#40270
09/28/2001 9:07 PM
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605 |
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".
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#40271
09/28/2001 9:07 PM
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605 |
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".
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#40272
09/30/2001 11:38 AM
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605 |
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.
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#40273
09/30/2001 11:45 AM
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605 |
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.
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#40274
09/30/2001 2:47 PM
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636 |
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!
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#40275
09/30/2001 3:55 PM
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
"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.
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#40276
09/30/2001 4:10 PM
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,094
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,094 |
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.
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#40277
09/30/2001 4:11 PM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,379
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,379 |
<<"Suppose they gave a word-post and nobody came?" I am underwhelmed."
The second rule of writing: to know your audience.
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#40278
09/30/2001 5:14 PM
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636 |
Audience? Geez, why didn't somebody tell me. I'm still in my bathrobe  .
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#40279
09/30/2001 10:06 PM
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605 |
Well, i'peter, now we know where this audience's attention was!
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