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.