Comments on: The Ball visits the home of Mathematics http://www.spiritoffootball.com/2002/blog/2002/04/19/the-ball-visits-the-home-of-mathematics Football's equivalent to the Olympic Torch Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:26:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Tim http://www.spiritoffootball.com/2002/blog/2002/04/19/the-ball-visits-the-home-of-mathematics#comment-111 Tim Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.spiritoffootball.com/2002_blog/?p=22#comment-111 This week's Sesame Street was brought to you by the letters x and y , and the cube root of 2. This week’s Sesame Street was brought to you by the letters x and y , and the cube root of 2.

]]> By: Rob http://www.spiritoffootball.com/2002/blog/2002/04/19/the-ball-visits-the-home-of-mathematics#comment-112 Rob Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.spiritoffootball.com/2002_blog/?p=22#comment-112 Apparently he spelt his name "al Khwarizmi", though his full name was the rather less succinct "Abu Abd-Allah ibn Musa al’Khwarizmi". He wrote "al Jabra" (full title "Hisab al-jabr w’al-muqabala" - try getting that on Amazon) in 830 AD and, funnily enough Tim, its first chapter is about how to solve simple quadratic equations such as x squared = the square root of 2. Cube roots weren't solved until 1515 though, and that was by an entirely different person. At least that's what I overheard down the pub. Apparently he spelt his name “al Khwarizmi”, though his full name was the rather less succinct “Abu Abd-Allah ibn Musa al’Khwarizmi”.

He wrote “al Jabra” (full title “Hisab al-jabr w’al-muqabala” - try getting that on Amazon) in 830 AD and, funnily enough Tim, its first chapter is about how to solve simple quadratic equations such as x squared = the square root of 2. Cube roots weren’t solved until 1515 though, and that was by an entirely different person.

At least that’s what I overheard down the pub.

]]> By: Rob http://www.spiritoffootball.com/2002/blog/2002/04/19/the-ball-visits-the-home-of-mathematics#comment-113 Rob Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.spiritoffootball.com/2002_blog/?p=22#comment-113 I did try searching on Amazon! Here is what it said: "Availability: We are currently unable to offer this title. It may be out of stock with the publisher or out of print." ;) I did try searching on Amazon! Here is what it said:

“Availability: We are currently unable to offer this title. It may be out of stock with the publisher or out of print.”
;)

]]> By: Tim http://www.spiritoffootball.com/2002/blog/2002/04/19/the-ball-visits-the-home-of-mathematics#comment-114 Tim Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.spiritoffootball.com/2002_blog/?p=22#comment-114 In the photo on the music page(if you remember that) why is Richard in a tree wearing an Argentinian shirt? In the photo on the music page(if you remember that) why is Richard in a tree wearing an Argentinian shirt?

]]> By: Chris http://www.spiritoffootball.com/2002/blog/2002/04/19/the-ball-visits-the-home-of-mathematics#comment-115 Chris Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.spiritoffootball.com/2002_blog/?p=22#comment-115 Rob: Ah, the Statisticians Arms - I love that place. Will you drink a pint of Arctangent for me and toast the Ball... this Kyrgyz beer tastes of, er, 10-10... Rob: Ah, the Statisticians Arms - I love that place. Will you drink a pint of Arctangent for me and toast the Ball… this Kyrgyz beer tastes of, er, 10-10…

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