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#40270 09/28/01 09:07 PM
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Bear with me on this, it does come back to words.

The mathematical equation whose graph is an ellipse is:
a * (x to the 2nd power) + b * (y to the 2nd power) = 1,
where a and b are any constants. a and be determine the size of the ellipse and how elongated it is. If a=b the result is a circle; thus a circle is a particular kind of an ellipse.

About 20 years ago a Dane, Piet Hein, experimented to see what kind of shape you'd get if you graphed a similar equation but change the 2's above. He found that if you change that number to about one-and-a-half, you get an esthetically pleasing shape, a compromise between an oval and a rectangle: one would roughly describe it as a rectangle with the corners cut off.

The term for that shape is "superellipse" Furniture in the Danish Modern style furniture often uses superellipses as, for example, the share of a tabletops. Danish traffic engineers design traffic ellipses in that shape, to minimize the sharp curves at the ends of the ellipse.

Hein has also authored numbers pithy poems, called "grooks".


#40271 09/28/01 09:07 PM
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Bear with me on this, it does come back to words.

The mathematical equation whose graph is an ellipse is:
a * (x to the 2nd power) + b * (y to the 2nd power) = 1,
where a and b are any constants. a and be determine the size of the ellipse and how elongated it is. If a=b the result is a circle; thus a circle is a particular kind of an ellipse.

About 20 years ago a Dane, Piet Hein, experimented to see what kind of shape you'd get if you graphed a similar equation but change the 2's above. He found that if you change that number to about one-and-a-half, you get an esthetically pleasing shape, a compromise between an oval and a rectangle: one would roughly describe it as a rectangle with the corners cut off.

The term for that shape is "superellipse" Furniture in the Danish Modern style furniture often uses superellipses as, for example, the share of a tabletops. Danish traffic engineers design traffic ellipses in that shape, to minimize the sharp curves at the ends of the ellipse.

Hein has also authored numberous pithy poems, called "grooks".


#40272 09/30/01 11:38 AM
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The response to "Caxi's" leaves me empathic with Dr. Bill's plaintive plaint, "Suppose they gave a word-post and nobody came?" I am underwhelmed.

Last hint, combining two hints above: one need merely google Gilbert & Sullivan to find out what Major General Stanley knows about frogs, and then, googling further, check the reference cited by that illustrious Major General.


#40273 09/30/01 11:45 AM
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Public message to Sparteye: Northwestern 27, Michigan State 26

I do not comment; I merely report.

But to keep this word-related: this of course deals only with the "Spart" part of "Sparteye", and next weekend we are likely to suffer an-eye-for-an-eye from the buckeyes.


#40274 09/30/01 02:47 PM
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U of M 38
Illinois 13
I don't watch, I merely report.
For Sparteye: Aenigma suggested Ubiquitous of Mabel for you-know-who and spasm for Sparteye!


#40275 09/30/01 03:55 PM
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"Suppose they gave a word-post and nobody came?" I am underwhelmed.

Well, Dear, I did Google the things you suggested, but still no luck. I am completely unfamiliar with both of the things, and probably would have had to read at least the second one in more depth than I have the time for right now.
Sorry.




#40276 09/30/01 04:10 PM
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and next weekend we are likely to suffer an-eye-for-an-eye from the buckeyes.

I'll be at the game, so I'll make sure to let you know.

Though, I don't think OSU will be trying to get revenge for the Sparts. They're not exactly allies if you recall the '98 season.


#40277 09/30/01 04:11 PM
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<<"Suppose they gave a word-post and nobody came?" I am underwhelmed."

The second rule of writing: to know your audience.


#40278 09/30/01 05:14 PM
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Audience? Geez, why didn't somebody tell me. I'm still in my bathrobe.


#40279 09/30/01 10:06 PM
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Well, i'peter, now we know where this audience's attention was!

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