Math Is Fun Forum

gAr

Member

Registered: 2011-01-09

Posts: 3,482

Re: What do you think?

Yes, I get an headache if I think too much about determinants!

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"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense"  - Buddha?

"Data! Data! Data!" he cried impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay."

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: What do you think?

I know what you mean.

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In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: What do you think?

New problem!

B is presented with the following problem:

n and m are positive integers, n ≠ m and what is the minimum value of n + m?

B says get the proper divisors of 12^2 and do this:

Start at both ends and add 12 to each number, like this x= 12+1 = 13 and y=144+12 = 156. That is the first solution. The next solution is x = 12+2 = 14  and y = 72+2 = 74. I did that for each one except 12 +12 and they are below. That is all the solutions to that equation.

Smallest answer is 21 + 28 = 49. We are done!

A says) They should drum you out of mathematics for that. That method is garbage. It is only going to work on only one problem if at all.

C says) I have to agree with A, I do not think that idea is right. Why can you add 12 to those divisors like that? You just got lucky.

D says) personally, I would love to put B in front of a firing squad and shot dead, twice.

B says) I stand by that method!

Who is right?

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: What do you think?

New Problem!

A says he has discovered two factorials that when added end in 1990. He poses the problem to our distinguished panel and dares them to find the two.

B says) I do not think so A. A number like that is impossible. You should check your work.

C says) Quiet B, I have the two factorials right here. A is brilliant.

D says) Yes, A is brilliant to have found them without a computer. I am throwing my computer away and going back to writing on a sandy beach like A does.

A says) Yes, I use a sandy beach for writing my math. You never run out of paper or space.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

gAr

Member

Registered: 2011-01-09

Posts: 3,482

Re: What do you think?

Hi bobbym,

I missed to see your yesterday's post.
B's method appears to be good.

I have another solution.

---

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense"  - Buddha?

"Data! Data! Data!" he cried impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay."

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: What do you think?

Hi gAr;

I miss some posts too. It is okay.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

gAr

Member

Registered: 2011-01-09

Posts: 3,482

Re: What do you think?

Hi bobbym,

Your solution looks cool too.

Last edited by gAr (2011-03-24 00:34:13)

---

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense"  - Buddha?

"Data! Data! Data!" he cried impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay."

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: What do you think?

Hi gAr;

Yes, that is what A means.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

gAr

Member

Registered: 2011-01-09

Posts: 3,482

Re: What do you think?

Hi bobbym,

I edited my answer to the previous post.

---

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense"  - Buddha?

"Data! Data! Data!" he cried impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay."

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: What do you think?

Hi gAr;

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

gAr

Member

Registered: 2011-01-09

Posts: 3,482

Re: What do you think?

Thank you!

---

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense"  - Buddha?

"Data! Data! Data!" he cried impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay."

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: What do you think?

Your welcome, you have earned it. Very nice skills.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

gAr

Member

Registered: 2011-01-09

Posts: 3,482

Re: What do you think?

But I think anyone can do it.

---

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense"  - Buddha?

"Data! Data! Data!" he cried impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay."

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: What do you think?

Hi gAr;

Depends on what you mean. I think that lots of people could do math but the fact is that it is very hard for a lot of people. Even if lots of people did it there would still a small goup that would be the best at it.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

gAr

Member

Registered: 2011-01-09

Posts: 3,482

Re: What do you think?

Hi bobbym,

Yes, makes sense. I remember struggling in the past to solve questions that were quite easy.
So, easy or tough is only relative!

---

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense"  - Buddha?

"Data! Data! Data!" he cried impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay."

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: What do you think?

Hi gAr;

I have struggled all my life and I really do not know what an easy question is. Sometimes what others found easy was very, very difficult for me. The only thing that has always been true is that I have always enjoyed it.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

gAr

Member

Registered: 2011-01-09

Posts: 3,482

Re: What do you think?

I too enjoy it a lot.
But I don't understand when I see people who prefer to be idle, no passion in the work they do. All they want is to count money!

---

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense"  - Buddha?

"Data! Data! Data!" he cried impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay."

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: What do you think?

Hi gAr;

All the want to do is accumulate money. The school system here is quite bad. They encourage children to be stupid concerning math. They are encouraged to become attorneys rather than some technical field. People take jobs they hate just because it is a little bit more money. Everyone is not happy unless they are driving 2 cars at the same time and live in a house that is too big for them.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

gAr

Member

Registered: 2011-01-09

Posts: 3,482

Re: What do you think?

Hi bobbym,

You said it!
Talking about education system, I guess it's more tolerable in US than India. There's reservation for almost everything here, be it education or job or promotion!
There's even a big wiki article regarding that.

---

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense"  - Buddha?

"Data! Data! Data!" he cried impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay."

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: What do you think?

We have lots of problems here. Lots of greedy people. I think that is the entire problem. Too many people that only think about themselves. I suffered a lot when I was younger because my parents wanted their children to be different. Now I am glad they did.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

gAr

Member

Registered: 2011-01-09

Posts: 3,482

Re: What do you think?

Ok. Everything goes with the group, like a stream!
People around here are aware of only software engineer, doctor, teacher. And parents want their children to pick from one of those three!
I feel like there should be a curriculum in high school briefing about the possible professions.

---

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense"  - Buddha?

"Data! Data! Data!" he cried impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay."

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: What do you think?

Yes, they should. People should have a choice. Choices are being taken away. Less and less options. Teachers here are maligned. They are underpaid, have no authority and are bullied by the students and the administration. All I see is a bunch of people who can not figure what 50 - 33 is.

See you later.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

gAr

Member

Registered: 2011-01-09

Posts: 3,482

Re: What do you think?

Hi bobbym,

Teachers are underpaid here too. Some choose it because they think there's more leisure time, and some others because they can't make it to companies.
And there are few who give private tuitions. People make business out of everything!

---

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense"  - Buddha?

"Data! Data! Data!" he cried impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay."

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: What do you think?

Hi gAr;

It is the way people are. Most people start out poor, no matter where they are born. I guess it leaves a stain on them.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: What do you think?

New problem!

Is a(n)  an integer for all n?

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.