tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264226589944705290.post307022102723814216..comments2023-11-05T03:45:25.001-08:00Comments on God Plays Dice: division in Foxtrot and some thoughts on arithmeticMichael Lugohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15671307315028242949noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264226589944705290.post-82682844438822119462007-09-10T16:45:00.000-07:002007-09-10T16:45:00.000-07:00Isabel,I happen to KNOW 38^2=1444, 39^2=1521, AND ...Isabel,<BR/><BR/>I happen to KNOW 38^2=1444, 39^2=1521, AND 43^2= 1849. The last value is the california gold rush, to know 38^2, you get 62^2 for free (3844). 39^2=(40-1)^2=40^2-80+1. The speed at which these are recalled (actually I fumbled at 43) cannot be expressed on a blog. BUT, if you learn your squares from1-50, you have a good chance at being able to multiply 2-digit numbers in your head. As a mathematician you might not value this, but there is a bunch of stuff out there, and a bunch of your readers read you for educational reasons. My point in learning how to square things quickly was to demonstrate that algebra (the high school sort) comes from arithmetic. All of your (x+a)(y+b) sort of facts have arithmetical consequences. <BR/><BR/>You know this for sure. Do your less mathematically inclined readers?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com