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Maths! (NB: Not a musical)

Archive: 52 posts

Anyone else here actually like maths? I myself find it exceedingly enjoyable and love finding neat solutions to tricky problems, and the way the smaller parts always form larger solutions.

So I made this thread for you all to tell us why you like maths, and to post any interesting problems/tricky questions you're stuck on.

Here's a couple:


With two glasses of equal volume, one filled with wine, and the other with water, what are the relative concentrations (ie water:wine in one compared to wine:water in the other) after:

You take one teaspoon of wine from the wine glass, and add it to the water.
You stir, and take a teaspoon of the following MIXTURE and add it to the wine.


The integer 8 can be written as the sum of two squares of integers, m2 + n2, in four ways, when (m, n) is (2, 2), (2, -2), (-2, 2), or (-2, -2).

The integer 7 can?t be written at all as the sum of such squares.

Remarkably, over a very large collection of integers from 1 to n, the average number of ways an integer can be written as the sum of two squares approaches π. Why should this be?		2009-10-01 19:38:00

Author:
dawesbr
Posts: 3280

You know the word Math, is already pluralized.

You wouldn't say Chineses. =/

Don't mean to be a grammar nazi or anything lol, just an fyi.



Anyway. . out of the core subjects I would have to consider it my favorite subject.

I like how it's more logic then memorization unlike other subjects like Social Studies. That's where your IQ comes from, Math.

There's a big difference between Intelligence, and being Knowledgeable. Math takes intelligence, where subjects like Social Studies take the ability to remember learned knowledge (also known as being knowledgeable).

And in my opinion being intelligent is far more important in the world than being knowledgeable.

98 in Math, 80's in everything else.

Screw being knowledgeable, I'm intelligent.


And you can't really get the feeling you get when you solve a challenging math problem in any other subject. Know what I mean?		2009-10-01 19:51:00

Author:
ChristmasJew
Posts: 431

You know the word Math, is already pluralized.


It's Maths.
Americans can't spell, it's a well known fact.		2009-10-01 19:52:00

Author:
ARD
Posts: 4291

ARD has a point. Mathematics is a plural, right? Say I turn that into a singular...that's mathematic, right? Abbreviate it - Math...but we need to pluralise it, surely? Maths.

Else there's now way to distinguish the plural from the singular.

Also, yeah intelligence>knowledge. Moop.

ALSO also, any ideas on that second one in the OP? I only just found it, and I'm confuzzled.		2009-10-01 19:58:00

Author:
dawesbr
Posts: 3280

It's Maths.
Americans can't spell, it's a well known fact.
It's short for Mathematics, which is already pluralized.

I've never heard anyone say Maths, and not because I'm American, that's just disrespectful.

I just asked my friend who lives in Britain and he said he's never heard anyone said that either. . whatever, different cultures will speak differently.

Lets not go on about this. . stay on the topic.		2009-10-01 20:00:00

Author:
ChristmasJew
Posts: 431

I just asked my friend who lives in Britain and he said he's never heard anyone said that either

I've never heard anyone in Britain refer to it as anything other than Maths, your friend is obviously American

Anyway, I used to be at Maths, now I'm not, and in the process of trying to work out why I was failing at Maths I forgot all about English and have now failed that as well

Still good at Science though 		2009-10-01 20:04:00

Author:
ARD
Posts: 4291

Here's a sincher - maths is in the LBPC dictionary. Math is not. But yeah, honestly, that's too much to do with LANGUAGE!

How about some maths jokes!

What did i say to pi? Be rational! What did pi say to i? Get real!

Why was 6 afraid of 7. Because 7 8 9 ( )

Why are powers so important to fish? Because they live indices!		2009-10-01 20:04:00

Author:
dawesbr
Posts: 3280

I say math...mainly for the fact that I can't say maths...but all the other British people I know say maths.
Anyway, maths is something I hate and love. Doing physics, electronics and computing I come across maths a lot and when I know what I'm doing (or partially) and get the solution I'm like 'Yeah, this is awesome.' but if I don't know what I'm doing or the answer is all off I'm like 'Yeah...screw this'.		2009-10-01 20:05:00

Author:
adlingtont
Posts: 321

Here's a sincher - maths is in the LBPC dictionary. Math is not. But yeah, honestly, that's too much to do with LANGUAGE!

