The Geniuses' Thread

almostnever · 07-03-2010 1:30pm

Geogebra, perhaps?:) Not sure if it's exactly what you're looking for but I find it handy.

Craguls · 07-03-2010 1:33pm

almostnever wrote: »

Geogebra, perhaps?:) Not sure if it's exactly what you're looking for but I find it handy.

Ooooh this looks much prettier than the graphing programme I used for calculus.(Which I'd recommend wholeheartedly except that it's awful)

Thanks!

Konata · 07-03-2010 2:00pm

almostnever wrote: »

Geogebra, perhaps?:) Not sure if it's exactly what you're looking for but I find it handy.

Hmmm, not quite but thanks anyway.

I need one where you input the data for each axis and then they draw the curve/line for you. Used a programme in physics last year but can't remember what the hell it was called

SligoBrewer · 07-03-2010 2:07pm

Hotaru wrote: »

Hmmm, not quite but thanks anyway.

I need one where you input the data for each axis and then they draw the curve/line for you. Used a programme in physics last year but can't remember what the hell it was called

Excel?

Konata · 07-03-2010 2:10pm

SligoBrewer wrote: »

Excel?

Forgot about Excel. Used some fancy complicated programme last year but Excel is probably easier.

EDIT: Actually, no. How the hell do you make a graph on Excel? LC physics feels a long time ago...

SligoBrewer · 07-03-2010 2:15pm

Hotaru wrote: »

Forgot about Excel. Used some fancy complicated programme last year but Excel is probably easier.

EDIT: Actually, no. How the hell do you make a graph on Excel? LC physics feels a long time ago...

Numbers on x axis on one column, numbers on y axis in another.
Open up a xy scatter from the insert menu.
Input the data as relevant.
Insert the relevant trendline into the graph.
Do you need to do error bars/regression error?

Konata · 07-03-2010 2:16pm

SligoBrewer wrote: »

Numbers on x axis on one column, numbers on y axis in another.
Open up a xy scatter from the insert menu.
Input the data as relevant.
Insert the relevent trendline into the graph.
Do you need to do error bars/regression error?

Thanks!

No, it's only Pharmacology stuff so don't need error bars.

D4RK ONION · 10-03-2010 1:49am

I don't get a lot of it, but I think ye will appreciate it more than me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BipvGD-LCjU

Pygmalion · 10-03-2010 1:58am

Hotaru wrote: »

Hmmm, not quite but thanks anyway.

I need one where you input the data for each axis and then they draw the curve/line for you. Used a programme in physics last year but can't remember what the hell it was called

Gnuplot?
I remember using it once, it was fairly easy to control, basically you give it a text file and can basically say "Take the first column as X-axis and second as Y-axis", or "Just take column 4 as Y-axis and ignore the rest, assume X is linear" etc.

Not sure if you'd have the data in right format for it, but AFAIk it's quite widely used and can handle a lot of things.

KnifeWRENCH · 10-03-2010 4:32pm

Pygmalion wrote: »

Gnuplot?

You'll never comprehend the disappointment I felt when I clicked that link and discovered that it wasn't a program to plot gnus.

anonymous_joe · 10-03-2010 5:45pm

Arcade Panda wrote: »

Happy maths day everybody!:D

I just noticed my birthday is shared with World Maths Day.

That's depressing.

On a lighter note, I found some financial data from my old job that I really really shouldn't have floating around the darkest recesses of an old laptop's hard-drives along with various mathematical excel plugins relating to improving performance in video-games.

The fact that I've ever had girlfriends amazes me sometimes. :pac:

suitcasepink · 16-03-2010 8:27pm

Errem how would one go about ripping a dvd? Or like is it that drawn out and complicated a process I'd be best off not doing it?

Cheers genuis'

Insect Overlord · 16-03-2010 8:33pm

deise_girl wrote: »

Errem how would one go about ripping a dvd? Or like is it that drawn out and complicated a process I'd be best off not doing it?

Cheers genuis'

If you have DVD ripping software on your PC/laptop/mac, then it should be very straight forward. Doesn't take too long either, but again that will depend on your particular computer.

suitcasepink · 16-03-2010 8:41pm

Insect Overlord wrote: »

If you have DVD ripping software on your PC/laptop/mac, then it should be very straight forward. Doesn't take too long either, but again that will depend on your particular computer.

