Math into Metaphor
Alice Major

Proceedings of Bridges 2013: Mathematics, Music, Art, Architecture, Culture
Pages 511–514
Short Papers

Abstract

Metaphor is not merely decoration but central to creative thinking. This paper reminds readers how metaphor is frequently used to generate mathematical terminology, and about metaphor's value in probing potential relationships among different fields of thought and between abstract ideas and the physical world. It walks through an exercise to develop some “muscles” in metaphorical thinking.

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