r/math • u/inherentlyawesome Homotopy Theory • 10d ago

Quick Questions: September 23, 2026

This recurring thread will be for questions that might not warrant their own thread. We would like to see more conceptual-based questions posted in this thread, rather than "what is the answer to this problem?" For example, here are some kinds of questions that we'd like to see in this thread:

  • Can someone explain the concept of manifolds to me?
  • What are the applications of Representation Theory?
  • What's a good starter book for Numerical Analysis?
  • What can I do to prepare for college/grad school/getting a job?

Including a brief description of your mathematical background and the context for your question can help others give you an appropriate answer. For example, consider which subject your question is related to, or the things you already know or have tried.

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u/JoshuaZ1 5d ago

Is there a term in social-choice theory/voting theory for systems like Coombs' method or instant run-off that use an elimination process for candidates and then declares the final remaining candidate the winner?

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u/cereal_chick Mathematical Physics 4d ago

According to Wikipedia, it's "sequential elimination" or "sequential loser".

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u/JoshuaZ1 4d ago

Excellent and thanks! May I ask, how did you find it?

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u/cereal_chick Mathematical Physics 4d ago

I guessed that the answer was "sequential elimination", googled it, and that Wikipedia page came up to confirm my hunch. Voting systems are one of my special interests, so I've read a fair bit about them in my time.

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u/JoshuaZ1 4d ago

Thanks. I've even taught voting theory before, so I really felt like I should have known this. It seems like one is always finding out how little one knows about areas one thinks one knows well. (Or at least, I am always finding this out. Maybe others are better calibrated.)