How do you animate a parameter in the OSX Grapher utility? [more inside]
posted by b1tr0t on Nov 1, 2009 - 3 answers

I've annoyed myself by getting stuck attempting to work out a silly maths problem relating to permutations. It's an extension of the 'how many odd socks do I have to pull out of a drawer before I find a pair' problem. Only my theoretical sock-wearer has three legs. And a penchant for odd socks. [more inside]
posted by Beautiful Screaming Lady on Sep 1, 2009 - 7 answers

Ive been tearing my hair out trying to work out a mathematical formula for a sequence of numbers I have. Have a look inside and tell me if you see a pattern. [more inside]
posted by phyle on Aug 16, 2009 - 18 answers

If something takes 2 hours to complete and is then re-run and takes only 1 hour ... is that 100% quicker or 50% quicker? [more inside]
posted by cantthinkofone on Aug 13, 2009 - 73 answers

When did "Maths" change to "Math" in American English? Or is it the other way around? [more inside]
posted by fishmasta on Jul 11, 2009 - 39 answers

Optimisation problem: trying to find the subset of my data that meets a couple of constraints. [more inside]
posted by muhonnin on Jun 14, 2009 - 18 answers

I am trying to fit my data onto a sigmoidal function. The fit won't be perfect, but I am stuck with it for now. To help with this, I have been (very generously) given a spreadsheet that creates a sigmoidal curve if the values a, b, x0 and x are known. How do I get these values? [more inside]
posted by doctor.dan on May 24, 2009 - 8 answers

Interested to know more about the 'numbers' in JS Bach's music. Sometime ago I heard a radio programme about how some of Bachs music had patterns in which could be viewed as significant outside of what the music sounded like. [more inside]
posted by southof40 on Apr 13, 2009 - 10 answers

Best books, websites, lecture series on game theory and its applications for smart people who understand mathematics but can't stand trawling through pages of unnecessary complex formulae?
posted by vizsla on Jan 26, 2009 - 8 answers

How do mortgage calculations work? [more inside]
posted by missmobtown on Jan 16, 2009 - 3 answers

GISfilter -- I have a PostGIS table containing spatial data in the form of a few thousand shapefiles. Anybody know a quick way I can move *all* of them by about 40 metres? [more inside]
posted by genghis on Jan 10, 2009 - 11 answers

What might |000> + |111> mean, on a garden gate? [more inside]
posted by daisyk on Dec 12, 2008 - 13 answers

Applied Math Filter: Help me use math! I'd like to learn more about mathematics and it's practical applications - particularly in Computer Science [more inside]
posted by dcbarker on Aug 1, 2008 - 13 answers

How can I help my 6 1/2 year old son to *get* maths? It hasn't clicked with him at all and I find myself getting frustrated with having to repeat really basic stuff when helping him with his homework. I'm not a maths genius myself and I really don't want to put him off by getting cranky because he's just not getting it. How do I help him get it? [more inside]
posted by h00py on Jul 30, 2008 - 35 answers

I am useless at mathematics. If company A grows at 5% a month, how much bigger is it after one year? [more inside]
posted by dydecker on Jun 13, 2008 - 7 answers

How can I tile a sphere using the minimum number of differently shaped units? I have a 3 meter diameter sphere and I need to tile it using units that are each about 400 square cm (ie like a 20 x 20cm square). The units must be flat (ie, not spherical triangles). [more inside]
posted by silence on Jun 2, 2008 - 14 answers

How can I implement an s-curve function in excel? [more inside]
posted by matholio on Apr 16, 2008 - 6 answers

I have a question about persistence of vision and flashing lights... There will be maths and biology involved. [more inside]
posted by twine42 on Feb 6, 2008 - 3 answers

Teaching a university course for the first time: any tips or suggestions? [more inside]
posted by onoclea on Dec 12, 2007 - 33 answers

Where am I going wrong with this (very simple) implicit derivative? [more inside]
posted by PuGZ on Nov 3, 2007 - 3 answers

Time for a ridiculous math question: I've got F=255M^(-1.08) and I need to work out M. [more inside]
posted by cholly on Oct 24, 2007 - 10 answers

Why is it that when I solve the inequality 0 ≤ arccos(x) <> cos(π/4)? Why do the operators switch direction? [more inside]
posted by PuGZ on Oct 19, 2007 - 11 answers

is there a book on the mathematics of chess? [more inside]
posted by randomizer on Oct 18, 2007 - 6 answers

