:
    February 14, 2016 at 3:37 am

    mathematics is the cheapest science. unlike physics or chemistry, it does not require any expensive equipment. all you need for mathematics is a pencil and paper.
    -Bidang Badrena-

  33. Jonny says:
    February 14, 2016 at 6:46 pm

    Physics:The idea.
    Mathematics:The logical proof of the idea.

  34. Sam Datum says:
    March 29, 2016 at 8:37 pm

    Without math physics is but observation, measurements and conjecture.

  35. mathematician says:
    April 6, 2016 at 3:34 pm

    I am an expert in math. I really love exprimental sciences, to me the more exprimental the better. I think the source of math is nature, esp. physics and engineering. Mathematics is really boring and very difficult ( I think math is the most difficult and boring field of study), great mathematicians have solid knowledge in physics or engineering which help them in creating new ideas. If one wants to choose between physics or math I certianly recommend him physiscs which is much more interesting and easy to grasp.

  36. salman says:
    May 9, 2016 at 4:42 pm

    to me, maths is the soul of sciece and technology. this is because in everything you do you have to apply the knowledge of mathematics. remember is not only x and y that is mathematics, by the time you think you already used the knowledge of mathematics, therefore mathematics (thinking and reasoning) is the most essential part of live

  37. Captain Azizi says:
    September 19, 2016 at 4:53 pm

    It depends your interest, in my opinion they are complement of each other.

  38. Seeker says:
    October 13, 2016 at 5:36 am

    I love maths because its cheap, even I use one paper and one pencils for many time, (after erase the prior subject that I am mastered.”
    And I doubt can do same thing if I learn chemistry or electric.

  39. Balaji says:
    November 16, 2016 at 5:55 am

    I respect both maths and physics as both deals with mathematics.Mathematics is a thinking process by which one can find a solution to a problem (Here, the problem need not be a mathematical problems that works on numbers).Infact,mathematics includes all kinds of thinking and not just alone for the problems in physics.Physics is a branch of science that proves itself only through maths.So,Physics without maths cannot be true unless there is a mathematical proof for it.

  40. anirudh says:
    November 29, 2016 at 5:48 am

    Physics is legend .maths is nothing before it. Without physics universe would simply not exist.Physics is father of all subjects.!!!!!

  41. anirudh says:
    November 29, 2016 at 6:02 am

    Physics is indeed the best subject. Maths is the servant of physics. Let’s PROVE IT!! Physics -maths=theory but. Maths-physics=nothing.

  42. anirudh says:
    November 29, 2016 at 12:24 pm

    There is a good difference between physics and mathematics and , that is——-physics requires concept where as, maths is just full filled by formulae. Infinity of maths is nothing before infinity of physics…..

  43. anirudh says:
    November 30, 2016 at 1:28 am

    Physics is far more interesting than maths. One of my worthy opponent in this debate made a point that maths is cheapest science. I want to inform him that by help of maths, small tricks can be made. But by the help of physics, you can do anything, in fact you can change fate of the whole cosmos. In early universe, before big bang, only physics was there . After 10^-35 second s universe expanded thus giving rise to chemistry, biology ,maths along with other subjects. So ,in the world of subjects, physics is the god of all subjects.!!!!!!!!

  44. anirudh says:
    November 30, 2016 at 2:11 am

    Calculations of physics is much more interesting than maths. Maths is perfect subject for sleeping. Why? because maths is so BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooRING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  45. Balaji says:
    November 30, 2016 at 2:01 pm

    Sir Issac Newton is a not only great Mathematician ,but also a great Physicist who discovered many principles of physics.

    To make a note of his remarkable acheivements in Mathematics is Calculus.In addition to that he wrote a famous book on Mathematics called “Mathematica Principia” which is ” The Natural Philosophy Of Mathematics “.

  46. Balaji says:
    November 30, 2016 at 2:11 pm

    Aryabhatta is considered to be one of the greatest mathematicians in India.He discovered Zero i.e, 0.

    Place value system and zero
    The place-value system, first seen in the 3rd-century Bakhshali Manuscript, was clearly in place in his work. While he did not use a symbol for zero, the French mathematician Georges Ifrah argues that knowledge of zero was implicit in Aryabhata’s place-value system as a place holder for the powers of ten with null coefficients.
    However, Aryabhata did not use the Brahmi numerals. Continuing the Sanskritic tradition from Vedic times, he used letters of the alphabet to denote numbers, expressing quantities, such as the table of sines in a mnemonic form.

  47. Balaji says:
    November 30, 2016 at 2:19 pm

    On Zeroes :

    Brahmagupta’s Brahmasphuṭasiddhanta is the first book that mentions zero as a number, hence Brahmagupta is considered the first to formulate the concept of zero. He gave rules of using zero with negative and positive numbers. Zero plus a positive number is the positive number and negative number plus zero is a negative number etc. The Brahmasphutasiddhanta is the earliest known text to treat zero as a number in its own right, rather than as simply a placeholder digit in representing another number as was done by the Babylonians or as a symbol for a lack of quantity as was done by Ptolemy and the Romans.

  48. Rojesh says:
    October 15, 2017 at 8:51 am

    Please give the proof that physics created the brain and the nature

  49. D. Thakur says:
    May 24, 2018 at 7:45 am

    The equations of physics based upon phy concept and math bring it to answer and at +1 level differential calculus integration differentiation limits etc need to teach to students which is part of plus two maths so physics is difficult as it contain maths but in maths physics used negligible… so Physics is tough…

  50. Al says:
    June 28, 2018 at 8:03 pm

    False dilemma: one cannot do physics without mathematics. Better still – engineering uses both physics and mathematics and the pay is better. 😉

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