Appreciation

Math Photo: Patching Waves

The curves that lie where the ocean breaks, mirror curves the cracking snowfall makes.

By patrick honner, 15 yearsFebruary 28, 2011 ago

A Classic Math Rant

This is a classic confrontation between an attentive customer and some mathematically challenged customer service reps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MShv_74FNWU

The customer has a hard time convincing Verizon that the price he was quoted, .002 cents per kilobyte, is quite different than the price he is being charged, .002 dollars per kilobyte. “Those are two completely different numbers,” a dejected, overcharged customer says. “They’re 100-fold different.”

The customer’s attempt to use the Socratic method to illuminate the misunderstanding was admirable, if unsuccessful.

By patrick honner, 15 yearsFebruary 26, 2011 ago

Appreciation Photography

Distracting Directions

I’m sure it makes perfect sense to the locals, but Puerto Rico has one of the worst route-naming conventions I’ve seen.

So I’m travelling on 402, but I might want to turn right onto 4402? The only way this could be more confusing is if 402 branched off onto 4002. Or perhaps 4-“Oh”-2.

By patrick honner, 15 yearsFebruary 23, 2011 ago

Appreciation Numbers

Belts and Number Systems

I recent bought a bunch of different belts, and I was surprised at how my different choices reminded me of different number systems.

The belt in the middle is the integer belt. The holes are far apart and evenly spaced out, kind of like the integers 1, 2, 3, 4, … .

The belt on top is the rational number belt. The criss-cross pattern means there are lots more holes to choose from, and they are closer together.

The belt on the bottom is the real number belt. You can cinch this closed in a whole continuum of places. You basically have every length available to you, from 0 to whatever.