I have seen with astonishment that apart from a few little things there is nothing to be seen in his hydrodynamics but an impertinent conceit. His criticisms are puerile indeed, and show not only that he is no remarkable man, but also that he never will be. Daniel Bernoulli on Jean le Rond d’Alembert
Author Archives: saemiller
On the Computer
Down the rabbit hole on digital calculations. Computers, as programmable tools, trace their origins to the 1800s. Joseph Jacquard’s loom, which used punched cards for pattern storage, indirectly influenced the field (1800s). C. Babbage, inspired by the loom, built the Difference Engine in 1822 for mathematical calculations and later designed the Analytical Engine, the first …
Complex Polynomials
The Fundamental Theorem of Algebra states that the field of complex numbers is algebraically closed, implying that every polynomial equation of degree n has n roots within the complex numbers, with at least one being a solution where the polynomial evaluates to zero. Historically, the theorem’s origin traces back to the conjectures by Albert Girard …
Personal Equation
1796, Maskelyne, Astronomer Royal of Britain, dismissed his assistant for what he believed to be persistent inaccuracies in the timing of observations, specifically delays of approximately half a second. This decision unknowingly set the stage for the development of an important concept in measurement science: the personal equation. Maskelyne’s published their mixed observational results. After …
Backus on IBM / Fortran
Much of my work has come from being lazy. I didn’t like writing programs, and so, when I was working on the IBM 701, writing programs for computing missile trajectories, I started work on a programming system to make it easier to write programs. John Backus, 1979, Interview IBM Think Magazine
Origins of Graph Theory
Graph theory emerged in the 18th century, connecting geometry with fields like topology and set theory. Leonhard Euler formulated graph theory during his time in Königsberg, now Kalingrad. His seminal work began with the 1736 paper, “The Seven Bridges of Königsberg.” Residents of Königsberg enjoyed crossing the city’s seven bridges in one outing – considered …
MSDOS 4 Source Code
Find myself going down the rabbit hole as MS posted their MSDOS assembly code on GITHUB. Initials JK appear through source code, which I’m not sure who it belongs to. My assembly programming is at best poor. It’s fun to read the commands like del.asm etc. DOS seemed to be behind the times in 1986, …
Self-Portrait, 2024
Generated via advancing front / Delayne algorithm, surface grid, marched in normal direction to lines of maximum gradient. CPU time \(1.5 \times 10^{-1}\) s on Mac M1.
Revisiting \(e\) History
\(e\), defined by the limit \(\lim_{n \to \infty} \left(1 + \frac{1}{n}\right)^n\) and approximating 2.71828, is characterized by its irrational and transcendental nature, indicating it cannot be depicted as a quotient of two integers nor as a solution to any non-trivial polynomial equation with rational coefficients. John Napier, a Scottish mathematician and theologian, significantly contributed to …
Removal of Tenure at the University of Florida
A university cannot exist without academic freedom. Academic freedom is the core value under which American universities have operated for nearly the last century. It is outlined in multiple works, including the Chicago Principles and by the American Association of University Professors. Academic freedom is protected by the tenure system. Tenure, which was popularized in …
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