Re: Re: Simplifying Conjugate[] with 5.2 Mac
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg59944] Re: [mg59916] Re: Simplifying Conjugate[] with 5.2 Mac
- From: János <janos.lobb at yale.edu>
- Date: Fri, 26 Aug 2005 04:53:33 -0400 (EDT)
- References: <de45i8$qtf$1@smc.vnet.net> <debt13$9bu$1@smc.vnet.net> <deeoho$3q9$1@smc.vnet.net> <dehj8b$c26$1@smc.vnet.net> <200508251034.GAA10147@smc.vnet.net>
- Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com
On Aug 25, 2005, at 6:34 AM, Steuard Jensen wrote:
> Quoth "James Gilmore" <james.gilmore at yale.edu> in article
> <dehj8b$c26$1 at smc.vnet.net>:
>
>> "Steuard Jensen" <sbjensen at midway.uchicago.edu> wrote:
>>
>>> Quoth "James Gilmore" <james.gilmore at yale.edu>:
>>>
>>>> Extend the definition to include purely complex variables:
>>>> ConjugateVariables[z_] := z /. {w -> -w, -w -> w,
>>>>
>
>
>>> (Do you mean "purely imaginary variables"? I don't think we have
>>> many
>>> quaternions here. :) )
>>>
>
>
>> Yes of course, apoligies. I was studying complex variables for my
>> qualifying exams when I wrote this message... :)
>>
>
> Ugh. Qualifying exams are never a pleasant process (even if you end
> up doing well). Good luck to you!
>
> As for the complex/imaginary thing, that's been a sore spot for me
> since way back in high school: in a science quiz bowl competition, we
> were asked what kind of solutions a particular quadratic had. I
> quickly found that they were +/- 4 i, so I buzzed in and said, "Two
> imaginary solutions." The judge disqualified my answer, explaining
> that the correct answer was "Two complex solutions." I was rather
> annoyed, as you might expect (though my team still won the day).
Hah... My son's six grade teacher took 5 points off from his score
because he wrote for the circumference of the circle d*PI. When I
complained she told that in her class it is Pi*d. Then I asked is
2*3 the same as 3*2. That visibly puzzled her a little, then she
told me that the circumference of the circle was still Pi*d. I was
astonished by that stupidity, but then I reconciled knowing that I am
in the US. I realized that some math teachers here in the US do not
fall too far from their beloved President :)
When my son did go to seventh grade last year and got a new teacher,
I went to the "Meet the teacher night" and asked him the question:
Is the circumference of the circle d*Pi or Pi*d. He smiled and told
me: "they are the same". When I told him that it was not the same
in sixth grade, he told me: " We are in the seventh grade now".
Guess what will be my question to the eight grade math teacher in
September :)
János
>
>
>> All the best with your high energy theory research.
>>
>
> Thanks! :)
>
> Steuard Jensen
>
----------------------------------------------
Trying to argue with a politician is like lifting up the head of a
corpse.
(S. Lem: His Master Voice)
- References:
- Re: Simplifying Conjugate[] with 5.2 Mac
- From: sbjensen@midway.uchicago.edu (Steuard Jensen)
- Re: Simplifying Conjugate[] with 5.2 Mac