How about some maths jokes!

What did i say to pi? Be rational! What did pi say to i? Get real!

Why was 6 afraid of 7. Because 7 8 9 ( )

Why are powers so important to fish? Because they live indices!		2009-10-01 20:05:00

Author:
dawesbr
Posts: 3280

What did i say to pi? Be rational! What did pi say to i? Get real!

Why was 6 afraid of 7. Because 7 8 9 ( )

Why are powers so important to fish? Because they live indices!
Old jokes are ooooooooooooooooold.

I like this classic:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p236/Swish1212/find_x.jpg		2009-10-01 20:08:00

Author:
ChristmasJew
Posts: 431

Haha, I love that one. Here's an epic one that you can really use to alienate yourself:

Aeons ago, in times of yore, there were these three Kingdoms. They all surrounded a great lake, and, in the centre of the lake, was a great island. This island was fought over for years by the three Kingdoms, until, one year, the King's of all three Kingdom's agreed to have one last battle on the island, and whoever was victorious would be proclaimed rightful owner of the island for all time.

So the three Kingdom's all sent out their Knights and their Squires to the island to battle. The night before the big battle, the Squires of all the Knights prepared for the day to come. The first Kingdom had sent out seven knights, each with seven squires, and while all the knights sat around the fire drinking ale and wiling the night away, all the squires polished the armour, prepared more food, cooked the food, ground the swords, and all that work.

The second kingdom was very similar, except they had sent out 9 knights, and each knight had 9 squires. Once again, while the knights swapped tales of old and drank heartily, the squires cooked the food and polished the armour, servile to the last.

The final kingdom had just ONE knight, and that knight had just ONE squire. The night before the battle, the knight of the third kingdom polished HIS OWN armour, and sharpened HIS OWN sword. Meanwhile, his squire found the tallest tree he could, and climbed all the way to the top branches. There, he tied a rope, and in the end of the rope he made a loop, forming a noose. And through the noose, he threaded his pot, and he cooked the food all the way up in the top branches.

So, the next day, it is time for the big battle. Now, as is traditional, before the big battle, it was decided that all the squires of the three Kingdoms should fight, as a trivial matter. So all the squires went out onto the battlefield in the middle of the island, and they fought for hours. Much blood was shed, and the screams of them all lasted for hours. Finally, there was just one left - the squire of the third Kingdom.

So, it just goes to show, the squire of the high pot and noose is equal to the sum of the squires of the other two sides!		2009-10-01 20:25:00

Author:
dawesbr
Posts: 3280

I like math D:

<_> Kinda, sometimes... I like puzzles, y'nkow? Piecing a huge thing together for a bunch of seemingly unconnected parts? Yeah, that's what I love :/.		2009-10-01 20:29:00

Author:
RockSauron
Posts: 10882

Wow. Dawes, that is the first ever double post i have seen with someone else in between the 2 posts lol.2009-10-01 20:39:00

Author:
Unknown User

ir0nmaid3n, I don't know why but my internet has caused me to have loads of double posts of late.2009-10-01 20:41:00

Author:
dawesbr
Posts: 3280

Is that what British people call "Math"?



I like math because it doesn't require any thought at all. You just get a formula and plug in some numbers most of the time.		2009-10-01 20:43:00

Author:
qrtda235566
Posts: 3664

Maths huh? Not a fan of it, yet it was my best subject...odd.

Anywho since we're sharing math jokes... here's my entry.

13 X 7 = 28
Reasoning:
YouTube - Abbott And Costello 13 X 7 is 28		2009-10-01 20:45:00

Author:
4wheel
Posts: 511

Hehe, I thought there would be a discussion about math/maths to be found here just by looking at the title2009-10-01 22:06:00

Author:
Syroc
Posts: 3193

I enjoy math. I'm currently learning trigonometry. It's difficult at times, but it's still fun. Math is second only to physics.

