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#40270 - 09/28/01 09:07 PM Re: superellipse
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605 Keiva![]()
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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".
#40271 - 09/28/01 09:07 PM Re: superellipse
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605 Keiva![]()
Carpal Tunnel![]()
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".
#40272 - 09/30/01 11:38 AM Re: Caxis
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Carpal Tunnel
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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.
#40273 - 09/30/01 11:45 AM Re: Spartans
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Carpal Tunnel
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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.
#40274 - 09/30/01 02:47 PM Re: that other Michigan team
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636 consuelo![]()
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636
Caribbean 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 Re: Caxis
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 Jackie![]()
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 11,613
Louisville, Kentucky "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 Re: Spartans
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,094 Jazzoctopus![]()
old hand![]()
old hand
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,094
Cincinnati & Loveland, Ohio, U... 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 Re: Caxis
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,379 inselpeter![]()
Pooh-Bah![]()
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,379
New York City <<"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 Audience
Joined: Jun 2001
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 2,636
Caribbean Audience? Geez, why didn't somebody tell me. I'm still in my bathrobe.
#40279 - 09/30/01 10:06 PM Re: Audience
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 2,605 Well, i'peter, now we know where this audience's attention was!
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