Catherine Posted July 27, 2017 Report Posted July 27, 2017 I made a mistake. I listened to a Vi Hart YouTube video on the decimal .9999.... = 1 issue (which was fun). But then she mentioned split octonians, which are eight-dimensional algebraic expressions. And I looked them up. Hence the mistake. the Wikipedia article is strange; all the *words* are in English, but they don't make any sense. Kinda like portions of the IRC, except these have a point (UN-like the IRC, frankly, too often) because they describe sophisticated wave equations. Here's the link: Split octonians and here's the first paragraph: "In mathematics, the split-octonions are an 8-dimensional nonassociative algebra over the real numbers. Unlike the standard octonions, they contain non-zero elements which are non-invertible. Also the signatures of their quadratic forms differ: the split-octonions have a split-signature (4,4) whereas the octonions have a positive-definite signature (8,0). Up to isomorphism, the octonions and the split-octonions are the only two octonion algebras over the real numbers. There are corresponding split octonion algebras over any field F." Umm... I'm really glad they included that bit about isomorphism, 'cuz that just helped SO much. Not. 3 Quote
Catherine Posted July 27, 2017 Author Report Posted July 27, 2017 In case y'all didn't think I was weird enough, and have been wondering what sort of things I do in my spare time... 4 Quote
BLACK BART Posted July 27, 2017 Report Posted July 27, 2017 3 hours ago, Catherine said: In case y'all didn't think I was weird enough, and have been wondering what sort of things I do in my spare time... Well, you're among friends anyway and, isomorphically speaking, I'd say you're a pretty good ol' gal. Besides, I don't have a thing in the world against those octonians. Here's one of your comrades-in-axioms -- he started out as a kid repairing transistor radios for his neighbors. One of the world's great physicists (and comedians). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Feynman Read this book (I have and think you'll like it). The used paperbacks are cheap and good. https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=RICHARD+FEYNMAN Cheers! 1 Quote
Don in Upstate NY Posted July 27, 2017 Report Posted July 27, 2017 The book I recommend for people who think they know about things is Muller, Richard, NOW, The physics of time . It has a lot to say about Feynman, but doesn't explain why I remember Avogadro number, but have never used it on a tax return. Don in Upstate NY BSEE, MSEE, MBA, EA, NCI 1 Quote
Elrod Posted July 27, 2017 Report Posted July 27, 2017 12 hours ago, Catherine said: In case y'all didn't think I was weird enough, and have been wondering what sort of things I do in my spare time... Catherine.......Weird.?......NAH..... Quote
Gail in Virginia Posted July 27, 2017 Report Posted July 27, 2017 I really don't have time for this Catherine, but after your post I just had to look up isomorphism, And you know where that leads.... 2 Quote
Catherine Posted July 27, 2017 Author Report Posted July 27, 2017 10 hours ago, BLACK BART said: Read this book "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman" is one of the best books I have *ever* read. His tale of the missing/hidden fraternity door had me crying, I was laughing so hard. And it was really interesting to read about Los Alamos from before my husband's family lived there (they moved out there post-WW2). 1 Quote
Catherine Posted July 27, 2017 Author Report Posted July 27, 2017 Sorry, @Gail in Virginia, I didn't mean to throw a wrench in your scheduling. 1 Quote
Gail in Virginia Posted July 27, 2017 Report Posted July 27, 2017 @Catherine, Nobody does it better! Except ME! 2 Quote
Eric Posted July 31, 2017 Report Posted July 31, 2017 It sounds like technobabble from star trek. It's easy to solve if you disconnect the photonic tetryon coupling and reroute though the trans-warp wavefront matrix. 4 Quote
Jack from Ohio Posted July 31, 2017 Report Posted July 31, 2017 8 minutes ago, Eric said: It sounds like technobabble from star trek. It's easy to solve if you disconnect the photonic tetryon coupling and reroute though the trans-warp wavefront matrix. Do not forget that the Dilithium matrix enhancement must be in exactly the right configuration... 4 Quote
Catherine Posted July 31, 2017 Author Report Posted July 31, 2017 Ah, Cap'n, the engines cannae tak' much more! 3 Quote
Abby Normal Posted July 31, 2017 Report Posted July 31, 2017 I prefer Vidalia onions to octonions. 4 Quote
Elrod Posted July 31, 2017 Report Posted July 31, 2017 With all this Mumbo Jumbo....I need a MIND MELD.... 3 Quote
Margaret CPA in OH Posted July 31, 2017 Report Posted July 31, 2017 Is this a gaggle of nerds or what? 3 Quote
Jack from Ohio Posted July 31, 2017 Report Posted July 31, 2017 36 minutes ago, Margaret CPA in OH said: Is this a gaggle of nerds or what? GUILTY!!!!! 2 Quote
Max W Posted July 31, 2017 Report Posted July 31, 2017 Watch out for those Octonians. Rumor has it, that it is the Octonians building the N Korean missiles. After advanced college calculus and differential equations, I said that's enough math for me. Octonians - "egads". 2 Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.