eigenvalues+{{2,2,2,3},{0,i,2,6},{0,0,sqrt(2),1},{0,0,0,-sqrt(3)}}

Not only did I get the eigenvalues, but also the eigenvectors.

Input: derivative of sin x

Input: e=mc^2

Input: life expectancy US

Input: HAL stock

As you can see this can possibly a very useful tool whether you are settling a bet, or trying to do research.

If you are interested in learning a little bit of history on how one of the most prominent scientists of all time eventually was able to publish one of the most influential books all time. This is a movie you cannot miss.

I took the book home and read it. Livio presents an actually well written book. Anyone interested in reading about popular science, or anyone with limited mathematical background will constantly find themselves saying to themselves “I did not know that” or “Ah, that is interesting.” Other than that, you will not gain much from it.

The truth is that the book doesn’t do justice to the title. The majority of the book is nothing more than a historical account of several mathematical topics, which Livio then links to how they relate to our present day life. That is all great, but he never really goes on to say how and where does he come up with the conclusion that god is indeed or is not a mathematician.

This brings me back to what I really think is the important part on this. My wife was completely right. Before one can say anything about god, or anything else for that matter, the object, place or thing of which is referring to must be defined. Furthermore that definition must either well understood or stated. She wasn’t completely right, but she was on the right track. Before Livio can say talk about god in any sense he must define what god means. The word god can have some many different meaning to different people. What is even more frustrating is that a well respected scientist would use a catchy title in an attempt to sell books. In my opinion a more fitting title would be “Great achievements  in mathematics and how they relate to everyday life.” Furthermore, under this vision, what prevents god from being a chemist, physicists or biologist?

The last thing I would like to see is scientist turning science into propaganda. Science is science, and it can never be mistaken for religion or faith. Even when they attempt to explain the universe, they are totally different practices and should not be juxtaposed.

The Higss Boson

Scientist are hoping to prove the existence of Higgs Boson. The Higgs boson has been dubbed “the god particle” while this is certainly an overstatement of importance of observing the particle, it is the most important result that could come out of the LHC. The Higss boson is predicted by the Standard Model of Particle Physics, but has yet to be observed. This is due to the fact that the Higgs was present moments after the Big Bang. In essence Scientist are hoping to re-create the events that transpired moments after the creation of the Universe, hoping to prove the existence of the Higgs boson.

Why is the Higss Boson so important?

The Standard Model of Particle Physics basically states that for every energy field there must be particle associated with it. One thing that the Standard Model fails to explain is how particles obtain mass. In other words, even with success and accuracy of the Standard Model it is still an incomplete theory. In 1964 Peter Higgs tackled this problem and proposed that the fundamental particles get their mass by interacting with a field now known as Higgs field. This brings some sort completeness into the Standard Model since it allows for mass to be accounted for. However, with every field there must be a particle associated with it, therefore the Higgs boson must exists for scientists to be able to prove that in fact the Higgs field does exist, and that is how particles get their mass.

Implicatons

The discovery of the Higgs boson will allow scientist not only to prove the existance of the Higgs field  (or disprove, if the Higss is never observed) but will also allow scientist to study the properties of the Higgs and possibly extend the Standard Model. And most importantly it will allow Scientist to explain why everything in the world has mass. Let’s also not forget the indirect implacations that will come of it, after all CERN is where the world wide web was born.

The law of exponents states the following: Using it you can create examples that show

While, the examples that she gave were correct she said something totally wrong. Something that anyone attempting to explain a mathematical expression should never do, no matter how stupid the expression may seem. She went on to say that you could easily prove it by example. WTF? Nothing in mathematics can be proven by example!. Furthermore,is true because it is defined that way. No if ends or butts. There is no proof that goes along with it.

The sad part of the whole thing is that she supposedly graduate it with a Math degree from The University of Houston. *sight*

PBS

What I found surprisingly interesting, and that I did not know, was how fractals are used to explain the make up of nature. From cell phone antennas to the shape of Forests and Mountains.

If you get a chance try to catch it online.

I rencently when to Disney World for vacation. I was surprised to hear over and over again “Here at Disney we are doing this to save the enviroment..blah..blah..blah.” Now, while I don’t have a particular problem if Disney and it’s subsidieries are trying to save the enviroment, why do they have to promote what they are doing insted of just promoting eviromental awareness? Do my kids really need to know what Disney is doing to conserve the enviroment, or do they just need to know that enviromental conservation is good for everybody? I think this is a rather low tatic used by companies to make people feel better about the company their doing bussines with, hoping that they will return for more. I use Disney as an example not only because I recently spent sometime there, but because they have a movie called Earth coming out today.

Disney is claming that for every ticket they sale today, Disney will plan a tree in the name of the ticket purchaser. Is this really necessary? After all if Disney wanted to plan trees they would do it without anybody needing to purchase a ticket to see their movie. Come on Disney! You are the perfect company to lead and educate people about environmental conservation, but you are picking the wrong way of doing it. Don’t use it as a tactic to increase profits. Do it because you love the environment and you want people to understand the need for conserving it. Plan those trees even if people don’t show up to watch your movie!

Charles Darwin

The Texas board of education is in the process of adopting new science standards. This means there is a controversy brewing over how evolution is taught in the classroom. Today teachers are required to state the “strengths and weaknesses” of evolution.

Now, while I am not completely opposed to having intelligent debates on evolution, or any other scientific theory for that matter. I am opposed to using such rules to impose religious beliefs on students. While it doesn’t bother me that there exists a “strength and weaknesses” clause in today’s science curriculum. It does bother me that people feel the need to actually spell it out. The very basis of science accounts for the strengths and weakness of any theory. The simple notion of an idea being a theory, underlines the fact that there is not conclusive evidence to determine that is in fact true. In fact, evolution may never become a scientific law or be universally accepted by the science community. That is just how the scientific community works.

There should not be a requirement that special language be used when teaching science. Students should be taught what science is and how the community works. Students should be able to understand what a “theory” is before they are exposed to any theory.

Text books should be written with the intent to educate students about science, and not to defend it. There should be no reason why Science should be defended or explained. Science stand on its own. If one day and “intelligent designer” showed and proved that he in fact designed all of the existent life. The scientific community will be the first to say they were wrong.

We should not be using the public education system to impose our personal beliefs on society, we can do that on Sunday mornings. If you want your kids to learn what you believe, teach them that yourself.

More importantly, it doesn’t matter how much people hate it. Evolution is a valid scientific theory!