I have discusses about this several times with people who are experts in history of Swedish/Finnish mathematics. While there is probably some truth in stories about bad relationship between Alfred Nobel and Gösta Mittag-Leffler, I have been assured that this issue has not much to do with the Nobel Prize.

The real reason probably is that Nobel was more interested in practical "engineering" applications rather than theoretical research. At that time, it was largely viewed (by Hardy, for example) that pure mathematics does not have any applications. Even Einstein initially believed that mathematics is not very useful for physicist, although he later changed his position.

Nowadays things are viewed very differently, because mathematics has become essential in many applications largely through advances in information technology.

I have discusses about this several times with people who are experts in history of Swedish/Finnish mathematics. While there is probably some truth in stories about bad relationship between Alfred Nobel and Gösta Mittag-Leffler, I have been assured that this issue has not much to do with the Nobel Prize.

The real reason probably is that Nobel was more interested in practical "engineering" applications rather than theoretical research. At that time, it was largely viewed (by Hardy, for example) that pure mathematics does not have any applications. Even Einstein initially believed that mathematics is not very useful for physicist, although he later changed his position.

Nowadays things are viewed very differently, because mathematics has become essential in many applications largely through advances in information technology.

 Hi, Antti Rasila,

You said „While there is probably some truth in stories about bad relationship between Alfred Nobel and Gösta Mittag-Leffler...“

I.  Your explanation is not entirely clear. But if you think about stories that Alfred Nobel decided against a Nobel prize in Mathematics because of bad relationship with Gösta Mittag-Leffler,  i.e. that a woman he proposed to his wife (or mistress) rejected him because of (or cheated him with) a famous mathematician Gösta Mittag-Lefler, I think that this is not true:   There is no historical evidence to support this story. 

1. Alfred Nobel was never married, hence no “wife”. He did have a mistress, a Viennese woman named Sophie Hess.                                                                            

2. Even there is no data that Alfred Nobel had much contact with Mittag-Lefler. During the latter part of his life he resided in Paris.

I think that the first part of your second statement : "probably is that Nobel was more interested in practical "engineering" applications rather than theoretical research“ could be the reason of Nobel attitude, but second part "Even Einstein initially believed that mathematics is not very useful for physicist" is not not acceptable!! From antique Greece the ancient philosophers and mathematicians were aware of the importance of the account and mathematics starting from measurements of surface area, volume of living space...

Einstein's opinion concerning mathematics, may not be relevant at all because he was a bad connoisseur of mathematics. Complete theoretical physics is based on mathematics. For a long time the study of physics is not even exists: physicists ended first study of mathematics ! 

Beside mathematics I completed three years of study of physics

Hi, Peter Breuer,  

Although your answer is not entirely clear, it can be seen that the response is given by someone who is not a mathematician !!

The Nobel Prize has been awarded since 1901, and Fields Medal since 1936. In addition: 1. Fields Medal is awarded only to young mathematicians who are not older than 40 years 2. the Nobel Prize received scientists for all sciences, except mathematics, mainly for lifetime achievement !!  So it can not be the same !! It is normal to ask the question: Why does mathematics especially since we can not ignore the importance of math !!

This is a very interesting question.

Although there is no Nobel Prize for Mathematics per se, quite a number of mathematicians have received the Nobel Prize for their work in a related field.   See, e.g.:

http://planetmath.org/listofmathematicianswhohavewonthenobelprize

and

1902 Lorentz (Physics)

1904 Rayleigh (Physics)

1911 Wien (Physics)

1918 Planck (Physics)

1921 Einstein (Physics)

1922 Bohr (Physics)

1929 de Broglie (Physics)

1932 Heisenberg (Physics)

1933 Schroedinger (Physics)

1933 Dirac (Physics)

1945 Pauli (Physics)

1950 Russell (Literature)

1954 Born (Physics)

1962 Landau (Physics)

1963 Wigner (Physics)

1965 Schwinger (Physics)

1965 Feynman (Physics)

1969 Tinbergen (Economics)

1975 Kantorovich (Economics)

1983 Chandrasekhar (Physics)

1994 Selten (Economics)

1994 Nash (Economics)

The Abel Prize is considered a Mathematician's Nobel:

https://www.maa.org/external_archive/devlin/devlin_04_04.html

The question for this thread has been widely discussed.   See, e.g.:

http://www.nobelprize.org/faq/questions_in_category.php?id=2

Actually , mathematics is going ahead too fast and we need to see their applications more and more in our usual life.All sciences in the world depend on mathematics as a part of research and development for modelling of phenomena and its solution to solve many problems.For example , see about Ebola Modelling and Dr Pardis Sabeti in USA.

Mathematics must be felt more than dawning in proof of theorems.Otherwise , our science will be remained in colleges , web or libraries.

To Hamed Daei Kasmaei,

I do not understand what the problem is ? We are not discussing about the mathematics. We only wonder why the mathematics - science of sciences is not found among all other sciences? We're trying to find the reason. Often referred to non-logical conclusions and untrue. 

You obviously do not feel mathematics. You see it in the role of science which serves some other science, but it is neither true nor good. Of course, mathematics can not and should not be separated from the other sciences. Fundamental sciences, such as mathematics should be accompanied by applied science, which together with it resolves naturally caused problems, but that alone is going on, in front of the other because of it  is fundamental. 

Of course, this everyone can not. This can only special great minds - geniuses, who have the feeling and love for mathematics, which will earn no money, not even achieve glory for life. We will mention only Evariste Galois (if you've heard of him). Dusty papers (written the night before a match) that lay forgotten on the shelves of the French Academy of Sciences has found after 14 years and published by Liouville. 

