My new favourite maths problem

0x3c0

I've just been doing some practice exam papers for my A level maths exam, and come across a brilliant question: e2xtan(x). Find the turning point It was fairly simple to solve, but as I looked back, I decided that the proof was really elegant, and it was the closest thing I've seen to mathematical beauty. Have you ever come across an equation which has a beautiful proof, or am I the only one who thinks of Maths in that way?

OSDev :)

Media2r

You are in more dire need of doing something that's not KSS than any man in history... //L

PIEBALDconsult

6+9=69

Abhinav S

Mathematical integration can often be a lot of fun :) .

There's nothing left in my right brain and nothing right in my left brain.

Dan Neely

The indefinite integral of e to the x is equal to f of u to the n The definite integral on the interval 10 to 13 of 2xdx :-O

3x12=36 2x12=24 1x12=12 0x12=18

hairy_hats

This[^] any help?

I hope you realise that hamsters are very creative when it comes to revenge. - Elaine

Abhinav S

Very nice :omg: .

There's nothing left in my right brain and nothing right in my left brain.

peterchen

Why? Solving a mathematical problem is a braingasm that can last for hours. To put it with Nick Hornby: Remember when we were kids - when we played we could lose ourselves in all kinds of things, forget everything around us, we'd be just doing this one thing. As grownups, the only thing that comes close is sex. IMO that's (a) a description of achieving "flow", and (b) geeks of all kinds have preserved themselves another thing.

Personally, I love the idea that Raymond spends his nights posting bad regexs to mailing lists under the pseudonym of Jane Smith. He'd be like a super hero, only more nerdy and less useful. [Trevel]
| FoldWithUs! | sighist | µLaunch - program launcher for server core and hyper-v server

peterchen

0x3c0 wrote:

or am I the only one who thinks of Maths in that way?

Definitely not[^], and IMO the idea of "beauty and elegance" in math is very close to the one found in programming. I've done a lot of math and i know what you are speaking of. I was happy to put it behind me at one point in my life, but in the recent years I miss the experience from time to time.

Personally, I love the idea that Raymond spends his nights posting bad regexs to mailing lists under the pseudonym of Jane Smith. He'd be like a super hero, only more nerdy and less useful. [Trevel]
| FoldWithUs! | sighist | µLaunch - program launcher for server core and hyper-v server

Chris Austin

The D'Alembertian[^] especially the squared form.

And above all things, never think that you're not good enough yourself. A man should never think that. My belief is that in life people will take you at your own reckoning. --Isaac Asimov Avoid the crowd. Do your own thinking independently. Be the chess player, not the chess piece. --Ralph Charell

Abhinav S

I suppose you thought that was funny ;P .

There's nothing left in my right brain and nothing right in my left brain.

Gary Wheeler

I take it this[^] is not a valid answer?

Software Zen: delete this;

PIEBALDconsult

peterchen wrote:

a mathematical problem is a braingasm

But do you continue to have it upon each repetition?

belzu

My fav: Find a simple expression for the power series F(x)=\prod_{n \geq 1}(1-x^n)^{-\mu(n)/n} let mu(n) be the Möbius function of number theory: http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=mu(n)[^] have fun!

Joe Simes

For me playing music does it! Each and every time I play the song! Solving a math problem probably only gets you off once! And it probably isn't any better if someone is watching you! :-D

Lost User

Not really a math problem, but: e=mc2 Well, c is the speed of light which is a constant. A constant squared is a constant. so e=mk where k is the speed of light squared But the only necessity for that constant is to convert units (mass in kg, speed in metres per second, or mass in lbs and speed in miles per hour - it doesn't matter as long as you measure e in the appropriate units. So - choose your units and e = m Therefore, in fact, e=mc2 has absolutely nothing to do with the speed of light whatsoever. (or am I missing something?)

___________________________________________ .\\axxx (That's an 'M')

Steve Mayfield

Applying the infinity symbol to the centerfold of Playboy results in a very elegant solution :-O

Steve _________________ I C(++) therefore I am

Chris Austin

_Maxxx_ wrote:

(or am I missing something?)

Only the background behind the equation; there are a lot of important assumptions and building blocks that mainly have to do with objects traveling at speed of light and the nature of the speed of light. This equation (though a simplified version) simply states two things. 1) Matter is a condensed form of energy. This simplified version of this equation has been used commonly in nuclear reaction calculations. 2) As the kinetic energy of a relativistic object changes so must it's mass because, and this is the cool part, the speed of light & similar e.m. radiation in a vacuum is fixed and finite.

And above all things, never think that you're not good enough yourself. A man should never think that. My belief is that in life people will take you at your own reckoning. --Isaac Asimov Avoid the crowd. Do your own thinking independently. Be the chess player, not the chess piece. --Ralph Charell