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We got to watch Michael at his conference today, giving his talk. The girls were very excited to see him (no, they hadn't forgotten after a few days of him being gone =) and watched enthralled for a few minutes. Even Luke made excited noises and was happy to see and hear him. However, after a few minutes when I announced that they could go downstairs and watch some TV, they ran from the room yelling TV! TV! TV!

Sorry Daddy =) We can't wait to see you again!

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Why you should study the history of math

Why you should study the history of math In the mid 1300s a fad made its way around Italy. Mathematicians would challenge each other to “mathematical duels”. They would post problems for their opponents to solve, sometimes along with their solutions in coded poetry. The winners would get support and funding from rich patrons, the losers would descend into obscurity. One such contest, between Fiore and Tartaglia, involved a new method for solving the cubic. In order to win, Tartaglia worked day and night to find Fiore’s method---unfortunately, Fiore did not do the same and only knew his own method and no others. (*Recall that the formula for solutions to quadratic equations of the form use the quadratic formula, Giorlamo Cardano---physician, philosopher, astrologer and mathematician---convinced Tartaglia to share his method and promised never to reveal it. Then Cardano figured out a more general method, and wanted to share it, but was blocked by his promises. Fortunately (for Ca...

Books I like: reality edition

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Books I like: magic/science fiction

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