Let's discuss Mathematics

[bhavv]

Math sounds terrible you darn Americans.

Its maths, for the simple reason that the full term is mathematics, not mathematic.

Lern 2 English.

 

[Harv]

I looked at the last two pages and I think Americans are in the minority.

 

[Robert Can't]

Do any of you have much experience using LaTeX?

Just started looking into it as I'm going to need to use it in an internship over next Summer.

 

[dutchfire]

Yes. I think it is pretty much unavoidable for mathematics/theoretical physics writing and publishing.

 

[Silv Something]

EDIT: I mean, just look at that font.

 

[Robert Can't]

It is truly something of beauty

 

[Atticus]

It can be a bit overwhelming first, but the best way is usually to dive straight into it: copy the settings from someone and start to write.

Here's what I usually use for short stuff. I wrote some nonsense there so you can pick some of the most usual things:

Spoiler :

\documentclass[a4paper,10pt]{article}
\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}
\usepackage{amsfonts}
%\usepackage{cases}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{booktabs}
\usepackage{graphicx}
\usepackage{enumerate}
\usepackage[parfill]{parskip}

\begin{document}
\global\let\newpagegood\newpagegood
\title{Type Title Here}
\author{Type Author Here}
\maketitle

Type inline formulae inside single dollars: $\Delta \alpha \int f \, dx$. (Backslash-comma is just a space). Formulae on their own row inside twi dollars:
$$\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} \int_{0}^1 f_k \, dx \neq  \lim_{x\to 0} x \le 1.$$

If you want to align the rows, use this:
\begin{align*}
1 &= 2\\
   &= 3\\
   &= 4.
\end{align*} 
Here et-symbol sets tabs and two backslashes changes the line.

\textbf{Bold text.} \emph{Emphasize,}
\end{document}

Use some IDE for writing, like MikTex for Windows or Kile for Linux.

EDIT: % is a comment, that is, the row after it is ignored.

 

[uppi]

Use some IDE for writing, like MikTex for Windows or Kile for Linux.

MikTex is a TeX distribution for Windows. For an IDE you want TeXnicCenter, TeXworks or any of the other available options on Windows.

 

[Atticus]

Oh yeah, you're of course right, I got the names mixed up.

 

[nc-1701]

I like texworks, Tex is a pain to learn but really useful. I never got to be good with it, and I probably won't have the opportunity with my current path, but it's cool as hell and looks fantastic.

 

[Robert Can't]

Well my computer decided it was tired of this futile life and so I'm back to scribblings on paper and blackboards.

And now whiteboards as in an exciting turn of events the department has decided to cover the corridor walls with whiteboards. What a lovely idea.

 

[bhavv]

Round up the numbers in the following equation to their nearest whole:

1.4 + 1.4 = 2.8.

 

[Atticus]

To celebrate the Friday, here's a puzzle: You can travel from the left top corner of a chess board to the bottom right by going through all the squares exactly once: 7 down, 1 right, 7 up (this is NOT product placement), 1 right,...

Can you do the same from the top left to the top right? How or why not?

The allowed moves are left, right, up and down.

This puzzle was brought to you by 7 up!

 

[Petek]

I'll assume that up and down must be exactly 7 moves each, left/right must be exactly 1 move each and that left/right moves must alternate with up/down moves.. Solution:

Spoiler :

Go to the bottom right corner as above. Then execute 7 up.

 

[Atticus]

Sorry, forgot to say that you should visit one square exactly once. (Corrected to my previous post now).

 

[dutchfire]

No. The chessboard is bipartite: every move you make goes from white to black or from black to white. After making a fixed number of moves, you know if you should end up on white or black. Bottom right and top right have opposite colors, so they cannot both be reached after the same number of moves.

 

[Atticus]

I hope others gave it at least a try. It's frustratingly difficult to prove until you realize to use the colours and the even number. After that you wonder why didn't you think of it before.

 

[Petek]

I'm confused. The solution I had in mind for the "upper left corner to upper right corner" task was 7D, 1R, 7U, 1R, 7D, 1R, 7U, 1R, 7D, 1R, 7U, 1R, 7D, 1R, 7U. That transverses all 64 squares, each exactly once. What's the solution to the "upper left corner to lower right corner" task?

 

[Atticus]

My bad again. The example should've been that and the problem going from up left to right down.

Sorry.

 

[Cutlass]