What the fuck does math research even look like?

Step 1: Study until you get into a really specialized subject.

Step 2: Conjecture something

Step 3: prove it

>>8558161
2 skinny nerds locked up in an office all day barely talking to each other eating a small sandwich every 2 days.

>>8558185
my jam

>>8558171
Literally this

>>8558171
This, with the added steps of

Step 2.1: Work on proving your conjecture
Step 2.2: 99% Chance it fails, go to step 2.1, else go to step 3

Drink a lot of coffee and prove conjectures.

>>8558171
Roughly yeah but in general it's more about exploring the mathematical landscape, and then reporting your findings when you find something significant and new (for various values of "significant").

Even better is when you get some hint of a hidden structure and then figure out how to define it so everything falls into place. If you construct F_1 and use it to prove the Riemann Hypothesis you will go down in history.

>>8558985

but what does that look like

is it just some asshole writing in a notebook

>>8558161
It looks like math

>>8558161
Usually, it's me sitting in my office writing or staring blankly, and every now and then ranting like a crazed hobo.

Occasionally, it's me and 2-5 other people sitting in a classroom almost completely encircled by blackboards, with either me or a specific member of the rest writing and talking (it's rare for someone other than the two of us to do this, regardless of how many people show up for the meeting).

>>8559356
What is your job?

>>8559369
Professional mathturbator.

>>8558185
skinny nerd part is right but mane
you ain't gonna do shit if you don't talk with your mates, communication works, got it ?