Mathematical Fun

My 'thing' was languages and literature, but fate and father pushed me protesting into accountancy, namely salaries and pensions. DBH scathingly refers to such people as 'number crunchers'. He still likes to be paid, though. Having seen my son's GCSE maths papers a couple of years ago, I would struggle with them, and as for his AS and A2 papers - forget it. Things are far more abstract now.

By the way...although I was rubbish at maths, I did work in the '60s in Accounts Payable in the HQ of Avon Cosmetics. After a short time, by jove, I was given a pay rise for managing to recover several large outstanding debts. I was chuffed. Entered the manager's office with trepidation. Exited with a big grin on my face. Every little counts...

Thanks for that, janerowena...I shall now retire and ponder the logic of that statement. I may be gone for some considerable time.

My sister believes that she IS logical. She believes that she has seen things. Who knows.

My husband's reply - I really wish he had written it in more layman's terms -

They stay the same, as their property is multiplicative and not related to their decimal representation, which is an additive process.

Wish I were clever enough to point out some flaw in the argument!

I read the first few lines, thinking that I might find it interesting as a former maths A level student, but then came out with the code we used to use at work -WFC.
#whothefu**cares

I did get confused after the first paragraph or so as I did in mental arithmetic at school; always about 5 questions behind which became impossible. Was distracted by the "dog found alive on air!" and someone working on a tan.

Thanks for your no logic about the afterlife comment, aka. I was hoping someone else would say that!

Even the strangest abstractions in maths depend on logic for their truth and any that claim to be 'true' must be proved logically; belief in an afterlife doesn't depend on logic and the belief is not open to proof. It's quite a simple distinction to make.

grannyact...I enjoyed that. Thank you.

janerowena have you seen this?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOYyCHGWJq4

True. It is a bit like being married to Mr Spock at times though. Only without the pointy ears.

No logic to afterlife.

I'm with you Bags. Maths is fun and the ultimate logic.

As for the definition - I can never understand how my husband can believe in what he cannot see, that can only be proved by abstract mathematical theories, but wars constantly with my sister about her belief in the afterlife.

Nellie I'm impressed. I was invited to "give the subject up"...suited me fine. Cannot truthfully say that my life went to pot as a result of not being able to figure out figures...if you know what I mean.

Mathematics??? Fun??? I do not understand!!!!!

Me too Feetlebaum GCE mathematics 1964 failed with 25%

Oh, Bags...the definition of a mathematician is most certainly apt.

I am an artist. Numbers will never switch me on. Whereas, give me a paint box and I can get very excited.

Granny23 A big, warm hug from you to me.

That made me laugh - I shall ask DBH. In fact I think I shall email him with that one.

Do prime numbers exist in binary.

Discuss.

I think I have got the gist of this but I am still left with my BIG ? about prime numbers, which is - If we counted in some other unit than 10s would prime number theory still work?

My husband is a mathematician, I'm not sure he has seen this, so thank you.

Years ago he got our computers all tied in with thousands of other computers. They were all chuntering away in the background, working together to find out how to solve this very same problem. Now computers are so powerful that our contribution is no longer needed - thank heavens. It did slow me down.

As for me - I am Schrödinger's cat personified, to him!

Might be your idea of fun, Bags, but.......

Anyway, it got my back up as soon as I read the headlne....math?'

I haven't got the right type of brain for this....and it's so long!

My brain has just locked-down. Quelle horreur!

Mathematical fun? A tad oxymoronic wouldn't you say?

GCE Mathematics O level 1953 (failed)

I tried Bags, I tried