graph - an overused word

This week I’ve been working on a first year report on a grant I have, to represent mechanical systems with graphs – part of the report has to be fairly well-simplifed as it may be seen by a US senator. So, I’ve been thinking about how well understood the concept of a graph is. Do you know what a graph is? A graph is one of many things dictionaries and encyclopedias only whittle it down to about 10 definitions a piece. What I refer to is unfortunately referred to as a mathematical graph.

But are these ever use by normal people in everyday life? Yes. Even senators are likely to have seen a few. For example, that playoff schedule for March madness, your family tree, a map to your house, a diagram from a user’s manual, and a flowchart.

Mathematicians dig graphs and a whole bunch of theory can be applied to them. But when it really comes down to it, these graphs are a way to visualize complex things in life - be it a playoff schedule or the innards of an automotive part.

But, is that all a graph is good for – presenting information? Or can graphs be used in reverse? Can we first make a graph and then use it as a template for the design of something?

Turns out, this has become a real calling in life for me. So, more to come on this topic.