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

[DrGreg]

Not changing both to 2sq? Take 80 off then 4 back?

Yes you are right, I really messed that up. I must be getting old faster than I thought.

 

[fresh_42]

My doc wants to staple an afterbirth onto my eye.

 

[pinball1970]

My doc wants to staple an afterbirth onto my eye.

That's nuts, just googled it. Hope it works out

 

[pinball1970]

Yes you are right, I really messed that up. I must be getting old faster than I thought.

I'm just glad! thought I was going nuts!

 

[fresh_42]

That's nuts, just googled it. Hope it works out

Thank you.

And I learned that to staple is by far not what I wanted to express. The German word tackern fits much better.

 

[WWGD]

is there a short cut for squares?

I'm told I'm kind of a square ;). This is often helpful:

Use that $a^2-b^2=(a-b)(a+b)$
So that:
$a^2=(a-b)(a+b)+b^2$ (1)

So you look for convenient choices for b to simplify the multiplication.

Example. Compute $988^2$

Here you can choose $b=12$.Then , in (1) above, we get:

$988^2=(988-12)(988+12)+12^2$ =
$(976)(1000)+ 12^2=976144$

It tends to impress people. But its often the people who are impressed when you come up with the answer to $1000^2$

 

[fresh_42]

What we call the third binomial formula at school (a+b)(a-b) here is the unsung hero of all binomial theorems in my opinion. It is useful in so many places that it surprised me that I haven't found an English name for it.

 

[WWGD]

What we call the third binomial formula at school (a+b)(a-b) here is the unsung hero of all binomial theorems in my opinion. It is useful in so many places that it surprised me that I haven't found an English name for it.

I've heard it called a ' workhorse'.

 

[fresh_42]

I've heard it called a ' workhorse'.

It is, indeed!

 

[pinball1970]

It is, indeed!

Only a mathematician would say that.

 

[WWGD]

One of my favorites: For n>2 , every number 1 less than a square is composite:

$n^2 -1 =(n+1)(n-1)$. You get the actual factorization for free.

Example: $899=900-1 =(30+1)(30-1)=31 *29$

 

[strangerep]

[...] TV quiz show called Countdown [...]

I love the "8 out of 10 cats" version of that show. At first I thought Rachel Riley must be getting fed the formulas via an ear piece, but gradually realized she is a genuine arithmetic savant -- proving once again that life is deeply unfair, since she is also drop-dead good looking.

(Jon Richardson is also pretty incredible in the word part of the game). After I'd watched several episodes of the show I became pretty depressed at how crap I am...

The Australia version "Celebrity Letters and Numbers" features Lily Serna in Rachel's role. She's also a LOT quicker than me at finding difficult formulas mentally.

 

[Tom.G]

My doc wants to staple an afterbirth onto my eye.

The attachment method is different but, here in the US after a chemical burn damages the cornea an afterbirth (placenta) is applied to promote smooth healing and improve vision somewhat during healing.

No mechanical attachment is needed. It is like applying a very thin plastic film to wet glass, it stays put.

Cheers,
Tom

 

[Ibix]

I love the "8 out of 10 cats" version of that show. At first I thought Rachel Riley must be getting fed the formulas via an ear piece, but gradually realized she is a genuine arithmetic savant -- proving once again that life is deeply unfair, since she is also drop-dead good looking.

There's a clip on YouTube where somebody (Lee Mack, I think) asked her "how she got like that" when she was kicking herself for solving a problem one way and only noticing afterwards that she could construct it in a more elegant way. She just said she's done it a lot. And if you think about it, the regular Countdown is on five days a week and she's been co-hosting for years now, which is a lot of repetition just on screen. Practice makes perfect, I guess.

 

[dlgoff]

Only problem with living in Kansas are the thunderstorms. Power loss=No PF

 

[strangerep]

(Lee Mack, I think) asked her "how she got like that"

No doubt she was too polite to reply "Because I wasn't born as thick-headed as you."

I guess she (and Suzie Dent) must be getting quite a good salary to put up with the frequent crap they cop from Jimmy Carr.

 

[Char. Limit]

What if I popped up here again? Wouldn't that be weird?

 

[pinball1970]

What if I popped up here again? Wouldn't that be weird?

SAS Commando?
I missed out on that one, Welcome back!

 

[Char. Limit]

SAS Commando?
I missed out on that one, Welcome back!

Thank you! And thanks for the welcome from @WWGD and @Borg as well. It's been a good while but I'm glad to see you're doing well.

 

[Borg]

It's been a good while

I looked at your last post. It was 6 years ago. Going to hang out for a while?

 

[Char. Limit]

I looked at your last post. It was 6 years ago. Going to hang out for a while?

I'll try for six years presence to make up for six years absence, how's that sound?

 

[collinsmark]

What if I popped up here again? Wouldn't that be weird?

Holy moly, Char. Good to see you back!

 

[Bystander]

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/heat-transfer-question.1016209/
"To report, or not to report..." Not, this time...

 

[fresh_42]

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/heat-transfer-question.1016209/
"To report, or not to report..." Not, this time...

?

 

[Bystander]

?

Been a member long enough to know how he/she/it is supposed to frame questions/inquiries/requests for assistance.

 

[Bystander]

...,plus pick something other than "Advanced."

 

[berkeman]

Been a member long enough to know how he/she/it is supposed to frame questions/inquiries/requests for assistance.

I'm with fresh on this one. What is the specific issue? If there is a problem you would use the Report link, no?

 

[berkeman]

...,plus pick something other than "Advanced."

Yes, when I first saw it I almost moved it to Intro, but left it there for the time being. It will probably end up getting moved to Intro, modulo your response to fresh and me asking for clarification.

In German, our confustion with your post would be "No comprendo". Oh wait...

