I heard a variation on the ‘sign error’ in an anecdote about (I think) Paul Dirac. Some hapless graduate student was demonstrating a proof, and at the end got a bit flustered and said, “Oh, I appear to have made a sign error.” Dirac: “Yes, an odd number of times…” Ouch.
These are all really fun. I agree that I’d buy these as postcards or greeting cards. What great graduation cards they would make! I don’t wear t-shirts, but I’d get one for my son. 🙂
Isn’t it relatively easy to get these things made up nowadays? Cafepress or something like that? Hint hint…
The one on sign errors really takes me back. When we were doing group assignments, the one dreaded phrase was “Show that…”. Since we already were given the answer, the teachers felt like they had free reign to make the problem as complicated as possible. So, one innocent question, “Show that expression X implies expression Y” meant 10 pages of algebra. Invariably there was at least one sign error, so I invented [kwan3217]’s Law of Signs. That law states: At the end of the problem, you get one free minus sign to stick wherever it helps, in order to make the answer what you know it needs to be.
“It’s a mistake to seek your true identity. We all have two identities: multiplicative and additive.” I LOVE IT! I think I need to access my other identity in this time of my life.
Thank you! I really needed this article!
My school released its latest newsletter. It contained so much sexism directed against boys that I wanted to cry. Sexism in education seems to have a exploded in popularity in the last few years. Why so much hate?! I feel like we need another Rosie Parks.
It’s like a battery recharge coming here. Thank you for not following modern trends of discrimination… er, I mean diversity.
You had me hooked at the first quote!
ZoraHayes Wales LidiawuW
NickInman Arsenal Cornelius
DanteFulm Sverige AshlyHint
ChristalC Tottenham Hotspurs ElizabetJ
DonteAsqh BVB Borussia Dortmund IndianaMa
LuannHerm Olympique Lyonnais LorenzoBo
LouiuOlho Ukraina RandyFais
LadonnaBa Everton ABDWiley
KristalWi Turkiet HeleneNoy
ErvinBrow Chelsea Christens
Esmeralda Manchester United ConnieYlq
Michelenb Frankrike JonFonten
BellHutch Elfenbenskusten KathleneN
Julienuvd Spanien PrestonJe
ClemmieMa Turkiet BettieUmb
I like the last one! It’s a small world getting smaller, and living in isolation just doesn’t work anymore.
I’d like the last one on a postcard…
I want all of these on a T-shirt
Tee hee. Entertaining, as always.
I heard a variation on the ‘sign error’ in an anecdote about (I think) Paul Dirac. Some hapless graduate student was demonstrating a proof, and at the end got a bit flustered and said, “Oh, I appear to have made a sign error.” Dirac: “Yes, an odd number of times…” Ouch.
I love these. Several would look great on t-shirts!
Ya really a good idea!
These are all really fun. I agree that I’d buy these as postcards or greeting cards. What great graduation cards they would make! I don’t wear t-shirts, but I’d get one for my son. 🙂
Isn’t it relatively easy to get these things made up nowadays? Cafepress or something like that? Hint hint…
Holy shit these were so funny!
Brilliance–as usual!
😀 too good
I love these so much!
The one on sign errors really takes me back. When we were doing group assignments, the one dreaded phrase was “Show that…”. Since we already were given the answer, the teachers felt like they had free reign to make the problem as complicated as possible. So, one innocent question, “Show that expression X implies expression Y” meant 10 pages of algebra. Invariably there was at least one sign error, so I invented [kwan3217]’s Law of Signs. That law states: At the end of the problem, you get one free minus sign to stick wherever it helps, in order to make the answer what you know it needs to be.
If something seems impossible.
Assume that it is, in fact, possible. Examine the implications. Find a contradiction. And mark it with a tombstone.
Yes, these would make fabulous greeting cards/postcards/t-shirts/posters!
“It’s a mistake to seek your true identity. We all have two identities: multiplicative and additive.” I LOVE IT! I think I need to access my other identity in this time of my life.
Thank you! I really needed this article!
My school released its latest newsletter. It contained so much sexism directed against boys that I wanted to cry. Sexism in education seems to have a exploded in popularity in the last few years. Why so much hate?! I feel like we need another Rosie Parks.
It’s like a battery recharge coming here. Thank you for not following modern trends of discrimination… er, I mean diversity.
You had me hooked at the first quote!
Greeting cards!! You should sell these!
I like them all…
ZoraHayes Wales LidiawuW
NickInman Arsenal Cornelius
DanteFulm Sverige AshlyHint
ChristalC Tottenham Hotspurs ElizabetJ
DonteAsqh BVB Borussia Dortmund IndianaMa
LuannHerm Olympique Lyonnais LorenzoBo
LouiuOlho Ukraina RandyFais
LadonnaBa Everton ABDWiley
KristalWi Turkiet HeleneNoy
ErvinBrow Chelsea Christens
Esmeralda Manchester United ConnieYlq
Michelenb Frankrike JonFonten
BellHutch Elfenbenskusten KathleneN
Julienuvd Spanien PrestonJe
ClemmieMa Turkiet BettieUmb
Nice!!!!!!
I was hoping for more ..