About the dvd ripping software, stuff comes up when you google, can any of those be used or am I best off buying a thing to do it?

As you can see I have no idea what im doing..

*giggles* · 16-03-2010 8:53pm

I thought DVD's were protected from people ripping them? Maybe not. Did I hear correctly that one can rip a Blu-Ray DVD onto a PS3 and save it there?

Pygmalion · 16-03-2010 9:02pm

*giggles* wrote: »

I thought DVD's were protected from people ripping them? Maybe not. Did I hear correctly that one can rip a Blu-Ray DVD onto a PS3 and save it there?

That protection is so shoddy it can be countered by a badly written haiku.

We will use these few
internal variables:
t1 through t6,

unsigned integers.
k, pointer to five unsigned
bytes. i, integer.

So here's how you do
it: first, take the first byte of
im -- that's byte zero;

OR that byte with the
number 0x100
(hexadecimal --

that's two hundred and
fifty-six to you if you
prefer decimal).

Store the result in
t1. Take byte one of im.
Store it in t2.

... etc.

:P

suitcasepink · 16-03-2010 9:08pm

Pygmalion wrote: »

That protection is so shoddy it can be countered by a badly written haiku.
<snip>

:P

Soo pyggy...
Do you know how to rip a dvd?

Or even would you be able to explain to me how to rip it!? :pac:

Pygmalion · 16-03-2010 9:09pm

deise_girl wrote: »

Soo pyggy...
Do you know how to rip a dvd?
Or even would you be able to explain to me how to rip it!? :pac:

I've only ever used this.
And it's not available on Windows as far as I know, so probably can't help, sorry.

D4RK ONION · 16-03-2010 9:21pm

Search google for DVD shrink then use some free software to burn it to a disk. Done.

Konata · 17-03-2010 3:46pm

Moar computer problems - The current message at the top of my browser is 'The following plug-in has crashed: Shockwave Flash' Youtube videos are just showing up as black screens etc. First showed up when I went to play that Robot Unicorn Attack game this morning... any idea how I fix it?

D4RK ONION · 17-03-2010 3:47pm

Get the latest version of Adobe Flash player installed on your computer. What browser are you using?

http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/

Konata · 17-03-2010 4:02pm

Using Chrome. I installed the latest update, all seems to be working now. Thank you!

D4RK ONION · 17-03-2010 4:03pm

No problemo, mi amigo!

syncosised · 17-03-2010 4:06pm

Robot Unicorn Attack also crashed Flash for me in Chrome. I'm afraid to touch it in Ubuntu though, it took long enough to get working perfectly in the first place! :O

Aoibheann · 18-03-2010 9:15pm

This is not only nerdy, but is adorable and happy.

Davidius · 18-03-2010 9:24pm

Aoibheann wrote: »

This is not only nerdy, but is adorable and happy.

Jaysus, somebody really messed up that baloon-like graph. C- stuff right there.

Aoibheann · 18-03-2010 9:27pm

Davidius wrote: »

Jaysus, somebody really messed up that baloon-like graph. C- stuff right there.

*narrows eyes*

Konata · 18-03-2010 9:28pm

Davidius wrote: »

Jaysus, somebody really messed up that baloon-like graph. C- stuff right there.

Shtop ruining the happy vibe!

Davidius · 18-03-2010 9:34pm

I'm only trying to help by being critical and realistic. Drawing proper baloon shaped graphs is essential to a graduate's success!

Oh it's a heart.

Pygmalion · 20-03-2010 4:27am

Question for you guys.

Kinda bored lately and kinda looking to get more up-to-date on my maths (both learning new stuff and remembering what I forgot since doing the LC), anyone got any good sites, books they'd recommend or anything similar.
I'm of course looking to learn the FUN maths (like calculus, graph theory, perhaps a bit of the old number theory) and none of that loser stuff like probability/statistics.

Also Davidius I expect at least a response from you. Maybe one or two science people too.
Don't disappoint me, boards.

Davidius · 20-03-2010 5:16am

Unfortunately I'm not nearly studious enough to use anything but my notes and supplements but I can give some of the recommended texts for some of my modules.

