Does anyone have any recommendations for books, textbooks, or blogs that discuss the conceptual development of chaos theory? I'd be very interested in its use in applied mathematics over abstract mathematical theory.
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posted by geoff.
on Jun 5, 2007 -
11 answers
3D Trig question: I have a 2D square in 3D space (a Face). I know the positions of the four corner vertices in form x,y,z. How do I calculate the rotation in degrees (Euler angles) as relative from the center of the face?
I want to end up with degrees of rotations around x-axis,y-axis,z-axis. Bonus if you can write it in pseudocode.
posted by pooya
on May 9, 2007 -
7 answers
Imagine a cube-shaped building, with ten cube-shaped rooms along each side (10 rooms long, 10 high & 10 deep). Each cubular room has 4 walls, 1 ceiling and 1 floor. Each of the 6
interior surfaces in all 1000 cubular rooms is decorated with a different piece of art.
The rooms can be moved around the building, as if it were an enormous Rubik's cube, but they can also be spun on their axes, so all 6 walls of all 1000 cubes is capable of touching all the others (if the cube is so arranged).
How many combinations of art within the 'Cube Gallery' are possible? If you can run me through the workings of the maths I would be extra grateful. Also, what technical words/phrases/language are useful/interesting in expressing this concept?
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posted by 0bvious
on Apr 24, 2007 -
25 answers
I've charged with adding a feature to a shift scheduler / coverage requestor that displays shift information for a given week. I've been able to display them so as to satisfy the constraints I've been given, but it's got me wondering wondering if there's a more rigorous/mathematical approach to the general problem of organizing the display of any such calendar information.
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posted by Frankieist
on Apr 12, 2007 -
3 answers
What e-learning systems provide students with the math-related symbols they need and lets them "show their work," while still letting them submit all answers online?
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posted by ejvalentine
on Mar 14, 2007 -
8 answers
(Stereotype-flouting) Math Movie Suggestions Needed for a pi-day celebration. I'm looking for movies that don't portray mathematicians as schizophrenic or otherwise deranged.
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posted by ZeroDivides
on Mar 7, 2007 -
30 answers
Quick help needed for my rusty calculus. Regarding algebraic functions, are the terms "no limit" and "limit does not exist" synonymous?
posted by Neiltupper
on Feb 15, 2007 -
9 answers
I am wondering if anyone knows where to find free ware/economical software that will
calculate the surface area of an object defined by a closed curve saved
either as a bitmap or vector image?
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posted by plumberonkarst
on Jan 15, 2007 -
6 answers
How many sides does a circle have? I always assumed the answer was an infinite number of sides. My boyfriend disagrees with me and thinks that the answer is zero. My brother seems to think that it depends on your definition of what a side is. I have searched all over but can't seem to find a definitive answer.
posted by Inside Out Girl
on Dec 20, 2006 -
41 answers
Mathematicians, I've always suspected there is a real opportunity to exploit the inefficiencies of the online sports betting markets and amateur bettors and make serious money. Have you felt the same way or am I kidding myself?
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posted by vizsla
on Dec 17, 2006 -
7 answers
I remember reading an anecdote about Feynman, written by Feynman either in Surely, You're Joking or What Do You Care What Other People Think. He was describing how in his undergraduate years people were really impressed by his ability to do integrals, all because he knew this integration technique that wasn't taught very often. What was that technique?
posted by phrontist
on Dec 4, 2006 -
10 answers
Science and math educators, K-12 and college! What are your favourite science and math sites that you use for planning lessons and curricula, or for classroom use? And why? Thanks!
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posted by carter
on Nov 16, 2006 -
3 answers
If a group is said to be cyclic if it is generated by a single element (single generator), is the quaternion group an example of a finite group that is not cyclic, since it has four generators {-1, i, j, k}? Also, why is the group of rationals under addition not cyclic?
posted by Mr. Six
on Oct 31, 2006 -
14 answers
If you were to buy just one text on probability and statistics (and their applications) that covers the subjects in some depth (building from an introductory college level, through advanced undergraduate to a graduate level and perhaps further) and does a good job of making the basic concepts clear with solved examples (employing those drawn from actual research), which one would you choose?
posted by sk381
on Oct 17, 2006 -
2 answers
What job should I get if I'm thinking about graduate school in mathematics but I still need to take some courses to prepare?
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posted by stranger loop
on Aug 4, 2006 -
5 answers
How do I process user ratings of content without skewing results of items that have only been rated once?
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posted by Orkboi
on Jul 10, 2006 -
19 answers
Philosophy-Filter: In reading a paper about mathematics philosophy I came across a reference to the term "idiotic infinity"; which Hegel used to express the unlimited accumulation of ideas, all of which become equally profound. I'd like to read more of what Hegel said about this idea, but I cannot find the term in use anywhere. Does anyone familiar with Hegel know where in his enormous corpus I might find the discussion of the "idiotic infinity"? There is also the off-chance that the math paper reference was wrong, and the term might have originated with another philosopher entirely.
posted by archae
on May 20, 2006 -
5 answers
I've read that Gödel's incompleteness theorem shows that there are definite limits to what logic, mathematics and by extension computers can do. This seems to be unknown among humanists such as myself. What are the things logic cannot do? Earlier AskMe questions about Gödel
here and
here (
this answer is especially good).
posted by Termite
on Apr 5, 2006 -
50 answers
I recall reading that years after Newton and Leibniz, a school teacher slogged from the steppes to the big city with his independent invention of calculus. Apocryphal? Name, place, source? Yeah, I know about the quarrel between Newton & Leibniz, and Indian & Japanese calculus. I think this poor guy was Russian.
posted by gregoreo
on Apr 2, 2006 -
7 answers
Looking for songs about math! My girlfriend's sister just got into a Ph.D. program for mathematics and we're making her a mix CD to help celebrate. Poppy indie rock especially good.
