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#8951 2013-03-09 21:36:17
- zetafunc.
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Re: Linear Interpolation FP1 Formula
Their solution identifies a pattern then uses the standard sum for n^2 to get to that formula. I tried a GF approach and it is too messy, I don't think it is a good approach for this part of the problem...
#8952 2013-03-09 21:45:15
- bobbym
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Re: Linear Interpolation FP1 Formula
I can generate a gf but I can not get the zeroth coefficient from it.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#8953 2013-03-09 21:46:19
- zetafunc.
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Re: Linear Interpolation FP1 Formula
I have the same problem too, it might be quicker to use the 'normal' method (the problem is aimed at students who have never encountered GFs).
#8954 2013-03-09 21:49:01
- bobbym
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Re: Linear Interpolation FP1 Formula
Okay, I will have a look at that paper. Thanks for the link.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#8955 2013-03-10 02:01:36
- zetafunc.
- Guest
Re: Linear Interpolation FP1 Formula
I found out that she leaves only a couple of minutes before I do. She has early lessons on Tuesday and Wednesday, so I can meet her on the way to school on those days.
She doesn't seem to be that interested in maths though... I just need to show her something nice, but I don't know what she is interested in. She just said she likes 'pure maths', but she only says that because she has never really done any applied maths. To be truthful, she doesn't even tend to do well in maths... but I'll see if I can find out why she likes it.
#8956 2013-03-10 02:05:09
- bobbym
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Re: Linear Interpolation FP1 Formula
Probably some reason that will be difficult to understand.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#8957 2013-03-10 02:08:22
- zetafunc.
- Guest
Re: Linear Interpolation FP1 Formula
Her Dad has a PhD in physics, maybe he was pushy...
#8958 2013-03-10 02:09:27
- bobbym
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Re: Linear Interpolation FP1 Formula
Yeccchh! Ever heard of the teakettle principle?
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#8959 2013-03-10 02:30:39
- zetafunc.
- Guest
Re: Linear Interpolation FP1 Formula
Isn't that when you simplify a problem to one you how to solve? I remember reading something about a joke, don't know what it is though...
#8960 2013-03-10 02:35:44
- bobbym
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Re: Linear Interpolation FP1 Formula
A physicist and a mathematician are given an empty teakettle, a fire and a water supply and are asked to boil water. They both fill the teakettle, place it on the fire and boil the water. Now they are both given a teakettle already filled with water. The physicist after much thought shouts "Eureka" and places the teakettle on top of the fire and boils the water. The mathematician immediately empties his teakettle, the physicist asks why did you empty it? The mathematician says, "because I already know how to solve the empty teakettle problem."
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#8961 2013-03-10 02:40:36
- zetafunc.
- Guest
Re: Linear Interpolation FP1 Formula
Haha, that is good. I'll remember that one.
#8962 2013-03-10 02:45:37
- bobbym
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Re: Linear Interpolation FP1 Formula
Vilenkin, the Russian combinatoricist is the source.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#8963 2013-03-10 02:46:33
#8964 2013-03-10 02:52:26
- bobbym
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Re: Linear Interpolation FP1 Formula
Neither did I until I came across his book. The Soviet authors did not get a lot of exposure over here.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#8965 2013-03-10 03:02:35
- zetafunc.
- Guest
Re: Linear Interpolation FP1 Formula
It's the same here. We are never taught the history of any maths, or where things came from.
#8966 2013-03-10 03:08:52
- bobbym
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Re: Linear Interpolation FP1 Formula
That is what I have found. It is a shame, the history is fascinating.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#8967 2013-03-10 03:13:43
- zetafunc.
- Guest
Re: Linear Interpolation FP1 Formula
It is a shame indeed. I was asking a maths teacher about Leibniz and do you know what he said?
"Oh, Leibniz! Those cost about £1.99 just across the street."
Turns out he wasn't joking, he thought Leibniz was a chocolate biscuit, not a man.
#8968 2013-03-10 03:18:07
- bobbym
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Re: Linear Interpolation FP1 Formula
I had a similar experience. I tried to compliment a supposedly pretty good math type with a phrase from Newton and one of the Bernoulli's. He had never heard of it.
Remember we were talking about cf's and Pell equations? There is an example, Pell had nothing to do with that equation. It was Fermat's! A historical error names them Pell equations.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#8969 2013-03-10 03:20:00
- zetafunc.
- Guest
Re: Linear Interpolation FP1 Formula
Oh I see -- I've seen them called 'Pell-Fermat equations'... I do not really know what else Pell is famous for doing though. Pell equations are all I can associate with him.
Argand diagrams are a historical error too, aren't they? I don't think someone called Argand discovered them.
#8970 2013-03-10 03:24:49
- bobbym
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Re: Linear Interpolation FP1 Formula
I do not know about that one, I will have to look it up.
The Binet formula for the Fibonacci numbers, that was discovered by De Moivre, not Binet.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#8971 2013-03-10 03:27:04
- zetafunc.
- Guest
Re: Linear Interpolation FP1 Formula
I did not know that, and we never do question these things when we learn about them. I just accepted it...
Venn diagrams were actually first used by Euler I think...
#8972 2013-03-10 03:31:46
- bobbym
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Re: Linear Interpolation FP1 Formula
I heard that. It is strange that in some cases they did not even get the name of the discoverer right. Makes you wonder what other mistakes there are.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#8973 2013-03-10 03:45:06
- zetafunc.
- Guest
Re: Linear Interpolation FP1 Formula
Hopefully the errors are only historical ones...
#8974 2013-03-10 03:48:25
- bobbym
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Re: Linear Interpolation FP1 Formula
That is what we hope. I do not agree with cutting it out of the educational process. They should teach a little bit of the background of these men.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#8975 2013-03-10 04:31:04
- zetafunc.
- Guest
Re: Linear Interpolation FP1 Formula
Even fellow mathematicians care little for history or even for the beauty of maths itself. Not that those are necessary pre-requisites to study it, though.