We're recommended Calculus - A Complete Course by Robert A. Adams for my Diff. & Integral Calculus module. However it's worth noting that the module is more about explaining where the basics of calculus come from. Honestly it feels more like LC level with a bit more depth (and designed to seem more confusing than it is).

Looking at the Amazon reviews it either assumes too much knowledge or too little depending on the reader. It also seems on the expensive side. It's supposed to be in the UCD library so I may have a look for myself on Monday.

Another module I have is about problem solving. While it's mostly only about utilising techniques and forming strategies for solving problems it does teach a bit of number theory. Unfortuntaley it assumes you already know a few things, most of which can be explained by wikipedia if you're bothered.

Anyhow he recommends "The Art and Craft of Problem Solving" by Paul Zeitz or "How to Solve it" by George Polya. I'm going to check out the former when I get the chance but I don't imagine either explains a lot about Number Theory itself. "Elemetary Number Theory" by Gareth A. Jones was something that was mentioned in my Number Theory module last semester so I'd say it's definitely something to look into.

I'm afraid I'm a bit useless on the graph theory front, it's a second year module in my case for some reason. Let the fact that I haven't tried learning it independently be a testament to my laziness.

Pygmalion · 20-03-2010 5:30am

Davidius wrote: »

Unfortunately I'm not nearly studious enough to use anything but my notes and supplements but I can give some of the recommended texts for some of my modules.

We're recommended Calculus - A Complete Course by Robert A. Adams for my Diff. & Integral Calculus module. However it's worth noting that the module is more about explaining where the basics of calculus come from. Honestly it feels more like LC level with a bit more depth (and designed to seem more confusing than it is).

Ah fair enough, I'll look elsewhere for Calculus (although maybe the "more depth" part is worth looking at), actually may repost this in the Maths forum now and check back tomorrow, I'd probably get more answers there.

Another module I have is about problem solving. While it's mostly only about utilising techniques and forming strategies for solving problems it does teach a bit of number theory. Unfortuntaley it assumes you already know a few things, most of which can be explained by wikipedia if you're bothered.

Anyhow he recommends "The Art and Craft of Problem Solving" by Paul Zeitz or "How to Solve it" by George Polya. I'm going to check out the former when I get the chance but I don't imagine either explains a lot about Number Theory itself. "Elemetary Number Theory" by Gareth A. Jones was something that was mentioned in my Number Theory module last semester so I'd say it's definitely something to look into.

Heard quite a few good things said about "How to Solve it", think I actually had a a PDF of it once but never really got around to starting it. Might get it again :P.

I'm afraid I'm a bit useless on the graph theory front, it's a second year module in my case for some reason. Let the fact that I haven't tried learning it independently be a testament to my laziness.

I only really saw it incidentally to be honest :P.
At some computer nerd thing at which it was mentioned, saw it and immediately decided it was the coolest form of Maths, as it's all graphical and useful

.
Don't think there are much dedicated books on it, seems to be a fairly small field, it'd probably get a few chapters in some books on relatred subjects more often than books to itself.

Aoibheann · 20-03-2010 5:41am

Are you looking for more proof-y calculus (i.e. analysis) or are you just looking for problems/solutions-y calculus (i.e plain old calculus :P)?

We've done two courses involving calculus this year. One was called "Advanced Calculus" (oh the ironing) in which we uses Thomas' Calculus - that course was the straight problems one. We've also done an Analysis course this year (it basically builds up to doing the fundamental theorem of calculus etc), and Spivaks Calculus was the recommended textbook.

Neither are particularly difficult courses though, but the books may prove moreso!

Pygmalion · 20-03-2010 5:59am

Aoibheann wrote: »

Are you looking for more proof-y calculus (i.e. analysis) or are you just looking for problems/solutions-y calculus (i.e plain old calculus :P)?

We've done two courses involving calculus this year. One was called "Advanced Calculus" (oh the ironing) in which we uses Thomas' Calculus - that course was the straight problems one. We've also done an Analysis course this year (it basically builds up to doing the fundamental theorem of calculus etc), and Spivaks Calculus was the recommended textbook.

Neither are particularly difficult courses though, but the books may prove moreso!

Either/Both :P. Proof-y would be a bit more interesting IMO, but what fun is maths without problems?