Oh, and, I really have no idea what the answers are to the problems you posted. I feel so dim-witted. 		2009-10-02 04:07:00

Author:
StrayFelisCatus
Posts: 178

2 + 2 = 5

You better believe it.		2009-10-02 04:14:00

Author:
hilightnotes
Posts: 1230

I lol every time I see someone say 'math'...

Anyway, cookie for anyone who can divide by zero.		2009-10-02 17:51:00

Author:
ARD
Posts: 4291

∞

Can I haz cookie?

PS: Admittedly I didn't know this by heart, but that what wolfram alpha is there for. 		2009-10-02 18:02:00

Author:
Syroc
Posts: 3193

GARRARAGHAGHARHAHFGHRHGHDHGFHDGHDFHG IT IS NOT INFINITY SFGHAHW!

I may not know much, but Wolfram are a good company, so they may be right, but anything divided by zero should always be UNDEFINED. Think about it.

Take 5.
Assume 5 divided by zero is a real number (ie NOT undefined and NOT irrational)
5/0=n
5=0n
5=0

And you went ahead and broke maths. For this reason, it is undefined.		2009-10-02 20:36:00

Author:
dawesbr
Posts: 3280

Infinity with a squiggly line over it, but I don't know how to type that.

infinity^~		2009-10-03 10:49:00

Author:
Syroc
Posts: 3193

Okay, I don't know if it has been already been resolved, but here's a grammar lesson.


Math is plural and singular in the same time.
I have to do a math problem. I have to do math.

Maths is slang. Like ain't.

Mathematics is the more proper word, but it has been shortened to math.


I hope it helps.		2009-10-03 19:13:00

Author:
CyberSora
Posts: 5551

I'm doing maths in uni. Pure maths. Well, the modules have applied and pure stuff in. Fun times eh. I don't like applied as much. Well depends.

On the note of the math/maths thing... americans say math, british says maths. There's no right or wrong. It's like color/colour. So get over it people and move on. You're arguing is getting nowhere.

By the way, see if you can solve this little beauty (if you've not seen it before). Pretty amusing.

This is a proof that 1=2

Let a=b.
Then
http://www.math.toronto.edu/mathnet/falseProofs/fallacies_hlimgs/image1.gif

http://www.math.toronto.edu/mathnet/falseProofs/fallacies_hlimgs/image2.gif

http://www.math.toronto.edu/mathnet/falseProofs/fallacies_hlimgs/image3.gif

http://www.math.toronto.edu/mathnet/falseProofs/fallacies_hlimgs/image4.gif

and
http://www.math.toronto.edu/mathnet/falseProofs/fallacies_hlimgs/image5.gif

This can be written as
http://www.math.toronto.edu/mathnet/falseProofs/fallacies_hlimgs/image6.gif

and cancelling the
http://www.math.toronto.edu/mathnet/falseProofs/fallacies_hlimgs/image7.gif from both sides gives 1=2.


Since I know you're a clever guy Dawesbr, I don't expect you to take long to get this. And don't look it up!		2009-10-03 19:18:00

Author:
ryryryan
Posts: 3767

Maths is slang. Like ain't.

No, the correct shortened version of mathematics is maths.
Always has been, always will be.

Americans use 'math' because they speak an odd form of engrish.		2009-10-03 19:25:00

Author:
ARD
Posts: 4291

No, the correct shortened version of mathematics is maths.
Always has been, always will be.

Americans use 'math' because they speak an odd form of engrish.

Oh. By the way, did you misspell "english"?		2009-10-03 19:31:00

Author:
CyberSora
Posts: 5551

Oh. By the way, did you misspell "english"?

He did on purpose. Engrish is a term (an internet term I suppose) to explain misspelt English. Usually used in conjunction with Japanese/Chinese signs. Quite funny too.

