Wednesday 17 August 2011

Nativity of Pierre de Fermat (1601)

Today we will be celebrating Fermat's birthday by trying to understand his work.

My theory here is that, to the average Beaker person, mathematics is a bit like faith - we don't really understand either, but take them on trust. And we like the symbols. Very powerful, are symbols.

And to make it even more spiritual, we're going to be studying Fermat's work in the original Latin. So I'm not saying today is going to be a great one for understanding things - but it'll be a marvellous one for mystery.

4 comments :

  1. Thank you Archdruid-I knew it would be a bit embarrassing to ask Google what their logo was about, and you have the gift of words of knowledge. I am happy.

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  2. perhaps you could write a translation in the margin?

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  3. Maybe could if I knew any Latin, Joan. Perhaps Hnaef could advise.

    Margaret, always glad to spread a little knowledge when I have some!

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  4. But you don't have to tell them that. You could always write something like, "The translation is obvious, but unfortunately it won't fit in the margin."

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