ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Stratification (mathematics)

Stratification in mathematics means dividing things (like spaces or sets) into different layers or groups based on certain characteristics or properties.

For example, imagine you have a box of toys that includes different types of cars, trucks, and airplanes. You could stratify the toys into three groups based on their type: cars in one group, trucks in another, and airplanes in a third. This way, if you were looking for a specific type of toy, you know which group to look in.

In math, this concept is used to organize spaces or sets into different layers based on how they are related. For instance, imagine you have a cube (a 3D shape with six square faces) made up of smaller cubes. A stratification of this cube could be created by grouping the smaller cubes based on their distance from the center of the larger cube. The outermost layer would include the cubes farthest from the center, while the innermost layer would include the cubes closest to the center.

Stratification can also be used in other areas of math, like algebra and topology, to help understand the structure of mathematical objects and make them easier to work with. Overall, stratification helps us see patterns and organize information in a logical way.