A
Certain Ambiguity is a Mathematical Novel that covers the striking experiences
of a boy named Ravi Kapoor. With His struggles and knowledge he gained in the
field of Mathematics. It all started back when he was young, on his 12th
birthday wherein he was given a magical problem to try on the calculator given by
his grandfather in which he enthusiastically solved. This part of the book
suggests a loving relationship between a grandchild and grandfather linked
through a Mathematical problem. As soon as he got the solution, he was
immeasurably happy and very excited to
show it to his grandfather. Ravi could never imagine a better fate to the
things his grandfather dreamt for him of being a Mathematician. Things changed
as his grandfather died the night after his blissful moment with him. Without
his grandfather’s guidance, Ravi became indifferent to Mathematics as he had
said “without him, there was only the monotonous drone of doing what needed to
be done”.
As
years go by, through his father’s urgings he was accepted to Stanford and incline himself towards
a career in economics and enrolled in a math class named “Thinking about infinity” wherein he met Nico Aliprantis their
Mathematics professor in which Ravi thought was like his grandfather. In this
class, they learned about many mathematical concepts and principles. Soon he
found out of his grandfather’s past with mathematics still on hand with the
articles that Ravi read. His grandfather’s comparison of mathematical methods
to religion with it is the humanistic side of mathematics being portrayed and
felt by mathematicians and Bauji was one of them.
This book covered a lot of many mathematical informations that many
of them I do not understand. But by reading this book, the humanistic side of
mathematics have emerged in place and was felt by mathematicians, but many like
me never felt any of it. Mathematics as the title said is a certain ambiguity
or a certain uncertainty for the views of mathematics vary from person to
person. Some may think that there is a mathematical truth but others may also
argue that it is only a product of human mind with no independent existence.
This book relates axioms to existence of God and the opposing views of a
believer of God and an unbeliever. With this book, the conclusion made by the
author is believe what you believed. That is why I think this book is entitled
Certain ambiguity for it leaves the readers of what they believe mathematics
would be.
My favorite part of the book was
during the discussion of Professor Nico, he was asked by a student that “If
mathematics is beautiful why haven’t I ever heard anyone talk
about it that way before?” Professor Nico answered that Mathematics is like a
spectator sport, you have to do it to appreciate it, and doing it requires
patience and perseverance. I agree with this statement. It is true that in
order to appreciate mathematics, you have to solve problems, find solutions and
find meanings of what you solve. But thinking of it is hard far more doing it,
but with patience and perseverance one may know the true meanings of
mathematics and will surely appreciate it.
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