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Re: Re: Simplifying Conjugate[] with 5.2 Mac

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  • 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>
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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)


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