You know a little mathematics and you have no experience, no sense of mathematics. Mathematics is not mechanically computer: a computer can not do without mathematics, but it can without him. 

 Dear colleague James F. Peters

Thank you very much for your nice response to my question. Your response shows that a number of mathematicians have received the Nobel Prize for their work in field of physics and economy.

In addition I will give a few remarks about mathematics which was already given in an answer to the nic question of Đoko Markovic: The place and role of mathematics among the oldest sciences.

1. Already its paradigmatic place in the domain of human knowledge, independent of all other valid reasons, mathematics deserves a special place.

2. The oldest known thinkers of antique civilization have been recognized as the characteristic way of mathematical form of knowledge, and since then it deserves as a model of scientific value and measures of  exactness of the overall knowledge.

3. Already in the middle ages, mathematics in his former division accounted for two of the seven skills which was dedicated to the study of the traditional University (geometry and arithmetic) in quadriviumu. And the third one-seventh, logic, the trivium of today would be the relevant part, in the form of mathematical logic, also regarded as one of the domains of mathematics.

But there is an equivalent prize called"Abel Prize".

Noble prize declared, only the particular area directly contribute something to the society.

Dear Dr. Anitha Subramani,

Yes it is a well-known. 2003 appeared Abel Prize for mathematics. But my question was why the Nobel off only mathematics, not if there is another prize instead of the Nobel Prize, which is awarded to mathematicians? It is not the same when these competitors representatives of science and when you compete only with mathematicians.

Your statement "Nobel prize declared, only the particular area directly contribute something to the society." Where is it written? This is only your opinion ? What means that have something helps direct? Do the mathematics does not give an essential contribution in all practical achievements:

Would it be physics (I think of the theoretical) without mathematics, Have you looked annexes of Prof. James F. Peters - how many mathematicians have won the Nobel Prize in Physics as well as for the economy?

Have you ever wondered whether your statement "only the particular area directly contribute something to the society" can be applied to literature and

which concrete contribution gives a literature, by your opinion ?

Of course, this does not mean that I am against the Nobel Prize for Literature?

Mathematics is Mathematics.

With best regards, Mirjana Vukovic

http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2010/10/the-reason-there-is-no-nobel-prize-for-mathematics-had-nothing-to-do-with-any-wifemistress-of-alfred-nobel/

No Nobel Prize was established for mathematics and many other scientific and cultural fields. An early theory that jealousy led Nobel to omit a prize to mathematician Gösta Mittag-Leffler was refuted because of timing inaccuracies. Another possibility is that Nobel did not consider mathematics as a practical discipline.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_Prize_controversies

The Nobel Prizes, as designated in the will of Alfred Nobel, are in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and peace. Only once during these years has a prize been added – a Memorial Prize – The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, donated by Sweden's central bank to celebrate its tercentenary in 1968. The Board of Directors later decided to keep the original five prizes intact and not to permit new additions.

http://www.nobelprize.org/faq/questions_in_category.php?id=2

Thank you for your contribution,

It is true : THE REASON THERE IS NO “NOBEL PRIZE FOR MATHEMATICS” HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY WIFE/MISTRESS OF ALFRED NOBEL,  but I think we need to break the story that lives for more than 100 years. 

1. Gösta Mittag-Leffler was an important mathematician in Sweden in the late 19th - early 20th century. He was the founder of the journal "Acta Mathematica", and was eventually head of the Stockholm Hogscola, the precursor to Stockholm University. However, it seems highly unlikely that he would have been a leading candidate for an early Nobel Prize in mathematics. In this time were mathematicians like Henry Poincare and David Hilbert around, after all ??!!

May be, you have not heard of them !!

2. There is no evidence that Mittag-Leffler had much contact with Alfred Nobel (who resided in Paris during the latter part of his life) still less that there was animosity between them. To the contrary, towards the end of Nobel's life Mittag-Leffler was engaged in negotiation to try to persuade Nobel to designate a substantial part of his money to the Hogescola. It seems, hardly likely that he would have undertaken this if there was prior bad blood between them ! 

So a woman (Nobel's mistressViennese Sophie Hess) is not the reason why there is no Nobel Prize for mathematics !

May be, Nobel, an inventor and industrialist, did not create a prize in mathematics simply because he was not particularly  interested in mathematics or theoretical science. His will speaks of prizes for those "inventions or discovers" of greatest practical benefit.  But Literature 

Concerning Nobel Prize and mathematics, see annexes of  James F. Peters: Although there is no Nobel Prize for Mathematics per se, quite a number of mathematicians have received the Nobel Prize for their work in a related field. See, e.g.:

List of mathematicians who have won the Nobel Prize on web-site:

http://planetmath.org/listofmathematicianswhohavewonthenobelprize

You write : Only once during these years has a prize been added – a Memorial Prize – The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel

IT ISN'T TRUE !  It was Nobel Prize in Economics: and all of the above (who has received it) was  mathematicians: Tinbergen  (1969),  Kantorovich (1975), Selten (1994), Nash (1994), ...

Dear Colleague, you know very little about mathematics, about physics even less that you could have your own opinion and competently judge and discuss it in a way that you are doing  !!

As I earlier wrote literature does not bring any practical use, But mathematics is something else entirely: Mathematics is the  basis and foundation of all natural sciences: physics, chemistry, biology, those who today can not imagine without mathematics.

And therefore, it is natural to ask the question if it is for all sciences that rely on mathematics to award the Nobel Prize, why is omitted mathematics

HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF A PYRAMID OF KNOWLEDGE ?