Mathematical Anecdotes - Page 2

Andi47 · 2007-02-13, 09:06

One funny thing which has happened at the University of Graz, I think it was in 1993 or 1994:

In a lecture of Linear Algebra the professor wanted to draw a circle onto the blackboard, but for some reason the pair of compasses was was missing. So he had to draw the circle by hand, and of course, it was not well shaped. The professor commented his "circle" with: "Whoops, this is not a circle, but a Damson-oid." (in original german he said "Zwetschkoid").

mfgoode · 2007-02-13, 09:26

When G.H. Hardy the brilliant Cambridge mathematician was sent the unproved results of Ramanujan 's formulae it is related that he exclaimed
'These are so beautiful and elegant that they must be true' and I add "no Mind could conceive otherwise'

Mally

Xyzzy · 2007-02-13, 11:47

Quote:

In a lecture of Linear Algebra the professor wanted to draw a circle onto the blackboard, but for some reason the pair of compasses was was missing. So he had to draw the circle by hand, and of course, it was not well shaped.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAhfZUZiwSE

mfgoode · 2007-02-13, 16:41

Michael Angelo drew all his circles (halo's and breasts) by free hand and they are nearly perfect circles.

Come to think of it how will one draw an egg shape with pencil and string and drawing pins ?

Mally

petrw1 · 2007-02-14, 02:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xyzzy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAhfZUZiwSE

Or at the other "end" of the scale....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzemNrPxKdk&NR

Or this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTzVERGZpXo&NR

Orgasmic Troll · 2007-02-19, 20:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfgoode

Michael Angelo drew all his circles (halo's and breasts) by free hand and they are nearly perfect circles.

Mally

that's funny, because I don't think I've ever seen anything remotely close to a perfect circle in Michelangelo's work, and yet they have such similar names.

mfgoode · 2007-02-20, 17:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by TravisT

that's funny, because I don't think I've ever seen anything remotely close to a perfect circle in Michelangelo's work, and yet they have such similar names.

I think you are splitting hairs over works of Art.

FYI: A perfect circle cannot be drawn on paper and pencil. Its an idea in the mind

I have taken the liberty of descriptive licence. I read of his talent in the Book 'The agony and the ecstasy' by Irwin(g) Stone.

Probably you have not seen the Eiffel Tower. That does not mean it does not not exist

How many works of Michael Angelo have you seen ? or reproductions ?

Michael is the anglisized name for Michel

mally

P.S. I have seen two angels sculpted by MA in the Vatican, almost life size and they were so beautiful and realistic that I was tempted to feel them as if real

ET_ · 2007-02-20, 18:43

Sorry, Mally: the one drawing perfect circles was not Michelangelo Buonarroti: he was Angiolo di Bondone, called Giotto.

Luigi

ewmayer · 2007-02-20, 19:09

Mally, if you insist on continuing to spout nonsense and irrelevant piffle in reply to EVERY SINGLE NEW POST in this and other threads, your immoderation is going to fall victim to the kind of board moderation which the edit-ees tend to decry as "heavy handed" and which we try to avoid around here in the interest of open discourse. Your posting habits are more and more resembling those of certain folks who wound up in exile.

Consider this fair warning.

Xyzzy · 2007-02-21, 09:40

Quote:

Mally, if you insist on continuing to spout nonsense and irrelevant piffle in reply to EVERY SINGLE NEW POST in this and other threads, your immoderation is going to fall victim to the kind of board moderation which the edit-ees tend to decry as "heavy handed" and which we try to avoid around here in the interest of open discourse. Your posting habits are more and more resembling those of certain folks who wound up in exile.

Consider this fair warning.

I think he is telling us to play nice, and to not eat the paste.

http://members.cox.net/euty/writings/paste.html

mfgoode · 2007-02-22, 06:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by ewmayer

Mally, if you insist on continuing to spout nonsense and irrelevant piffle in reply to EVERY SINGLE NEW POST in this and other threads, your immoderation is going to fall victim to the kind of board moderation which the edit-ees tend to decry as "heavy handed" and which we try to avoid around here in the interest of open discourse. Your posting habits are more and more resembling those of certain folks who wound up in exile.

Consider this fair warning.

Well as this 'fair warning' is coming from the High Command I am viewing this post as very serious. I dont desire to raise my defence and accept your verdict as final.

I will take remedial measures and refrain from irrelevant posts and personal remarks. But I will turn my disadvantage to an advantage.

You wont be seeing my familiar 'smile' and 'coffee' smileys very often though.

Mally

2007-02-13, 09:06	#12
Andi47 Oct 2004 Austria 2482₁₀ Posts	One funny thing which has happened at the University of Graz, I think it was in 1993 or 1994: In a lecture of Linear Algebra the professor wanted to draw a circle onto the blackboard, but for some reason the pair of compasses was was missing. So he had to draw the circle by hand, and of course, it was not well shaped. The professor commented his "circle" with: "Whoops, this is not a circle, but a Damson-oid." (in original german he said "Zwetschkoid"). Last fiddled with by Andi47 on 2007-02-13 at 09:06

2007-02-13, 09:26	#13
mfgoode Bronze Medalist Jan 2004 Mumbai,India 2²×3³×19 Posts	Right or Wrong When G.H. Hardy the brilliant Cambridge mathematician was sent the unproved results of Ramanujan 's formulae it is related that he exclaimed 'These are so beautiful and elegant that they must be true' and I add "no Mind could conceive otherwise' Mally

2007-02-13, 16:41	#15
mfgoode Bronze Medalist Jan 2004 Mumbai,India 2²×3³×19 Posts	Circles Michael Angelo drew all his circles (halo's and breasts) by free hand and they are nearly perfect circles. Come to think of it how will one draw an egg shape with pencil and string and drawing pins ? Mally

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2007-02-20, 18:43	#19
ET_ Banned "Luigi" Aug 2002 Team Italia 2×3×11×73 Posts	Sorry, Mally: the one drawing perfect circles was not Michelangelo Buonarroti: he was Angiolo di Bondone, called Giotto. Luigi

2007-02-20, 19:09	#20
ewmayer ∂²ω=0 Sep 2002 República de California 2D7F₁₆ Posts	Mally, if you insist on continuing to spout nonsense and irrelevant piffle in reply to EVERY SINGLE NEW POST in this and other threads, your immoderation is going to fall victim to the kind of board moderation which the edit-ees tend to decry as "heavy handed" and which we try to avoid around here in the interest of open discourse. Your posting habits are more and more resembling those of certain folks who wound up in exile. Consider this fair warning.