Take a look http://www.engrish.com/		2009-10-03 19:33:00

Author:
ryryryan
Posts: 3767

I just got schooled in a thread related to school (in a way)! O_o2009-10-03 19:35:00

Author:
CyberSora
Posts: 5551

Haha. Pwnt

Anyway, uh...1+1 anyone?		2009-10-03 19:38:00

Author:
ARD
Posts: 4291

Back on topic, someone explain why my 1=2 proof using the basic algebra methods is wrong.2009-10-03 19:38:00

Author:
ryryryan
Posts: 3767

2! Now I PWN3D you!

(3x3)+13=?		2009-10-03 19:40:00

Author:
CyberSora
Posts: 5551

Ryan, quit dividing by zero And I mean that literally with the a^2-ab=0 part you neglected to mention

I have got some interesting problems to do, I'll post a quickie before bed:

For any integer n, let n' be the integer whose digits are the reverse of n (eg n=368, n'=863). Prove/disprove the statement "n-n' is always divisible by 3".		2009-10-04 01:47:00

Author:
dawesbr
Posts: 3280

Ryan, quit dividing by zero And I mean that literally with the a^2-ab=0 part you neglected to mention

I have got some interesting problems to do, I'll post a quickie before bed:

For any integer n, let n' be the integer whose digits are the reverse of n (eg n=368, n'=863). Prove/disprove the statement "n-n' is always divisible by 3".

Haha, your earlier post made me remember the 1=2 proof lulz

Also... that just reminds me of my mathematical analysis module... arrrrgh. If i gave it a proper go I probably could get it alright, but it's way past 5am so sleep for me But after a quick few attempts against it through counter example it seems to be true. woah. lol.		2009-10-04 05:22:00

Author:
ryryryan
Posts: 3767

Hm, apparently I found a different proof for the question I posted than everyone else. Post both proofs, win double!2009-10-04 11:47:00

Author:
dawesbr
Posts: 3280

All right, enough bashing Americans for saying "math". English and English are very different languages, so I'd say that neither one is wrong.2009-10-05 04:45:00

Author:
StrayFelisCatus
Posts: 178

Bahaha, you made me laugh, SFC.

Oh, also, it's kind of a moot point about pluralisation, because regardless of whether you say math or maths, it's always IS not ARE, so...yeah.

ANYONE TRY SOLVING THIS:

Let n be any integer. n' is the integer whose digits are the reverse of n (eg n=436, n'=634). Prove that n-n' is always divisible by 3.		2009-10-05 18:23:00

Author:
dawesbr
Posts: 3280

Bahaha, you made me laugh, SFC.

I do try.

Anyway, this thread is making me feel awfully stupid. 		2009-10-05 22:56:00

Author:
StrayFelisCatus
Posts: 178

Someone prove to me that 2 + 2 does not equal 52009-10-05 23:14:00

Author:
hilightnotes
Posts: 1230

Bahaha, you made me laugh, SFC.

Oh, also, it's kind of a moot point about pluralisation, because regardless of whether you say math or maths, it's always IS not ARE, so...yeah.

ANYONE TRY SOLVING THIS:

Let n be any integer. n' is the integer whose digits are the reverse of n (eg n=436, n'=634). Prove that n-n' is always divisible by 3.

I'm probably wrong, but (436-634) / 3 = -66.

Again, I'm probably wrong.

What if you use 6 as the interger, therefore (6-6) = 0 and 0 / 3 = 0

Maybe I'm just confused now.

Never mind, the theory is correct, I coded an application for it and it doesn't return any decimels.		2009-10-05 23:56:00

Author:
creelers
Posts: 275

-66 and 0 are both perfectly acceptable numbers. Nice approach with the program...but it's still not a proof. Here's my proof:


For an integer to be divisible by 3, its digits' sum must be divisible by three (I wrote a proof of this in my answer, if you want it I'll tell you).

Integer n has to have a remainder when divided by 3 (called "mod 3") of either, 0, 1, or 2

n' will have the same remainder, as the sum of its digits will be the same.

