Recent content by barryn56

OK, so it comes down to - given real numbers x and y, is there a (simple) proof that x^n-y^n =/ 1 for all n>2 or not?

Yes, thinking some more about this, I realize the issue is that the re-arranged formula may actually have solutions for ANY real number x, y (i.e. there are an infinite number of solutions that can satisfy x^n-y^n=1), but Fermat's problem only allows a certain subset of the real numbers - those...

To prove the x^n-y^n is not equal to 1, you assume the opposite, so x^n-y^n=1, then you show this won't work... x (any y) are not integers, and there's no reason to suppose they are simply because a and b are, as JG89 shows by example. x is from the group of real numbers formed by fractions of...

Can someone point out the error in the following "proof": Prove a^n + b^n =/ c^n for n>2, a,b,c>1 (=/ means not equal to) Let b=xa where x>1 and is from the set of real numbers generated by fractions, such that b is an integer so: a^n + (xa)^n =/ c^n Expanding a^n + x^n.a^n =/...

Hi Carlos, I've got some preliminary designs checked out for an 11 bit encoder - this will be 30mm disc, so outside housing, say, 40mm and thickness around 10mm. Laser cutting the encoder disc is pretty cheap, so I think construction cost all up is going to be in the $100 range, main cost is...

Hi Carlos, there are two ways to get that resolution. You can use the combination of the absolute encoder and a separate incremental - they can be on opposite ends of a motor/gearbox assembly - so the resolution will be based on the resolution of the incremental encoder. Say you've got a 50...

Good point, Berkeman - I didn't mean in any way to post this as an offer of sale of any kind, and appreciate you posting it - I'll be more careful in future.

There's a much simpler, and cheap, method you could use. The problem with the accelerometer is that it will be measuring lots of other accerations during the movement, not just the angle of the hand. A gyro might be better, but is expensive and fitting it to the hand might be a challenge. Is...

Hi, as part of a project I needed a slim (<10mm) small diameter (<30mm) through hole absolute encoder that works at 100 degC. I wanted this to be able to determine a motorized valve position, so it needed to slip onto the gearbox output shaft between the motor and the valve. Anyway, I...

Thanks for the responses - I'm somewhat surprized that this question was construed as some sort of slight on accelerator design! ParticleGrl is correct in understanding that the thrust was the common argument as to why something (e.g. a rocket) cannot go faster than light is that the...

In particle accelerators, is all energy for the particle provided from external sources to get them up to relativistic speeds. If a system used unstable (radioactive) particles (maybe they have?) and a fission occurred that propelled, for example, an alpha particle in the opposite direction to...

Given an expanding universe, presumably affecting average density, will this have had an effect on the refractive index of free space and therefore on the historic speed of light (i.e. speed of light is slower now than in the - distant - past)? If so, would this have an effect on astronomical...