What have you learnt today?

[Montmorency]

(a-b)(a+b)/(a-b) = 0/(a-b)
this should equal (a-b) = 0/(a-b)

No, the (a-b) on the left numerator and the (a-b) on the left denominator cancel each other out.

Maybe you mixed up the operator signs?

[Husar]

No, the (a-b) on the left numerator and the (a-b) on the left denominator cancel each other out.

Maybe you mixed up the operator signs?

You still can't turn 0/(1-1) into just 0 because 0/0 is not defined.

I even have super serious scientific proof: https://www.mathsisfun.com/numbers/d...g-by-zero.html

[Fragony]

Gawd I hate math, it just doesn't make sense to me. My brother is really good at it, reading a formula is for him what's reading a sentence is for me, and he is better at that as well. I am much more handsome though.

really

[Greyblades]

I have learnt today that people in general are not stuipd or smart, they are a mix that comes out average.

However, smart or stupid we all dislike being made to feel stupid and utterly hate having our feelings dismissed, to the point that we will walk into the arms of extremism for the simple reason that only the extremists will listen to us.

[Gilrandir]

Gawd I hate math, it just doesn't make sense to me. My brother is really good at it, reading a formula is for him what's reading a sentence is for me, and he is better at that as well. I am much more handsome though.

I heard this story from an American student back in 1992.
His brother was studying at some University (don't remember which) and since it had a good team in some sport (I think it was American football, but can't wager on that) it was always a problem to park the car on the University stadium parking lot on a game day. So this guy enlisted the help of a resourceful fraternity member. They drove to the entrance and the fraternity brother produced an official-looking invoice and said: "I've got a trunkload of logarithms for the Forestry college". The guard waved them in.
Math CAN be useful, after all.

[SwordsMaster]

Mezcal is the fuel for the fires of hell.

[Hooahguy]

Microsoft Excel is probably the best product they have ever put out. Truly does some great things.

[Fragony]

I heard this story from an American student back in 1992.
His brother was studying at some University (don't remember which) and since it had a good team in some sport (I think it was American football, but can't wager on that) it was always a problem to park the car on the University stadium parking lot on a game day. So this guy enlisted the help of a resourceful fraternity member. They drove to the entrance and the fraternity brother produced an official-looking invoice and said: "I've got a trunkload of logarithms for the Forestry college". The guard waved them in.
Math CAN be useful, after all.

I get the point. But there is such a thing that is having different realities. Mine could be entirely different than your's.

[SwordsMaster]

Hah, yeah, nothing like an official pretext for not-too-engaged gatekeepers.

Discovered that a combination of poor hygiene and jalapeno peppers can make a man spend a number of days with a fever and fervently praying to the porcelain goddess.

[Husar]

I get the point. But there is such a thing that is having different realities. Mine could be entirely different than your's.

Indeed, today I learned that in my reality, Obama isn't president, from 2008-2012 it was Hillary Clinton and since 2012 it's Glenn Beck. It certainly explains why I never understood the topics about US elections here.

[Fragony]

Indeed, today I learned that in my reality, Obama isn't president, from 2008-2012 it was Hillary Clinton and since 2012 it's Glenn Beck. It certainly explains why I never understood the topics about US elections here.

I could say something really smart about that but I won't.

ok I can't. But still

[Husar]

I just learnt that contemporary dance hurts if you're as untrained as I am.

[Ibrahim]

I learned today that the VP of my company is not an intimidating person.

[SwordsMaster]

I learned today that the VP of my company is not an intimidating person.

How will you use this knowledge?

[SwordsMaster]

Have been monitoring my language and thought pattern for the last few weeks:

1st experiment:

Whenever I said something negative I tried to think of at least 2 positives. This works, for a while. You tend to realise that almost everything has a positive element. However it can get quite childish unless you are disciplined and express your positivity in as much detail as you express your cynicism.

2nd experiment:

This one is more work related: about a given course of action, even if my gut feeling was that something wasn't going to work i phrased the issue as 'if I was to do it anyway, how would I do it?' Or 'What would have to be true for this to work?' Sometimes even just asking these questions aloud can make a huge difference to the whole team's mindset.

Thoughts?

[Ibrahim]

How will you use this knowledge?

No idea. Don't really care: I just find it funny. You'd expect him to be more intimidating.

[Montmorency]

Yet another cautionary tale in mathematics of false assumptions and equivocation leading to strong but ultimately erroneous results: the Monty Hall problem.

Turns out that the obvious solution is in fact the correct one...

[HopAlongBunny]

With the passing of the Daily Show I'm going to miss moments like these:

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/...ly-show-video/

Science will march on, but won't anywhere near as entertaining