MetaFilter posts tagged with Numbers

What's cooler than [1965 avg. CEO pay]? The [box office sales of Jaws].

schmod — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:57:11 -0800

Tumblr's $1.1 Billion price-tag instinctively seems very high to most of us, but without context, numbers this huge are often literally unfathomable to the masses. To help readers gain perspective on the huge numbers commonly tossed around by the media, researcher Glen Chiacchieri has created Dictionary of Numbers, a Google Chrome extension that automatically adds context to huge numbers printed in the web pages that you read. [via the xkcd blag]

Proof and Community Standards

painquale — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:51:46 -0800

In August of last year, mathematician Shinichi Mochizuki reported that he had solved one of the great puzzles of number theory: the ABC conjecture (previously on Metafilter). Almost a year later, no one else knows whether he has succeeded. No one can understand his proof.

Computerized Math, Formal Proofs and Alternative Logic

kliuless — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 15:33:01 -0800

Using computer systems for doing mathematical proofs - "With the proliferation of computer-assisted proofs that are all but impossible to check by hand, Hales thinks computers must become the judge."

Three years ago, Vladimir Voevodsky, one of the organizers of a new program on the foundations of mathematics at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, N.J., discovered that a formal logic system that was developed by computer scientists, called "type theory" could be used to re-create the entire mathematical universe from scratch. Type theory is consistent with the mathematical axioms, but couched in the language of computers. Voevodsky believes this alternative way to formalize mathematics, which he has renamed the univalent foundations of mathematics, will streamline the process of formal theorem proving. Voevodsky and his team are adapting a program named Coq, which was designed to formally verify computer algorithms, for use in abstract mathematics.

also btw, speaking of mathematical revolutions, from a historical perspective, check out The Man of Numbers: Fibonacci's Arithmetic Revolution - "Before the 13th century Europeans used Roman numerals to do arithmetic. Leonardo of Pisa, better known today as Fibonacci, is largely responsible for the adoption of the Hindu–Arabic numeral system in Europe, which revolutionized not only mathematics but commerce and trade as well. How did the system spread from the Arab world to Europe, and what would our lives be without it?"

What-If Numbers

aniola — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 16:15:29 -0800

XKCD/What If's Randall Munroe brings meaning to numbers. As a by-product. Of his day-to-day research. For your day-to-day entertainment.

the power and beauty of mathematics

kliuless — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 09:14:26 -0800

An eternity of infinities (via) "The comparison of infinities is simple to understand and is a fantastic device for introducing children to the wonders of mathematics. It drives home the essential weirdness of the mathematical universe and raises penetrating questions not only about the nature of this universe but about the nature of the human mind that can comprehend it. One of the biggest questions concerns the nature of reality itself. Physics has also revealed counter-intuitive truths about the universe like the curvature of space-time, the duality of waves and particles and the spooky phenomenon of entanglement, but these truths undoubtedly have a real existence as observed through exhaustive experimentation. But what do the bizarre truths revealed by mathematics actually mean? Unlike the truths of physics they can't exactly be touched and seen. Can some of these such as the perceived differences between two kinds of infinities simply be a function of human perception, or do these truths point to an objective reality 'out there'? If they are only a function of human perception, what is it exactly in the structure of the brain that makes such wondrous creations possible? In the twenty-first century when neuroscience promises to reveal more of the brain than was ever possible, the investigation of mathematical understanding could prove to be profoundly significant."

Numberphile: videos about numbers and stuff

BitterOldPunk — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 23:07:43 -0800

Numberphile is a website containing short videos (approx. 5-10 min.) about numbers and stuff. Mathematicians and physicists play around with the tools of their trade and explain things in simple, clear language. Learn things you didn't know you were interested in! Find out why 493-7775 is a pretty cool phone number! What's the significance of 42, anyway? What the heck is a vampire number? Why does Pac-Man have only 255 screens? Suitable for viewing by everyone from intelligent and curious middle-schoolers to math-impaired adults. Browse their YouTube channel here. (Via)

Wonky graphs of 2012

Artw — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 08:17:46 -0800

2012: The year in graphs - as picked by the Washington Post Wonkblog's favorite economists, political scientist, politicians and other wonkys.

Now maybe the number of hot dogs can match the number of buns?

oneswellfoop — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 10:24:32 -0800

In Recognition of 12/12/12, Let Us Consider the Concept of Dozenalism.

SPAUN of the living

kliuless — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 06:09:00 -0800

The simulated brain - "First computer model to produce complex behaviour performs almost as well as humans at simple number tasks." [1,2,3,4,5,etc.]

Flash Anzan

milkb0at — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 04:39:41 -0800

The world record for Flash Anzan was broken this year at the 2012 All Japan Soroban [abacus] Championship. Competitors in Flash Anzan sum up 15 3-digit numbers that are displayed in turn within a set time. The record is now 1.70 seconds, which means that each number is displayed for just over 0.1s. Here is a video of a "slow" 1.85 seconds seconds where the numbers are barely readable. Previously. Flash Anzan competitors are so good at the abacus that they don't need one any more - they hold a mental model of one in their heads. Alex Bellos, author, journalist and mathematician, recently presented a programme on BBC Radio 4 called Land of the Rising Sums (link may only work in the UK), exploring the Japanese culture of numbers. For them, numbers are a fun after-school activity, like sport.