Here's the tricky part:

(n-n&apos mod 3 (NB: We're trying to proof this equals 0) = (n mod 3 - n' mod 3) mod 3

The last bit is because x mod n + y mod n = x+y mod n, a fundamental part of modulous (I think/hope). Of course, as n mod 3 = n' mod 3, it's going to equal 0.		2009-10-06 18:35:00

Author:
dawesbr
Posts: 3280

Someone prove to me that 2 + 2 does not equal 5

K.

2 + 2 = 4.1

Wait, what?		2009-10-06 18:42:00

Author:
ARD
Posts: 4291

5=2+2
5-2=2
3=2
1=0
Infinity=0
Infinity=1
1=1
2=2
2+2=2+2
4=2+2
2+2=4		2009-10-06 18:50:00

Author:
dawesbr
Posts: 3280

5=2+2
5-2=2
3=2
1=0
infinity=0
infinity=1
1=1
2=2
2+2=2+2
4=2+2
2+2=4

2+2+2+0+0+1+1+2+2+2+2+2+4=22
22?0=???		2009-10-06 19:08:00

Author:
ARD
Posts: 4291

2+2+2+0+0+1+1+2+2+2+2+2+4=22
22?0=???
:star:
.........................		2009-10-06 19:47:00

Author:
ryryryan
Posts: 3767

The 2+2=5 thing is simple misdirection. The analysis is fundamentally flawwed. It's like the analysis that shows that the fox will never catch up to the rabbit it's chasing, even though it is going faster.2009-10-06 19:56:00

Author:
rtm223
Posts: 6497

rtm, you can't be talking about my proof, can you?! That was a joke, man.

Here's a quoted real disproof:


The proof starts from the Peano Postulates, which define the natural
numbers N. N is the smallest set satisfying these postulates:

P1. 1 is in N.
P2. If x is in N, then its "successor" x' is in N.
P3. There is no x such that x' = 1.
P4. If x isn't 1, then there is a y in N such that y' = x.
P5. If S is a subset of N, 1 is in S, and the implication
(x in S => x' in S) holds, then S = N.

Then you have to define addition recursively:
Def: Let a and b be in N. If b = 1, then define a + b = a'
(using P1 and P2). If b isn't 1, then let c' = b, with c in N
(using P4), and define a + b = (a + c)'.

Then you have to define 2:
Def: 2 = 1'

2 is in N by P1, P2, and the definition of 2.

Theorem: 1 + 1 = 2

Proof: Use the first part of the definition of + with a = b = 1.
Then 1 + 1 = 1' = 2 Q.E.D.

Just replace it with 2+2 (which equals (2&apos&apos.		2009-10-06 20:50:00

Author:
dawesbr
Posts: 3280

rtm, you can't be talking about my proof, can you?! That was a joke, man.

No I wasn't. What I may have done was read highlightnotes refer to 2+2=5 and just assume that on the previous page there was mention of the "proof". Does this remind anyone of the scene from the big lebowski:

"So you have no frame of reference here, you're like a child who wanders into the middle of a movie and wants to know what's going on"

I'll be taking my leave now methinks 		2009-10-06 21:02:00

Author:
rtm223
Posts: 6497

Nono, no need to leave!

I has a maths joke!

Err...What type of plant has varieties sin(e), cosine, and tan? Trigonome-tree!		2009-10-06 21:16:00

Author:
dawesbr
Posts: 3280

best pickup line:

I wish you were cos squared x and i was sine squared x because together we would make 1 <3		2009-10-06 22:44:00

Author:
ryryryan
Posts: 3767

5=2+2
5-2=2
3=2
1=0
Infinity=0
Infinity=1
1=1
2=2
2+2=2+2
4=2+2
2+2=4

You're going to Room 101 buddy. :kz:		2009-10-06 22:56:00

Author:
hilightnotes
Posts: 1230

I can't think of a maths joke I have an electronics joke, so I'm gonna throw that out there (it's still geeky jokes, it nearly works)

"Two antennas got married. The ceremony was pretty average, but the reception was excellent"

I'll try to think of a maths jokes for later.		2009-10-06 23:07:00

Author:
rtm223
Posts: 6497


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