Vagueness and the Aftermath - A sporadic diary

[tikay]

And what about those prime numbers? Apparently, there is no formula for predicting what the next one will be, you just have to check it to see if it is one.

There is some truly terrific stuff on that Tom, & prime numbers generally, in Simon Singh's "Fermat's Last Theorem". It's a really eye-opening book, one of the best you could ever read.

And it shows the link between prime numbers, & nature. One particular insect only breeds every 17 years, so as to avoid the beeding cycles of all it's predators. (it only lives for one day, too!).

And it proves that you can determine the exact length of any river by measuring the "as the crow flies" distance from source to river, & then multiplying that by pye. Go figure THAT one!

Who needs Fiction when you can read that sort of stuff?

I wrote a history of prime numbers for my maths degree and that was before Singh made them all popular - he published Fermat's Last Theorem the year I graduated. It would have been a lot easier to write if I'd had his resources

When it comes to maths, I need someone to hold my hand. So, bearing that in mind, is this true?

And what about those prime numbers? Apparently, there is no formula for predicting what the next one will be, you just have to check it to see if it is one.

If it is, what is the biggest known prime number?

Read the book Tom! That is the very essence of it. For scientiftic proof, they have to produce a verifiable mathematical model. Which was the interesting bit.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermat's_Last_Theorem

[RED-DOG]

And what about those prime numbers? Apparently, there is no formula for predicting what the next one will be, you just have to check it to see if it is one.

There is some truly terrific stuff on that Tom, & prime numbers generally, in Simon Singh's "Fermat's Last Theorem". It's a really eye-opening book, one of the best you could ever read.

And it shows the link between prime numbers, & nature. One particular insect only breeds every 17 years, so as to avoid the beeding cycles of all it's predators. (it only lives for one day, too!).

And it proves that you can determine the exact length of any river by measuring the "as the crow flies" distance from source to river, & then multiplying that by pye. Go figure THAT one!

Who needs Fiction when you can read that sort of stuff?

I wrote a history of prime numbers for my maths degree and that was before Singh made them all popular - he published Fermat's Last Theorem the year I graduated. It would have been a lot easier to write if I'd had his resources

When it comes to maths, I need someone to hold my hand. So, bearing that in mind, is this true?

And what about those prime numbers? Apparently, there is no formula for predicting what the next one will be, you just have to check it to see if it is one.

If it is, what is the biggest known prime number?

Read the book Tom!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermat's_Last_Theorem

I'm a bit scared to. (I'm not kidding)

[RED-DOG]

In number theory, Fermat's Last Theorem states that no three positive integers a, b, and c can satisfy the equation an + bn = cn for any integer value of n greater than two.


I'm lost already.

[Jon MW]

And what about those prime numbers? Apparently, there is no formula for predicting what the next one will be, you just have to check it to see if it is one.

There is some truly terrific stuff on that Tom, & prime numbers generally, in Simon Singh's "Fermat's Last Theorem". It's a really eye-opening book, one of the best you could ever read.

And it shows the link between prime numbers, & nature. One particular insect only breeds every 17 years, so as to avoid the beeding cycles of all it's predators. (it only lives for one day, too!).

And it proves that you can determine the exact length of any river by measuring the "as the crow flies" distance from source to river, & then multiplying that by pye. Go figure THAT one!

Who needs Fiction when you can read that sort of stuff?

I wrote a history of prime numbers for my maths degree and that was before Singh made them all popular - he published Fermat's Last Theorem the year I graduated. It would have been a lot easier to write if I'd had his resources

When it comes to maths, I need someone to hold my hand. So, bearing that in mind, is this true?

And what about those prime numbers? Apparently, there is no formula for predicting what the next one will be, you just have to check it to see if it is one.

If it is, what is the biggest known prime number?

There are formulas which approximately give prime numbers but (unless somebody's made unexpected progress in the last few years) they sometimes give numbers which aren't prime.

