Comments on: The Ball visits the home of Mathematics

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

This week’s Sesame Street was brought to you by the letters x and y , and the cube root of 2.

By: Rob

Rob — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Apparently he spelt his name “al Khwarizmi”, though his full name was the rather less succinct “Abu Abd-Allah ibn Musa al’Khwarizmi”.

He wrote “al Jabra” (full title “Hisab al-jabr w’al-muqabala” – try getting that on Amazon) in 830 AD and, funnily enough Tim, its first chapter is about how to solve simple quadratic equations such as x squared = the square root of 2. Cube roots weren’t solved until 1515 though, and that was by an entirely different person.

At least that’s what I overheard down the pub.

By: Rob

Rob — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

I did try searching on Amazon! Here is what it said:

“Availability: We are currently unable to offer this title. It may be out of stock with the publisher or out of print.”

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

In the photo on the music page(if you remember that) why is Richard in a tree wearing an Argentinian shirt?

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Rob: Ah, the Statisticians Arms – I love that place. Will you drink a pint of Arctangent for me and toast the Ball… this Kyrgyz beer tastes of, er, 10-10…