Good Math

Models from Models: From Naturals to Integers and Beyond!

I said that sets were like LEGOs, and I really meant it. To me, the way that you build structures using sets and LEGOs is very similar. When you’re building an interesting project like a fancy house with LEGOs, you don’t usually start by thinking about how you’re going to build it in terms of individual bricks. You start by dividing your project into components. You build walls, roof and support beams, and then you’d put those together to make your house. To build the walls, you might divide a wall into sections: a base, a window, and side sections around the windows. In math, when we’re building a model with sets, we often do the same thing: we build simple components from sets and ...