What is the newest installment of 'Random Thoughts' on Physics Forums?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Evo
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Random Thoughts
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The thread discusses various random thoughts and observations, touching on topics such as media programming, personal anecdotes, language use, and mathematical curiosities. The scope includes informal commentary, humor, and reflections on everyday experiences.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express frustration with the quality of documentaries on channels like the History Channel and National Geographic, suggesting a decline in factual programming.
  • There is a humorous anecdote about discovering a polythene bag obstructing a kitchen extractor fan, leading to a discussion about the clarity of installation manuals.
  • Participants share thoughts on the nature of prime numbers, particularly regarding the status of the number 2 and its implications for mathematical proofs.
  • There are reflections on language use and the reactions to grammatical errors made by native speakers, with some participants sharing their personal responses to such situations.
  • One participant humorously suggests that if 2 were not considered prime, it would complicate the understanding of prime factors in even numbers.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion contains multiple competing views, particularly regarding the status of the number 2 as a prime and the quality of media programming. No consensus is reached on these topics.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying degrees of skepticism and humor, with some comments reflecting personal experiences and subjective opinions rather than objective analysis.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in informal discussions about media, language, and mathematics may find this thread engaging.

  • #5,251
fresh_42 said:
Why not. Andrea is a men's name.
How about Rebecco, or Davida? Melindo?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #5,252
fresh_42 said:
Why not. Andrea is a men's name.
Isn't it Andreas? A man's name is the plural of women's name.
 
  • #5,253
WWGD said:
Isn't it Andreas? A man's name is the plural of women's name.
Andrea is an Italian male name. And not few of Italian men have Maria as second name.
 
  • #5,254
fresh_42 said:
Andrea is an Italian male name.
Isn't Andreas a male German nam
 
  • #5,255
WWGD said:
Isn't Andreas a male German nam
Yes, Andrea female, Andreas male. But not in Italy. I don't know whether Anfrea is for both in Italy.
Here is a (famous - at least here) example: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrea_Bocelli
 
  • #5,256
fresh_42 said:
Yes, Andrea female, Andreas male. But not in Italy. I don't know whether Anfrea is for both in Italy.
Here is a (famous - at least here) example: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrea_Bocelli
What if first name is Ann and last name is Drea? Anyway, I think we wore out the name topic.
 
  • #5,257
WWGD said:
What if first name is Ann and last name is Drea? Anyway, I think we wore out the name topic.
The last name of Ann is Arbor.
 
  • #5,258
fresh_42 said:
The last name of Ann is Arbor.
I thought it was 'Aconda' or 'Ticipation'.
 
  • #5,259
WWGD said:
I thought it was 'Aconda' or 'Ticipation'.
What shall I say. My weird relatives live in MI, not FL. And I have no kind of patience.
 
  • #5,260
Pretty elaborate instructions to cook my microwave food. Pinch holes, cook for 3 minutes, then remove remainder of cover and stir food, etc. I just put it in for 4-5 minutes and nuke it. Maybe Germans, Swiss or Japanese have the discipline to follow to the letter.
 
  • #5,261
WWGD said:
Maybe Germans, Swiss or Japanese have the discipline to follow to the letter.
Don't quote me! I managed to burn water.
 
  • #5,262
fresh_42 said:
Why do you want to refresh your python?
Ah, well,... sad things happen to one's python as one gets older... :cry:
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: WWGD
  • #5,263
fresh_42 said:
Don't quote me! I managed to burn water.
oops
 
  • #5,264
I never could get dumplings right. They're supposed to take 20 minutes to cook in a soup. I tried microwaving them for 3.5 minutes today. They were on a plate with a little water and a plate cover to make steam and they turned out great. I'll just pop them into a soup or stew pre-cooked now. I had them with pumpkin and coconut soup today.

Very nice.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: collinsmark
  • #5,265
DEvens said:
Are you a stand-up comic?
I do most of my comedy sitting down, so 'no'.
Maybe it will be The Apollo?
I think the Apophis Theater would be more appropriate, given the date.

