Mathoverflow.net - for research level math questions

by andymoe • 16 years ago

35 19 16 years ago

joshfinnie2• 16 years ago

Seems like this has a surprising acceptance rate just by quickly looking at the Badges page. They have given out quite a few!

One things, though, is that I am sad that it is just for questions. It seems like they could harvest this group of people and write some nice explanations to some difficult problems, yet their FAQ explicitly doesn't want this:

"MathOverflow is not an encyclopedia. MO is a site for questions that have answers. MathOverflow visitors should know how to learn new things and do mathematics on their own, but we all get stuck sometimes, and this is where MO saves the day."

Tawheed2• 16 years ago

This is my BIGGEST qualm about the StackOverflow line extension strategy. A Q&A site is NOT a community site, a proper community site has discussions, sharing, along with some Q&A.

andymoe• 16 years ago

I think these sites fill their niche well; Each question can have discussion surrounding it, or a specific answer, and the comments can enhance the quality of the answers. I was never able to get specific questions answered as quickly or as well until I started using stackoverflow type sites.

DeusExMachina• 16 years ago

Well, you could have found another niche/problem to solve with a new website.

aresant• 16 years ago

Site is well put together - nice job!

BUT a word of caution:

I would expect that you'll receive a letter from StackOverflow's legal counsel regarding trademark violation for your domain name - rename now before you get enough traction to matter . . .

carterschonwald2• 16 years ago

Nope there's no infringement issues, they're using stack overflow's software with some extra bells and whistles to allow inline latex equations

roryokane• 16 years ago

The software is fine, but I wonder about the name Math Overflow. “Overflow" doesn’t seem particularly to have anything to do with the name math or with answering questions, so it seems it is only referencing Stack Overflow. Therefore, Stack Overflow might be worried about people confusing Math Overflow with Stack Overflow, and might want MO to change their name.

Daniel_Newby• 16 years ago

It's not a problem -- to infringe, the name has to be similar enough to confuse the public, and it has to be in the same market.

carterschonwald2• 16 years ago

I should point out that the mathematical topics on math overflow lean very heavily towards sophisticated topics in algebra, though there are certainly many other topics represented.

Im repeatedly amazed at how many heavy hitters in math research are active on MO

bdr• 16 years ago

Terry Tao is on it! http://mathoverflow.net/questions/9731/polynomial-representi...

Mathoverflow.net - for research level math questions

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