Wave your hands in the air like you 're a mathematician

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a visual representation of mathematical functions through hand gestures, exploring the accuracy and creativity of these representations. Participants are analyzing specific functions and their graphical interpretations, focusing on potential errors and imaginative aspects.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Debate/contested, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that the representations of 1/x and -1/x are incorrect, but they also note that imaginative interpretations could still be valid.
  • One participant claims that the graph of sin(x) is actually a representation of -sin(x), indicating a possible error in the visual representation.
  • Another participant points out that the hands representing tan(x) and cot(x) should be oriented differently, suggesting they should point up/down rather than deflecting.
  • A participant asserts that the representation of \log_a(x) is significantly inaccurate.
  • One comment humorously suggests that the gesture for y=a^x requires more extreme positioning, implying it could be uncomfortable for a typical person.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the accuracy of various mathematical representations, indicating that multiple competing interpretations and potential errors remain unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Some claims about the accuracy of the gestures depend on subjective interpretations of the mathematical functions, and there are unresolved questions about the intended representations.

B0b-A
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B-_6mK8U8AALIJP.jpg

https://twitter.com/mathemaniac/status/571951211479347200
 
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I posted this on our facebook wall awhile back and a few said there were errors. Can anyone find them?
 
It looks like 1/x and -1/x are incorrect, but if you use your imagination they work. I think the others are all good though.

edit: actually sinx is a graph of -sinx
 
Last edited:
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The hands of tan x and cot x should be pointing up/down. Instead they look like they're deflecting (although the left hand of cot x looks OK).
 
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\log_a(x) is way off.
 
Needs to dislocate his shoulders more for y=a^x. Some of those look quite painful for anyone who isn't some kind of tentacle monster.
 

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