wiegie Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 in class last Thursday I was showing the students an equation that basically boiled down to be a 5th order polynomial. I then said: "Can anybody solve this?... That is why we use financial calculators." Then a student said, "I can solve it." I told the student that I would give him 20 extra credit points if he could indeed solve the problem over the weekend. He just walked into class and proudly announced that he had solved the problem. What is interesting is that in the 19th century a mathematician proved that it was impossible to solve the general form of such equations. (Now the equation I gave the student was not in a general form, but I can't imagine that the kid solved it.) It will be interesting to see what he did. reference: http://mathworld.wolfram.com/QuinticEquation.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimC Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 I'll take Things I Will Never Use for $200 Alex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmarc117 Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 (edited) http://www.break.com/index/professor_gets_...cell_phone.html ever do this wiegie Edited September 19, 2006 by dmarc117 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiegie Posted September 19, 2006 Author Share Posted September 19, 2006 I'll take Things I Will Never Use for $200 Alex. actually, you have almost certainly used something like this recently--it's basically a specific case of the formula for calculating interest rates (such as might be used for a mortgage) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
untateve Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 actually, you have almost certainly used something like this recently--it's basically a specific case of the formula for calculating interest rates (such as might be used for a mortgage) I live in a cardboard box under the overpass. No credit cards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylive5 Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 I live in a cardboard box under the overpass. No credit cards. Is that cardboard box owned outright? Did you pay cash or did you finance it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
untateve Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 Is that cardboard box owned outright? Did you pay cash or did you finance it? traded my garbage bag/raincoat for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylive5 Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 traded my garbage bag/raincoat for it. Ahh... good show I guess. Probably going to need that raincoat for winter though. I am still waiting to find out if wiegie has the new math genius of our age.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiegie Posted September 19, 2006 Author Share Posted September 19, 2006 I am still waiting to find out if wiegie has the new math genius of our age.... I don't think so (at least initial indications are not good). He came up with his piece of paper in which he had solved the equation: (1+i)^5 = 1100 I said, "ok, but wasn't the equation you were supposed to solve this: i^5 + i^4 + i^3 + i^2 + i =1100? and he said, "yes, but i^5 + i^4 + i^3 + i^2 + i = (1+i)^5" I said, "could you just show me this?" he said "ok" and then went away (I assume to go back to work on the problem) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylive5 Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 I don't think so (at least initial indications are not good). Drat! And I had such high hopes for him. Kid: "Just when I was on a roll....foiled by the professor again." LOL Prof: "Wonder if he understands who he's messin' with here?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cre8tiff Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 I read the lapdance thread, then this one. I think my brain imploded and ripped the fabric of spacetime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T_bone65 Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 I read the lapdance thread, then this one. I think my brain imploded and ripped the fabric of spacetime. How could you leave out the College Dorm thread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecerwin Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 I outsmart my political science profs all the time. Piece of cake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylive5 Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 I outsmart my political science profs all the time. Piece of cake. They probably aren't Huddlers like wiegie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dutch Oven Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 I don't think so (at least initial indications are not good). He came up with his piece of paper in which he had solved the equation: (1+i)^5 = 1100 I said, "ok, but wasn't the equation you were supposed to solve this: i^5 + i^4 + i^3 + i^2 + i =1100? and he said, "yes, but i^5 + i^4 + i^3 + i^2 + i = (1+i)^5" I said, "could you just show me this?" he said "ok" and then went away (I assume to go back to work on the problem) I bet this dude wil get a ton of Rosie O'Donnell if he pulls this off..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bring Back Pat!!! Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 I don't think so (at least initial indications are not good). He came up with his piece of paper in which he had solved the equation: (1+i)^5 = 1100 I said, "ok, but wasn't the equation you were supposed to solve this: i^5 + i^4 + i^3 + i^2 + i =1100? and he said, "yes, but i^5 + i^4 + i^3 + i^2 + i = (1+i)^5" I said, "could you just show me this?" he said "ok" and then went away (I assume to go back to work on the problem) Is this being solved for i? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yukon Cornelius Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 I bet this dude wil get a ton of Rosie O'Donnell if he pulls this off..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimC Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 i = 42 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiegie Posted September 19, 2006 Author Share Posted September 19, 2006 Is this being solved for i? yes (but he has to solve it analytically--it's child's play with a financial calculator) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuke'em ttg Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 i couldn't remember my measurement for a butt joint, but found a 6'' piece laying on the floor so i cut it to 90 and it fit.......... college was a waste to me...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yukon Cornelius Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 i = 42 wrong 41 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Country Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 3.14159275 to be exact. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hat Trick Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 I say the kid gets 10 extra credit points even if he gets it wrong, least he was willing to try, did anyone else care to try? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twiley Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 I say the kid gets 10 extra credit points even if he gets it wrong, least he was willing to try, did anyone else care to try? Nah, he should fail him for being a snot-nosed over-achiever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perchoutofwater Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 (edited) i = 3.81961398569488 What do I get? Edited September 19, 2006 by Perchoutofwater Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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