"99942_Apophis [...] hit Earth on April 13, 2029"
"I will die on Monday, February 19, 2029"

In the meanwhile, I'm quite enjoying making graphs.

2019.09.14.death.age.by.country.png


This ones creation was inspired by someone on twitter who complained that the Netherlands was a complete and utter failure, because there weren't enough bugs*.

I didn't engage the person, but would have liked to have asked them how many bugs they had in their house.

-----------
*There were other things, but I don't want to hog the random stage.
 
  • #5,266
Interesting, unusual problem when tutoring. But seems to tough for intro class: find a quadratic equation without real roots without solving it. One possibility is x(x+1)=-5 ( or any negative number > 1), giving us x^2+x+5. Idea is that since -5 is negative, it must be the product of positive and negative and each larger than 1 in absolute value ( in order to equal -5), which is impossible. Scratching my head on how this belongs in an intro math class.
 
  • #5,267
Sure it does. Take the normal parabola and shift it one up.
 
  • #5,268
Occurs if and only if discriminant is negative. Totally high school friendly :D
 
  • #5,269
fresh_42 said:
Sure it does. Take the normal parabola and shift it one up.
That is not allowed in here because too obvious. ##x^2+c;c>0## clearly has no real root. Must be a "full" quadratic ##ax^2+bx+c##.
 
  • #5,270
##1x^2 + 0x + c ##, then?
 
  • Haha
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: collinsmark and dlgoff
  • #5,271
I approached the hare Krishna, only one that did. Just asked them where I can get a good full hair cut.
 
  • #5,272
nuuskur said:
##1x^2 + 0x + c ##, then?
No, that was excluded for same reason. Too obvious.
 
  • #5,273
Take a trivial example that meets the criteria and shift it. E.g ##x^2 +1 \to (x-c)^2 +1 ## tadaa!
 
  • #5,274
Choose a random triple ##(a,b,c)##, roll the dice ##100## times and at least one triple will do.
 
  • #5,275
But this has to be done at an intro level. I know it is a simple problem overall but these are entry level students. and they ask for actual solution not probabilistic argument.
 
  • #5,276
The good old cone sections work for high schoolers. The rest are just coordinate systems or stretches, also school stuff.
 
  • #5,277
WWGD said:
But this has to be done at an intro level. I know it is a simple problem overall but these are entry level students. and they ask for actual solution not probabilistic argument.
The analytical geometry approach mentioned by @fresh_42 meets your criteria. Write the equation, a two column table and the usual cartesian graph on the board (or screen). Col_1 contains trial values, col_2 the computed results (or just rough estimates). Plot the table on the graph as a parabola. Keep it simple.

This approach appeals to geometry types who recognize the shape from the ploynomial, list lovers who see numerical analysis and general math students who see an equation plotted. For AP students modify a few parameters a la @nuuskur and watch the parabola change.

Not sure where the Krishna's fit. :smile:

[Edit: added a smiley face to indicate I was humorously quoting the Krishna bit as if they were going to teach @WWGD 's math class.]
 
Last edited:
  • #5,278
If people were that good in math, the drink "Half and Half" would instead be called "One".
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Klystron
  • #5,279
Klystron said:
The analytical geometry approach mentioned by @fresh_42 meets your criteria. Write the equation, a two column table and the usual cartesian graph on the board (or screen). Col_1 contains trial values, col_2 the computed results (or just rough estimates). Plot the table on the graph as a parabola. Keep it simple.

This approach appeals to geometry types who recognize the shape from the ploynomial, list lovers who see numerical analysis and general math students who see an equation plotted. For AP students modify a few parameters a la @nuuskur and watch the parabola change. Not sure where the Krishna's fit.
Krishnas? Did I sleep through something major again?
 
  • #5,280
WWGD said:
Krishnas? Did I sleep through something major again?
Not sure, but can we change the subject? My dishes were lately so far from Krishna, I mean further away than any American dish.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
2K
  • · Replies 26 ·
Replies
26
Views
9K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
Replies
10
Views
3K
  • Poll Poll
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
2K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K