 

[Bystander]

Oh wait...

Yes...Windoze went AWOL, but back now.

 

[WWGD]

Why not have Conor McGregor fight Gregor McConor?

 

[WWGD]

The saying " See you next time" is kindcof strange. See you next time...that I see you?

 

[dlgoff]

Dang Kansas heat. It's only 92 degrees F, but the humidity makes it feel like 110 degrees F.

 

[Rive]

On our left, lives concrete-loving family. They have a pavilion with a fixed grill: two garage: two cars: most of the area is buried in concrete.
On our right living an older garden-loving (kind of...) woman. Everything in order: not a piece of weed, hoed twice a week.

We are poor (kind of...). We have no cars, no award-winning garden - we have only our jungle: with birds, bats, stag beetles and fireflies
We just spent half a bottle of good wine watching the nighttime show

 

[pinball1970]

On our left, lives concrete-loving family. They have a pavilion with a fixed grill: two garage: two cars: most of the area is buried in concrete.
On our right living an older garden-loving (kind of...) woman. Everything in order: not a piece of weed, hoed twice a week.

We are poor (kind of...). We have no cars, no award-winning garden - we have only our jungle: with birds, bats, stag beetles and fireflies
We just spent half a bottle of good wine watching the nighttime show

Sounds good. Sunday is Columbo day till 9pm then Blacklist.
I check pf here and there but generally have a lazy day. Cooler tonight.

 

[LCSphysicist]

My coffe has just exploded inside the microwave! :D
The interesting point is, i have heated it and let it rest inside the microwave for about 2 minutes (after the heating has ended), and so it explodes! Could i finally have achieved the superheating state of coffe?

 

[Mayhem]

Having tried teaching myself theoretical mathematics several times, it's simply not feasible without a teacher. The definitions themselves are hard to understand, let alone applying them.

 

[WWGD]

Having tried teaching myself theoretical mathematics several times, it's simply not feasible without a teacher. The definitions themselves are hard to understand, let alone applying them.

Some here seem to be teaching themselves, with other members as teachers. But, true, having someone to teach you in person would be better.

 

[fresh_42]

Having tried teaching myself theoretical mathematics several times, it's simply not feasible without a teacher. The definitions themselves are hard to understand, let alone applying them.

This depends on so many things, esp. the subject.

 

[pinball1970]

Some here seem to be teaching themselves, with other members as teachers. But, true, having someone to teach you in person would be better.

Having tried teaching myself theoretical mathematics several times, it's simply not feasible without a teacher. The definitions themselves are hard to understand, let alone applying them.

Perhaps if you gave the guys some more information?
What level are you at? Get to at school?
Maths is a big subject, which area are you interested in?

 

[Mayhem]

Perhaps if you gave the guys some more information?
What level are you at? Get to at school?
Maths is a big subject, which area are you interested in?

Theoretical statistics, undergraduate chemistry. Pretty solid grasp on applied maths, but my rigor is non-existent.

 

[fresh_42]

Anyone watching the Stanley cup finals?

 

[Bystander]

Anyone watching the Stanley cup finals?

"Cue the crickets."

 

[pinball1970]

Anyone watching the Stanley cup finals?

That's a no from me, I have been to one hockey match in my life. Very fast sport, I got neck ache.
Are you lost like me when the footy season is over?

 

[fresh_42]

That's a no from me, I have been to one hockey match in my life. Very fast sport, I got neck ache.
Are you lost like me when the footy season is over?

If I could choose, I would watch Rugby but they don't broadcast it here. They have tennis and even more tennis. I find it boring. I'm looking forward to the TdF coming.

 

[pinball1970]

If I could choose, I would watch Rugby but they don't broadcast it here. They have tennis and even more tennis. I find it boring. I'm looking forward to the TdF coming.

Rugby League was my sport at Uni, I loved the gym aspect, the circuit training the matches and after the matches. I realized I could never be a professional/semi pro after training with some of the guys early on. I knew I could never be that good. Great times anyway.
TdF is nuts, those pile ups? Hitting concrete at 25mph. Great to watch though. EDIT: A quick Google they can reach 65-80 mph down hill!

I concur regarding tennis.

 

[Borg]

If I could choose, I would watch Rugby but they don't broadcast it here. They have tennis and even more tennis. I find it boring. I'm looking forward to the TdF coming.

I lived in Kentucky in the early 90's. Their newspaper coverage of the Stanley Cup was a paragraph of maybe 20 words. If it wasn't college basketball or horse racing, it didn't exist.

 

[fresh_42]

I lived in Kentucky in the early 90's. Their newspaper coverage of the Stanley Cup was a paragraph of maybe 20 words. If it wasn't college basketball or horse racing, it didn't exist.

My heroes are all gone. If someone says NBA to me, I think of Jordan, Bird, and Pippen. Formula 1 after Senna? - Boring. I still think of the Soviet hockey team of the '70s and '80s. It was a kind of ballet on ice. And of course, Gretzky. Everything was better before.

 

[Borg]

I was fortunate to see Gretzky play the Red Wings near the end of his career (6 rows back on center ice). They had three guys around him and still couldn't defend. It was amazing to watch.

 

[Borg]

This spring we became the nightly nesting spot for hundreds of crows each night. They were nesting in trees all over our neighborhood and usually there would be 20 or so in the tree right by our bedroom. If I went out and clapped my hands loudly, they would fly off but then come right back. Finally, I found this distress call and played it several times whenever I saw them during the day - the first time that I played it, the crow across the street flew off very quickly. It seems that by disrupting their daytime routine, they decided to roost somewhere else. I haven't heard them at night (and at 5am) for over a week now!

 

[WWGD]

Watched " Top Gun".
Spoilers: Tom Cruise is in it, and there are planes in it.