The problem with the biggest prime numbers is that they're quite hard to comprehend as they're so big

Wiki tells me they found this a couple of years ago: 2^43,112,609 − 1
Which is 12,978,189 digits long

The other problem with 'the biggest prime number', is they'll find another one soon then that one won't be so interesting

[Jon MW]

In number theory, Fermat's Last Theorem states that no three positive integers a, b, and c can satisfy the equation aⁿ + bⁿ = cⁿ for any integer value of n greater than two.


I'm lost already.

fyp

notation is important

[RED-DOG]

In number theory, Fermat's Last Theorem states that no three positive integers a, b, and c can satisfy the equation aⁿ + bⁿ = cⁿ for any integer value of n greater than two.


I'm lost already.

fyp

notation is important

Lol, ty.

[Karabiner]

In number theory, Fermat's Last Theorem states that no three positive integers a, b, and c can satisfy the equation aⁿ + bⁿ = cⁿ for any integer value of n greater than two.


I'm lost already.

fyp

notation is important

I get it now.

[Longines]

The book said not that the ratio of all rivers' real lengths to straight line lengths was pi, but that the average of all the rivers looked at was 3.14 - big big difference.

Indeed. It relates to bends in the river and how the flow speed on the outside of the bend tends to create, in effect, a circular river.

A fast flowing river won't have a ratio of pi i.e. the Severn is ~220 miles long and ~80 miles as the crow flies. 220 / 80 = 2.75.

[Bongo]

You can get Fermat's Last Theorem and 9 other no-fiction books for £10:

http://www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/qs_product_tbp?storeId=10001&catalogId=10051&langId=100&productId=55512

I've read a few of them so far and they've been rather enjoyable. The one called Longitude about a man making a clock that could be used for navigating was especially interesting.

[gatso]

my mum gave me a copy of the curious incident. thought it was really good so read another one by the same person which was crap

the monty hall problem we've discussed at least a couple of times before

here http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=4121.msg115853#msg115853

here http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=15518.0

and I'm pretty sure another time that I can't find

[Longines]

The one called Longitude about a man making a clock that could be used for navigating was especially interesting.

They also made a film/mini-series of the same name about John Harrison, the man who made the clock. Shown on Channel 4 IIRC. Absolutely superb.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Longitude-DVD-Michael-Gambon/dp/B00005B1MG

[Bongo]

It says that's based on the book, probably why they share a name!

[RED-DOG]

I want to tell you about a young man that I saw today. I might sound condescending, but I really don't mean to be.

While having breakfast in McDonald's, I noticed a young man working there who was obviously not quite right. Someone who people might refer to as being, "A bit simple"

He didn't work in the kitchen or behind the counter, he stood by the waste bin.

When someone approached the bin, he would open the lid so that they could deposit their waste, and when they placed their empty tray on the top of the bin, he would produce a damp cloth and wipe the tray clean. Then he would rinse his cloth in a small bucket and fold it twice, carefully and precisely, repeating the process if he wasn't entirely satisfied. Then he would look around with a huge beaming smile, eagerly awaiting his next customer.

One or two people (mostly youngsters) made the the odd insensitive comment or skitty remark, but it didn't bother him at all, it went completely over his head. When we left, I made a point of thanking him very much, a big grin split his face from ear to ear and his chest swelled with pride.

"Awww, bless him" Mrs Red whispered to me.

I thought about this for a while, and the longer I thought about it, the more I came to realise, he was already blessed.

[RED-DOG]

the monty hall problem we've discussed at least a couple of times before

here http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=4121.msg115853#msg115853

here http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=15518.0

and I'm pretty sure another time that I can't find

This is the first time I've understood it.

[RED-DOG]

What's happened to google images? I want the old version back.

Normally I would have just googled an image of Iain Dowie and used it to make a joke on the Camel's "Sky Sports News" thread.

Now try posting that first Iain Dowie pic and see what happens....

Bump!

Any info on this? How do I post Google images now?