[Date Index] [Thread Index] [Author Index]

Re: Ansatz?

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg101095] Re: Ansatz?
• From: AES <siegman at stanford.edu>
• Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 06:29:29 -0400 (EDT)
• Organization: Stanford University
• References: <h1nf0q$91h$1@smc.vnet.net> <h1qcub$7ul$1@smc.vnet.net>

In article <h1qcub$7ul$1 at smc.vnet.net>,
 "M.Roellig" <markus.roellig at googlemail.com> wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> > Somewhere I've picked up the idea that "ansatz" can also be used to
> > indicate the "form" or the "approach" -- more specifically, something
> > like the choice of coordinates and variables and equations -- the
> > "geometry and notation" so to speak -- in which one sets up a problem or
> > a calculation.
> 
> I would say, that this is the common understanding of ansatz in
> science (at least for a native german speaker). An example would be the
> german word Loesungsansatz, meaning the initial choice of how to approach
> (and solve) a given problem,
> e.g. the starting point of a mathematical proof or the set of initial
> assumptions.

Thanks! -- that's been my assumption also -- ever since I encountered 
the term in a (high-quality) scientific article written, as I recall, in 
English, but by a native German author.