Looking at getting those books now, Thomas' one doesn't seem to be a problem to get. Wait found the other one too, spelled his name wrong >.>

Aoibheann · 20-03-2010 6:06am

Pygmalion wrote: »

Either/Both :P. Proof-y would be a bit more interesting IMO, but what fun is maths without problems?

Looking at getting those books now, Thomas' one doesn't seem to be a problem to get. Wait found the other one too, spelled his name wrong >.>

Proof-y is infinitely cooler. Problems are just applications of proofs.. ¬.¬

Hopefully you'll find them interesting. I'll have a think and see if I can find anything useful for you!

Davidius · 20-03-2010 6:09am

I suppose it's worth mentioning that my calculus course is mostly proofs.

Pygmalion · 20-03-2010 6:13am

Aoibheann wrote: »

Proof-y is infinitely cooler. Problems are just applications of proofs.. ¬.¬

What is a proof if not the solution to a problem phrased as "Find a proof of P(x)"? Eh?
Also why learn them if you won't apply them?

Both of the above are rhetorical questions btw.

Pygmalion · 20-03-2010 6:18am

Davidius wrote: »

I suppose it's worth mentioning that my calculus course is mostly proofs.

Because your course is pretty awesome.
Although problems are fun for when you're not in the mood for anything too taxing or new (which I'm sure doesn't apply to you maths-studs

).

Aoibheann · 20-03-2010 6:22am

Pygmalion wrote: »

What is a proof if not the solution to a problem phrased as "Find a proof of P(x)"? Eh?
Also why learn them if you won't apply them?

Both of the above are rhetorical questions btw.

I feel (and assume my lecturers do, as they use this method very frequently), that all of your questions can be answered by the following:

*magic hands*

That, or 42. :pac:

syncosised · 20-03-2010 11:57am

I'd recommend reading Fermat's Last Theorem. I found it very interesting. It pretty much gives you a whole history of Maths and some of the stuff in it gets pretty complicated. Definitely a lighter read than the rest, you won't need to have a pen and paper beside you for it!

For those interested, Fermat's Last Theorem states that no three positive integers a, b, and c can satisfy the equation a^n + b^n = c^n for any integer value of n greater than two (thank you, Wikipedia).

As for textbooks, we were recommended Adams as mentioned earlier, but I don't think I ever used it once. If I ever need a Maths book it's Engineering Mathematics by K.A. Stroud. A massive book, it has pretty much everything you'd ever need! And if you need more, there's Advanced Engineering Mathematics by K.A. Stroud!

sock puppet · 20-03-2010 3:02pm

Pygmalion wrote: »

none of that loser stuff like probability/statistics.

That stung. What a post to wake up to:(

D4RK ONION · 20-03-2010 4:59pm

9x-7i>3(3x-7u), solve for i

Jako8 · 20-03-2010 5:27pm

D4RK ONION wrote: »

9x-7i>3(3x-7u), solve for i

9x - 7i>9x - 21u
nines cancel.
-7i>-21u
change inequality when you change signs
i<3u

Oh very clever.

Pygmalion · 20-03-2010 5:59pm

Jako8 wrote: »

9x - 7i>9x - 21u
nines cancel.
-7i>-21u
change inequality when you change signs
i<3u

Oh very clever.

It's actually a trick question, you can't have inequalities with imaginary numbers.

D4RK ONION · 20-03-2010 6:58pm

EED wrote:

it was not being used as an imaginary number! very clearly!!! it is just being used as a symbol the same as x and u!

The person who showed it me's words not mine

Davidius · 21-03-2010 2:40am

They clearly have no appreciation for convention.

earleuginedoyle · 21-03-2010 7:43pm

most definatly not

convention is only fun when you can play around with it

D4RK ONION · 21-03-2010 9:16pm

And there she is! You get em EED!

Jay P · 22-03-2010 12:09am

Pygmalion wrote: »

It's actually a trick question, you can't have inequalities with imaginary numbers.

Well, that's not technically true. In the original question, i was never defined as the square root of -1, or as an element of the complex numbers. i is just a variable in the equation.

syncosised · 31-03-2010 11:25pm

Discuss.

The Geniuses' Thread

Comments