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← Inversion frequently solves problems that nothing else will
14 connected korrents · 11 moments from 13 Jun 1986 to 5 Oct 2026.
Everything filed under mental models
mental models
Everything filed under mathematics
mathematics
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education Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Read this korrent: Inversion frequently solves problems that nothing else will Inversion frequently solves problems that nothing else will Last stated 19 years ago
13 May 2007
CM
Charlie Munger — holds since 2007-05-13 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Working a problem by inversion often forces the thinker to uncover hidden beliefs about it. — tap to centre the map on it Working a problem by inversion often forces the thinker to uncover hidden beliefs about it. Last stated 13 years ago
28 Oct 2013
SP
Shane Parrish — holds since 2013-10-28 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Many hard problems are best solved by addressing them backward, studying how to create non-X in order to create X — tap to centre the map on it Many hard problems are best solved by addressing them backward, studying how to create non-X in order to create X Last stated 40 years ago
13 Jun 1986
CM
Charlie Munger — holds since 1986-06-13 — tap for who they are
Same subject: When a child starts struggling with algebra the problem is almost never algebra; it is the third-grade math facts they never learned, and more algebra will not fix it. — tap to centre the map on it When a child starts struggling with algebra the problem is almost never algebra; it is the third-grade math facts they never learned, and more algebra will not fix it. Last stated a month ago
31 Aug 2026
JL
Joe Liemandt — holds since 2026-08-31 — tap for who they are
Same subject: When you try to solve one problem, you often create another. — tap to centre the map on it When you try to solve one problem, you often create another. Last stated 4 days ago
5 Oct 2026
ZM
Zvi Mowshowitz — holds since 2026-10-05 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Struggling with a hard problem before being shown the answer is not always the best way to learn; a hint or a worked example can beat floundering. — tap to centre the map on it Struggling with a hard problem before being shown the answer is not always the best way to learn; a hint or a worked example can beat floundering. Last stated 3 months ago
22 Jul 2026
SY
Scott H. Young — no longer holds since 2026-07-22 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A persistently rising dividend yield eventually forces capital appreciation as the market rerates the stock. — tap to centre the map on it A persistently rising dividend yield eventually forces capital appreciation as the market rerates the stock. Last stated 7 months ago
3 Mar 2026
SB
Sanjay Bakshi — holds since 2026-03-03 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A proof and an explanation are different things, and a theorem can stay an unsolved expository problem long after it is proved. — tap to centre the map on it A proof and an explanation are different things, and a theorem can stay an unsolved expository problem long after it is proved. Last stated 3 months ago
30 Jun 2026
GS
Grant Sanderson — holds since 2026-06-30 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A stream of AI-written papers with any error rate at all becomes insufferable, because finding the error costs more than the paper is worth even at ninety-nine percent. — tap to centre the map on it A stream of AI-written papers with any error rate at all becomes insufferable, because finding the error costs more than the paper is worth even at ninety-nine percent. Last stated 3 months ago
30 Jun 2026
GS
Grant Sanderson — holds since 2026-06-30 — tap for who they are
Same subject: AI could compete with human mathematicians once it acquires a mathematical sense of smell: knowing which way of splitting a problem makes it easier rather than harder. — tap to centre the map on it AI could compete with human mathematicians once it acquires a mathematical sense of smell: knowing which way of splitting a problem makes it easier rather than harder. Last stated a year ago
14 Jun 2025
TT
Terence Tao — holds since 2025-06-14 — tap for who they are
Same subject: AI excels at breadth and human experts at depth, which makes them complementary and makes today's depth-focused way of doing science the wrong shape. — tap to centre the map on it AI excels at breadth and human experts at depth, which makes them complementary and makes today's depth-focused way of doing science the wrong shape. Last stated 7 months ago
20 Mar 2026
TT
Terence Tao — holds since 2026-03-20 — tap for who they are
Same subject: AI in chess and mathematics does not explain anything; it says which position is better, and humans build the theory from that. — tap to centre the map on it AI in chess and mathematics does not explain anything; it says which position is better, and humans build the theory from that. Last stated a year ago
14 Jun 2025
LF
Lex Fridman — holds since 2025-06-14 — tap for who they are
Same subject: AI will increasingly produce mathematical proofs, just as it already writes most code. — tap to centre the map on it AI will increasingly produce mathematical proofs, just as it already writes most code. Last stated 4 weeks ago
11 Sept 2026
DL
Daniel Lemire — holds since 2026-09-11 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Lean and tools like GitHub will let experimental mathematics scale far beyond what one mathematician's spaghetti code allows today. — tap to centre the map on it Lean and tools like GitHub will let experimental mathematics scale far beyond what one mathematician's spaghetti code allows today. Last stated a year ago
14 Jun 2025
TT
Terence Tao — holds since 2025-06-14 — tap for who they are
Same subject: When formalising a proof costs no more than writing it, mathematics will flip: papers written in Lean first, and journals refereeing only for significance because correctness is certified. — tap to centre the map on it When formalising a proof costs no more than writing it, mathematics will flip: papers written in Lean first, and journals refereeing only for significance because correctness is certified. Last stated a year ago
14 Jun 2025
TT
Terence Tao — holds since 2025-06-14 — tap for who they are
At the centre
Inversion frequently solves problems that nothing else will
Holds Read this korrent →
Working a problem by inversion often forces the thinker to uncover hidden beliefs about it.
Holds
Many hard problems are best solved by addressing them backward, studying how to create non-X in order to create X
Holds
When a child starts struggling with algebra the problem is almost never algebra; it is the third-grade math facts they never learned, and more algebra will not fix it.
Holds
When you try to solve one problem, you often create another.
Holds
Struggling with a hard problem before being shown the answer is not always the best way to learn; a hint or a worked example can beat floundering.
No longer holds
A persistently rising dividend yield eventually forces capital appreciation as the market rerates the stock.
Holds
A proof and an explanation are different things, and a theorem can stay an unsolved expository problem long after it is proved.
Holds
A stream of AI-written papers with any error rate at all becomes insufferable, because finding the error costs more than the paper is worth even at ninety-nine percent.
Holds
AI could compete with human mathematicians once it acquires a mathematical sense of smell: knowing which way of splitting a problem makes it easier rather than harder.
Holds
AI excels at breadth and human experts at depth, which makes them complementary and makes today's depth-focused way of doing science the wrong shape.
Holds
AI in chess and mathematics does not explain anything; it says which position is better, and humans build the theory from that.
Holds
AI will increasingly produce mathematical proofs, just as it already writes most code.
Holds
Lean and tools like GitHub will let experimental mathematics scale far beyond what one mathematician's spaghetti code allows today.
Holds
When formalising a proof costs no more than writing it, mathematics will flip: papers written in Lean first, and journals refereeing only for significance because correctness is certified.
Holds