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posted by hydrophonic
on Feb 23, 2006 -
68 answers
I want a true vector-based (i.e., not merely a series of thousands of line segments) Postscript or Illustrator file of an
epicycloid where a=5, b=2.
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posted by dmd
on Feb 19, 2006 -
25 answers
Statistics problem: Suitable statistical test for data containing rankings of preference for men and women for 4 alternatives. (more inside) Help me extract some meaning from my data, please.
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posted by JeNeSaisQuoi
on Dec 16, 2005 -
13 answers
How do we know the mathematical models of physics — equations modeling the universe — apply across the universe, to data we collect about the universe that may be billions of years old? (What would be the process for verifying this?)
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posted by Rothko
on Dec 2, 2005 -
22 answers
Are national political polls that make use of random sample populations adjusted to account for the differences in overall population distribution throughout the US (in other words, do national political pollsters typically use some methodology to appropriately weigh responses from poll respondents depending on whether they live in more densely or less densely populated regions)?
posted by all-seeing eye dog
on Aug 3, 2005 -
9 answers
Can someone explain the Doomsday Argument in a way that a math-challenged person like me can understand?
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posted by swift
on May 26, 2005 -
37 answers
I want to learn intermediate/advanced algebra and on to trig/calculus. Are there any good books / software / resources / websites that will help me with this, aside from the regular run of dry textbooks?
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posted by rolypolyman
on May 17, 2005 -
9 answers
Help me find a geometrical drawing by Leonardo da Vinci, of a "permutahedron" made of hexagons and squares. Does it appear in a book (or codex?) I can reference? Are there copyright issues?
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posted by Aknaton
on May 1, 2005 -
5 answers
I've been fascinated for a while by actions that we can take simply by saying that we're taking them. I recently found out these are called "performative utterances"; the classic examples are firing someone by saying "You're fired", or getting married by saying "I do (take him/her to be my...)". These things pop up all the time in mathematics (in fact one might say that mathematics consists almost entirely of such statements). What are some other arenas where they arise naturally? Are there other parts of life that are almost completely performative in this sense? Any favorite examples?
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posted by gleuschk
on Mar 13, 2005 -
71 answers
Mathematical imbecile question: what's the simplest, most universal way to add a list of vectors?
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posted by Jimbob
on Feb 19, 2005 -
7 answers
Given the latitude and longitude of three points, how can I find the coordinates of the point that is equidistant from them? [mi]
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posted by obiwanwasabi
on Feb 6, 2005 -
21 answers
Suppose there are 20 objects hidden in a collection of 270 haystacks. What are your odds of searching 100 haystacks (assuming that if you choose to search a haystack with an object in it, you'll find that object) without finding an object? My discrete math skillz have eroded to the point where any attempt to work this out myself yields preposterous numbers..
posted by COBRA!
on Dec 1, 2004 -
30 answers
I enjoy mathematics, and I'd imagine that on these internets there are many others who are similarly inclined. Why then, am I unable to find a good "Problem of the Day" site? [mi]
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posted by phrontist
on Nov 20, 2004 -
8 answers
When reading a book about Newton V's Leibniz recently, it occurred to me that great advances in Science often seem to occur in tandem, ie two unrelated persons or groups often arrive at a breakthrough at roughly the same time. Is this true? Can anyone think of some other examples? Can anyone explain why this may be the case?
posted by kev23f
on Nov 19, 2004 -
21 answers
How did East Asians do math before the adoption of arabic numerals, which are universally used today? Were there a variety of local systems? When did the switchovers happen? [more inside]
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posted by stavrosthewonderchicken
on Oct 14, 2004 -
18 answers
Mathfilter: Have you ever found any really, really good explanations of complicated mathematics topics online? Where "good" here gives higher marks for clarity, analogies, examples, and even aesthetics than for strict formal completeness, though that's not taken lightly either. (
E.g.) [More inside]
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posted by tss
on Oct 3, 2004 -
8 answers
How can a major key sound confident and happy, while a minor key can sound sinister or sad? Is it just centuries of musical brainwashing, or is there a real mathematical explanation?
posted by Pretty_Generic
on May 7, 2004 -
16 answers
Mathematicians! I was told that there are fundamental mathematical assumptions (maybe 6, or 7) on which all mathematical proofs rest, but which themselves are unproven. Or maybe they're unprovable. I seem to recall that one is that ab always=ba and another than a+b = b+a. What are the others? Are they unproven, or unprovable? If either, where does that leave every other mathematical proof? Are there any more assumptions waiting to be discovered?
Caveat: I'm a mathophobe lit grad who happens to have just finished reading
"Fermat's Last theroum", so be gentle with me, please egg-heads.
posted by Pericles
on Jan 22, 2004 -
24 answers
