ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Surgery theory

Surgery theory is like playing with a toy where you can take it apart and try to put it back together in a different way. But instead of toys, we use shapes in math! We take a shape and cut it up into smaller pieces, then try to put those pieces back together in a different way.

Doctors and mathematicians use surgery theory to help understand and solve problems in math and science. It's kind of like a puzzle - we take a big shape and figure out how to break it down into smaller shapes, then try to puzzle them back together.

This technique is used in many different fields, from chemistry to computer science. It helps people understand how different parts of a system work together and how to make changes to those parts without messing everything up.

So, surgery theory is a way to take apart and put back together shapes in math and science to help solve problems and understand how things work.