Mr Honner

Another Mechanical Calculator

This video demonstrates the Original Odhner mechanical calculator.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bz8_tNDUDog

It looks like a miniature typewriter, and it seems to operate in the same manner as the Curta mechanical calculator: switches allow you to “input” numbers into the machine, and then turning a crank performs addition or subtraction.

The video demonstrates some basic operations of the Odhner, and it includes a nice (if lengthy) computation of the square root of 2 that involves a few arithmetic tricks.

By patrick honner, 15 yearsMarch 7, 2011 ago

Math Photo: Rooftop Midline

$Math Photo -- Rooftop Midline$

This photo reminds me of my favorite theorem from elementary geometry: if you connect the midpoints of two sides of a triangle, the segment is both parallel to, and half the length of, the third side.

You can find out a little more about this theorem here.

By patrick honner, 15 yearsMarch 5, 2011 ago

Resources

More Math Careers

$we do math$ This is an excellent collection of profiles of people who use serious mathematics in their careers:

http://www.maa.org/careers/profiles.html

This resources from the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) profiles over one hundred individuals whose careers span Actuary Science, Engineering, Systems Analysis, Computing, Law, and Academia. Each profile includes a personal statement from the individual in which they describe the fundamental role mathematics plays in their lives and careers.

By patrick honner, 15 yearsMarch 5, 2011 ago

Challenge

Sporkle Science Quiz

Here’s a nice six-minute distraction: a fun quiz from Sporcle, testing your knowledge of some science and math trivia.

http://www.sporcle.com/games/Flick/10to1sciefun

I won’t be bragging about my score. Let’s just say that my knowledge of Platonic Solids far surpassed my knowledge of type of clouds.

By patrick honner, 15 yearsMarch 4, 2011 ago

Geometry Resources

Amazing Fractal Video

$fractal surface$ This video is billed as “an evolving landscape of a 3D fractal surface”.

http://vimeo.com/18842873

I’m not sure exactly what that means, but it’s awesome. And the author claims to be working on some kind of fractal explorer that presumably would allow the user to navigate around the object.

By patrick honner, 15 yearsMarch 3, 2011 ago

Another Mechanical Calculator

Math Photo: Rooftop Midline

More Math Careers

Sporkle Science Quiz

Amazing Fractal Video

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