Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#194472 12/01/10 03:40 PM
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,526
veteran
OP Offline
veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,526
I wrote previously that lemniscate meant "shaped like an infinity symbol."

http://wordsmith.org/board/ubbthreads.ph...=true#Post59953

Well, that's kind of indirectly true, but what it really means according to the online references is "ribboned" as in "decorated with ribbons." I think one site may have said something similar to "like a flowing ribbon."

The infinity symbol that looks like a numeral "8" on its side is a lemniscate. It has a different meaning than the alephs, which denote the size (what we call "cardinality" of sets). The lemniscate is meant to symbolize some unachievable limit.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinity

I guess the first mathematicians who used the symbol in this way liked the way the points just came back on each other.

Variants of it can be described by formulae in Cartesian coordinates, e.g.
(x^2 + y^2)^2 = a^2 (x^2 - y^2)

But I prefer using polar coordinates (because it's easier to program as a function):
r^2 = a^2 cos(2theta)

Some vague references online to lemiscate being applied to an order of transparent, ribbon-shaped fish, but not much detail.

Anyway, I thought it was interesting.

Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
it IS interesting. that's a neat word and concept.


formerly known as etaoin...
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706
re shapely words.....great topic, sorry I missed it.

just did goolge search for images......

And...I find that I use them when Quilting.....(never thought about that before).

Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
What do you call it when your ribbon in a lemniscate shape is also a Möbius strip?

Faldage #194514 12/02/10 12:07 PM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706
I don't know. What DO you call it when your ribbon in a lemniscate shape is also a Möbius strip?

Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
I don't know either. That's why I asked.

Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
ba-doom-tish


a single-sided lemniscate? a uniplanar lemniscate?


formerly known as etaoin...
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706
maybe a square!






Take two ordinary, untwisted loops. Stick them together at right angles to each other.
Now do the same with an ordinary strip and a Möbius strip.
With each set of strips, if you cut down the middle of both strips, you will get a square

Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 20
C
stranger
Offline
stranger
C
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 20
Forays into the Land of Wikipedia...One, sleepless night.

Medal
A medal, or medallion, is generally a circular object that has been sculpted, molded, cast, struck, stamped or some way rendered with an insignia, portrait or other artistic rendering. A medal may be awarded to a person or organization as a form of recognition for athletic, military, scientific,...

s, such as those awarded in competitions like the Olympics, often feature a neck ribbon configured as a Möbius strip. This allows the ribbon to fit comfortably around the neck while the medal lies flat on the chest.

Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Originally Posted By: crash
such as those awarded in competitions like the Olympics, often feature a neck ribbon configured as a Möbius strip. This allows the ribbon to fit comfortably around the neck while the medal lies flat on the chest.



Cool.


Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,318
Members9,182
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
Ineffable, ddrinnan, TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV
9,182 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 437 guests, and 1 robot.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,535
LukeJavan8 9,916
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5