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Re: algebraic numbers

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg106080] Re: algebraic numbers
• From: Noqsi <jpd at noqsi.com>
• Date: Fri, 1 Jan 2010 05:32:58 -0500 (EST)
• References: <hhc7a1$2o2$1@smc.vnet.net> <200912300912.EAA17052@smc.vnet.net>

On Dec 31, 1:16 am, DrMajorBob <btre... at austin.rr.com> wrote:

> This is a little like those idiotic SAT and GRE questions that ask "What's  
> the next number in the following series?"... where any number will do. 
> Test writers don't seem to know there's an interpolating polynomial (for 
> instance) to fit the given series with ANY next element.

Explanations in terms of epicycles may be mathematically adequate in a
narrow sense, but an explanation in terms of a single principle
applied repeatedly is to be preferred in science. The ability to
recognize such a principle is important.

And my mathematical logician son (who's looking over my shoulder)
directed me to http://www.research.att.com/~njas/sequences/ for
research on this topic. When he encounters such a sequence in his
research, he finds that knowledge of a simple genesis for the sequence
can lead to further insight.