Factor Conga

albrecht — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 08:17:09 -0800

Animation of prime factorization of the integers based on Brent Yorgey's factorization diagrams, described here. [via Data Pointed, previously.]

It's numbers all the way down...OR IS IT

brieche — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 21:29:27 -0800

Benjamin Grosser's latest project is Facebook Demetricator, a browser application that aims to confront our "collective obsession with metrics" by hiding all of the numbers embedded in Facebook's interface— friends, likes, shares, comments, and even timestamps. Mr Grosser is an artist and composer studying the "cultural, social, and political effects of software". For Facebook Demetricator, he was awarded a 2012-13 Terminal Award, granted annually to four artists to help in the creation of new internet based artworks. If you've already fully accepted your dependence on Facebook's heady metrics, you might be interested in Mr Grosser's Reload the Love!. It's a userscript that artificially inflates Facebook notification icons whenever they're at zero.

What is the smallest prime?

escabeche — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:42:13 -0800

What is the smallest prime? "It seems that the number two should be the obvious answer, and today it is, but it was not always so. There were times when and mathematicians for whom the numbers one and three were acceptable answers. To find the first prime, we must also know what the first positive integer is. Surprisingly, with the definitions used at various times throughout history, one was often not the first positive integer (some started with two, and a few with three). In this article, we survey the history of the primality of one, from the ancient Greeks to modern times. We will discuss some of the reasons definitions changed, and provide several examples. We will also discuss the last significant mathematicians to list the number one as prime."

Counting Rhos

Blazecock Pileon — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 17:34:41 -0800

Do you like biology? Do you like numbers? Like, actual numbers and not the television show? Take a look at BioNumbers. Feel overwhelmed? Don't know what to look for? Start with Amazing BioNumbers and work your way up to the BioNumber of the month, which goes into a bit more depth about the science behind the counting.

"Our names were made for us in another century."

jessamyn — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 18:17:26 -0800

Towns with number names: Six, Eight, Twenty, Fifty-six, Seventy-six, Eighty-four, Eighty-eight, Ninety-six, Hundred and 1770. Honorable mention for Wonowon.

Big (and small) Numbers

fearfulsymmetry — Mon, 14 May 2012 11:09:42 -0800

FatFonts creates numerical fonts where the amount of ink/pixels for each number is in direct proportion to its value.

Number A Day

Wolfdog — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 07:27:40 -0800

NumberADay - Every working day, we post a number and offer a selection of that number’s properties.

47

finite — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 02:47:04 -0800

47 is a magical number. It has appeared more than a few times on Star Trek, Alias, and in many films.
The 47 society is dedicated to exploring the phenomenon that is 47.

Finite formula found for partition numbers

kliuless — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 10:40:18 -0800

New math theories reveal the nature of numbers [1,2] - "We prove that partition numbers are 'fractal' for every prime. These numbers, in a way we make precise, are self-similar in a shocking way. Our 'zooming' procedure resolves several open conjectures, and it will change how mathematicians study partitions." (/.|via) BONUS

Fractals plus quantum mechanics equals chaos - "investigating the properties of light when it is confined to a fractal object"

Polynomial Time Code For 3-SAT Released - "This is not a P=NP paper."

the idea of a fully operational zero...

jessamyn — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:36:50 -0800

"Michel de Montaigne, whose essays transformed Western consciousness and literature, was not capable of solving basic arithmetic problems. And most other people would not be able to do so either, if not for the invention of decimal notation by an unknown mathematician in India 1500 years ago." The Greatest Mathematical Discovery? (expanded pdf) a paper written for the US Dept. of Energy makes this assertion based in part on the work of Georges Ifrah. [via] Number geeks may also enjoy: - Disme: The Art of Tenths (Fr.|Ned.) by Flemish mathematician Simon Stevin describing decimal notation's usefulness in everyday life. - Decimals and Decimalization A Study and Sketch (The First Canadian Work of the Twentieth Century) containing a history of the progress or lack thereof of metric measurements - Period or Comma? Decimal Styles Over Time and Place (pdf) by Amelia A Williamson

Tile-based maths puzzle

greatgefilte — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 07:45:55 -0800

FFF - Navigate the numbers in Blockade. Can you clear the entire board?

John Baez's Favorite Numbers

vostok — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 00:17:56 -0800

My Favorite Numbers by John Baez

Prime numbers are just the beginning.

zardoz — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 21:41:00 -0800

Every number from 1 to 9,999 has a special meaning. (much mathematical terminology, scrolling)

stimulusing

lalex — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 19:31:03 -0800

Veronique de Rugy, NRO contributor and George Mason fellow, says her research indicates that stimulus funding was disproportionately directed towards Democratic congressional districts. Nate Silver begs to disagree. De Rugy responds here; Silver responds here. Others say that this is a model "for the quick, effective peer-review that the internet facilitates." Perhaps this is a new model for peer review?

Very large numbers

Joe Beese — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:16:14 -0800

The Shannon number? Skewes' number? Graham's number? Please. When you're ready to get serious, here are some truly large numbers. (previously, but with dead links)