If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#221
|
|||
|
|||
On Thu, 30 Sep 2004 08:51:01 -0500, "CatNipped"
wrote: Jumping up and waving hand Algebra!!! Cut Algebra!!!!! Yeah! When was the last time you figured out what "x" was in real life! ; Not that long ago for me. |
#222
|
|||
|
|||
On Thu, 30 Sep 2004 08:51:01 -0500, "CatNipped"
wrote: Jumping up and waving hand Algebra!!! Cut Algebra!!!!! Yeah! When was the last time you figured out what "x" was in real life! ; Not that long ago for me. |
#223
|
|||
|
|||
Howard Berkowitz had some very interesting things
to say about A Miracle Story (WAS: Latest news on "the eye"): Admittedly computer science rather than literature, but I still remember a brief and dubious sampling of one graduate program. I was taking a course in [of interest to CS people only] discrete mathematical structures, and the lecture was on applications of finite state automata. The professor happened to pull an example from a very familiar industry document, a standard method of measuring network performance. He showed a page, and said "the description here can be rewritten in our terms to mean AAA". I raised my hand. "Professor, do you think that BBB might be an alternate interpetation?" "Nonsense. This is clear." A few minutes later, I inquired again, "could it be that the thought was BBB?" "No". I couldn't stand it any longer. "Sir, I really think you should conside the BBB interpretation." He whirled around and demanded "why on earth do you think a silly thing like that was in the committee's mind?" "Because that's not what I meant when I drafted that section. You might want to look at the list of coauthors." It was clear he was tenured, as he changed the subject with barely a blink. ROTFL!!!!! -- "The universe is quite robust in design and appears to be doing just fine on its own, incompetent support staff notwithstanding. :-)" - the Dennis formerly known as (evil), MCFL |
#224
|
|||
|
|||
Howard Berkowitz had some very interesting things
to say about A Miracle Story (WAS: Latest news on "the eye"): Admittedly computer science rather than literature, but I still remember a brief and dubious sampling of one graduate program. I was taking a course in [of interest to CS people only] discrete mathematical structures, and the lecture was on applications of finite state automata. The professor happened to pull an example from a very familiar industry document, a standard method of measuring network performance. He showed a page, and said "the description here can be rewritten in our terms to mean AAA". I raised my hand. "Professor, do you think that BBB might be an alternate interpetation?" "Nonsense. This is clear." A few minutes later, I inquired again, "could it be that the thought was BBB?" "No". I couldn't stand it any longer. "Sir, I really think you should conside the BBB interpretation." He whirled around and demanded "why on earth do you think a silly thing like that was in the committee's mind?" "Because that's not what I meant when I drafted that section. You might want to look at the list of coauthors." It was clear he was tenured, as he changed the subject with barely a blink. ROTFL!!!!! -- "The universe is quite robust in design and appears to be doing just fine on its own, incompetent support staff notwithstanding. :-)" - the Dennis formerly known as (evil), MCFL |
#225
|
|||
|
|||
On Sun, 03 Oct 2004 08:13:15 GMT, wrote:
So, what does the poem mean??? I was sure that x was going to be some magic number! It means use the Quadratic Formula. |
#226
|
|||
|
|||
On Sun, 03 Oct 2004 08:13:15 GMT, wrote:
So, what does the poem mean??? I was sure that x was going to be some magic number! It means use the Quadratic Formula. |
#227
|
|||
|
|||
OK, I've been pondering this for a while, and have come to the
conclusion that it is unsolvable. (Non-math people will probably either find this boring or it will bring back frightening memories of high school math classes!) O J wrote: Allow me a brief poetic interlude: But what are all such gaieties to me, who's head is full of indices and surds. X squared plus seven x plus fifty-three equals eleven thirds. (Author unknown -- at least I've forgotten) So, (Note - I'm using the ** operator to mean "to the power of", so "x**2" means "x squared") x**2 + 7x + 53 = 11/3 3x**2 + 21x + 159 = 11 3x**2 + 21x + 148 = 0 This can't be factored, because no pair of factors for 148 can be added together to make 21. So, what does the poem mean??? I was sure that x was going to be some magic number! Joyce |
#228
|
|||
|
|||
OK, I've been pondering this for a while, and have come to the
conclusion that it is unsolvable. (Non-math people will probably either find this boring or it will bring back frightening memories of high school math classes!) O J wrote: Allow me a brief poetic interlude: But what are all such gaieties to me, who's head is full of indices and surds. X squared plus seven x plus fifty-three equals eleven thirds. (Author unknown -- at least I've forgotten) So, (Note - I'm using the ** operator to mean "to the power of", so "x**2" means "x squared") x**2 + 7x + 53 = 11/3 3x**2 + 21x + 159 = 11 3x**2 + 21x + 148 = 0 This can't be factored, because no pair of factors for 148 can be added together to make 21. So, what does the poem mean??? I was sure that x was going to be some magic number! Joyce |
#229
|
|||
|
|||
William Hamblen wrote:
On Sun, 03 Oct 2004 08:13:15 GMT, wrote: So, what does the poem mean??? I was sure that x was going to be some magic number! It means use the Quadratic Formula. Oh, yeah... forgot about that. I guess the solution isn't going to be a whole number. Wow, the quadratic formula - that takes me back over 30 years! Joyce |
#230
|
|||
|
|||
William Hamblen wrote:
On Sun, 03 Oct 2004 08:13:15 GMT, wrote: So, what does the poem mean??? I was sure that x was going to be some magic number! It means use the Quadratic Formula. Oh, yeah... forgot about that. I guess the solution isn't going to be a whole number. Wow, the quadratic formula - that takes me back over 30 years! Joyce |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Latest Crackles Update (appt moved up) | Steve Touchstone | Cat anecdotes | 2 | July 12th 04 01:37 PM |
Touchstone feline news (long) | Steve Touchstone | Cat anecdotes | 10 | May 17th 04 12:34 AM |
Good News! (OT) | David Yehudah | Cat anecdotes | 10 | September 1st 03 05:46 PM |