April 20, 2007
E = MC2; Maybe, Perhaps, Possibly!
Ask anyone what their favorite subject in school was and you will get answers such as English, History, Science, Reading, German or French or Spanish, and you will seldom (although there are some) get an answer such as Math, Calculus, Algebra or Trigonometry/Geometry. And there is a reason perhaps for that. Math is a difficult subject for many, it requires memorizing which few like to do, logic, which not many have (especially liberals and democrats 
), and an ability to think things through. Having said that, many budding mathmeticians have become extremely creative in solving math problems. Here are 7 examples of that creative ability taken directly from actual examinations.
Posted by gmroper at April 20, 2007 01:13 PM | TrackBack
A variation on #4...
http://mathpwned.ytmnd.com/
Posted by e. nonee moose at April 20, 2007 04:07 PM
The elephant is just as real as a frictionless ramp. If the professor can assume one thing, why can't the student assume another?
These are like some physics equations that I've seen where they know the beginning and they know the end of the calculation, but they don't know the middle. To account for that unknown, they write "A Miracle Occurs Here."
Posted by Woody at April 20, 2007 04:40 PM
ok GM, so I am reading this post while I am on dialysis, and almost done (so I am pretty "dry", which means I am mostly out of extra fluid, and being close to actual dehydration am prone to cramping) when I see the "Find X" problem.
I laughed my tail off, immediately had cramps in my abdomen and was rtying to stretch it out while rolling......good deal GM....thanks for the laugh and teh cramp.
Posted by kender at April 20, 2007 10:52 PM
I HATE MATH above the general algebra level, and I am still questioning why, as a PRE-LAW student, I need to know calculus!!!!!!!!!! I think I'll sue UNT for "mental anguish" and "pain and suffering" after I get out of law school.....
Posted by Smokey at April 20, 2007 11:31 PM
I needed that laugh just now, thank you, thank you! I'm laughing so hard that I'm crying at the "find x" problem. PERFECT timing (for me), GM.
Posted by Ogre at April 21, 2007 06:19 PM