ABC x D = BADC. What single numbers (1-9) do the letters represent? Is there any way to arrive at the answer (a) by logical deduction all the way rather than with some trial-and-error and (b) so that a 10-year-old can follow the logic? [more inside]
posted by londongeezer on Sep 16, 2007 - 15 answers

(x + y)-(x*y)=79. What are x and y? [more inside]
posted by prentiz on Jun 4, 2007 - 17 answers

Maths Question. [more inside]
posted by Optamystic on May 18, 2007 - 14 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? [more inside]
posted by 0bvious on Apr 24, 2007 - 25 answers

ProbabilityFilter: Can I predict, from my bowling average, how many games it will be (on average) until I bowl a perfect 300 game? [more inside]
posted by roofus on Feb 19, 2007 - 26 answers

How do I calculate Gross Profit Percentage (GPP) on goods I sell? [more inside]
posted by tomble on Sep 9, 2006 - 2 answers

Do the curved triangular shapes made when cars (or even pedestrians) take "shortcuts" at T-junctions (seen here near my house and here in Western Sahara, although this seems like a deliberate one) have a name? What's the mathematics behind them? The psychology?
posted by Jimbob on Aug 25, 2006 - 23 answers

My maths skills are rubbish. Help me understand modulus remainders [more inside]
posted by TheDonF on Aug 8, 2006 - 10 answers

Quick maths [very basic trigometry] question. [more inside]
posted by PuGZ on Jul 30, 2006 - 9 answers

I'm on the hunt for sites and/or blogs about big ideas... Who wants to join me? [more inside]
posted by 0bvious on Jul 9, 2006 - 17 answers

Maths question: How can you make 25 using only the numbers 2,4,6,8? [more inside]
posted by prentiz on Apr 24, 2006 - 38 answers

Two objects, both mass 1kg are placed 1m apart in a total vacuum. How long would it take for the force of gravity to pull them together (assuming no other forces act)? [more inside]
posted by alby on Jan 4, 2006 - 51 answers

Is there a mathematical technique for simplifying ratios/fractions? [more inside]
posted by lunkfish on Dec 17, 2005 - 21 answers

Need someone to do a bit of maths for me: [more inside]
posted by priorpark17 on Dec 15, 2005 - 9 answers

A crystal consists of 100,000,000 layers of atoms such that there is 1 atom in the first layer, 3 in the second, 6 in the third, 10 in the fourth, 15 in the fifth, and so forth. Exactly how many atoms are there in the entire crystal? [more inside]
posted by Kwantsar on Oct 8, 2005 - 8 answers

How do I create an accurate and fair Top 100 list from people voting? [more inside]
posted by meech on Jun 21, 2005 - 12 answers

I am trying to find some good interactive Maths tutorial software which goes from basic algebra through to Differential Equations and maybe beyond. Can anyone recommend anything with the emphasis on the interactive side - something which can keep me interested so nothing too dry - a nice colorful multimedia approach would be ideal.
posted by empedia on Jun 12, 2005 - 2 answers

Here's a question for the mathematically minded. A lot of the work I do involves rolling materials such as paper or plastic film onto rolls. Now, while I normally can guess by sight or weigh a roll to determine how much is on it, I got to wondering... [more inside]
posted by tomble on Apr 27, 2005 - 24 answers

Mathematical imbecile question: what's the simplest, most universal way to add a list of vectors? [more inside]
posted by Jimbob on Feb 19, 2005 - 7 answers

Exam time. 2 weeks until some massive exams, which mostly consist of memorising and regurgitating code snippets and proofs for maths theorems out. Any tips/hints for last minute revision to round off longer term memorisation?
posted by Mossy on May 26, 2004 - 9 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

I'd like to learn Math. I'm particularly interested in learning trig and calculus. I'm don't need to learn these disciplines for any purpose. I'm just interested. I'm a reasonably bright guy, with a logical mind (I've worked as a programmer), and I'm a good self-learner. I'm not in a rush (don't mind working at this for a few years). What books/resources would you recommend? I should probably go all the way back to Algebra, which is pretty much where I left off in High School years ago.
posted by grumblebee on Dec 27, 2003 - 12 answers