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Joined 1 year ago
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Cake day: December 18th, 2023

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  • “Good-morning, good-morning!” the General said

    When we met him last week on our way to the line.

    Now the soldiers he smiled at are most of 'em dead,

    And we’re cursing his staff for incompetent swine.

    “He’s a cheery old card,” grunted Harry to Jack

    As they slogged up to Arras with rifle and pack.


    But he did for them both by his plan of attack.







  • Thank you. Since we decided a few weeks ago to adopt the leaf as legal tender, we have, of course, all become immensely rich.

    But we have also run into a small inflation problem on account of the high level of leaf availability, which means that, I gather, the current going rate has something like three deciduous forests buying on ship’s peanut.

    So in order to obviate this problem and effectively revalue the leaf, we are about to embark on a massive defoliation campaign, and…er, burn down all the forests. I think you’ll all agree that’s a sensible move under the circumstances.












  • General_Effort@lemmy.world
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    tomemes@lemmy.worldIt's true.
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    3 months ago

    I used that text as a little test for the AIs at DDG. Here’s from Claude 3 Haiku.

    Here is the translation to English:

    Complex Numbers and Polynomials

    Something that hardly anyone knows is that complex numbers, in addition to their application in Complex AC Calculations (known to HTL students), also have a second, important use.

    In mathematics, there is often the problem of finding a number x for a given function f(x) such that f(x) = 0 holds.

    This is often the case for polynomials, as many important mathematical functions can be well approximated by polynomials.

    The Fundamental Theorem of Algebra states that if we allow x to be a complex number, then there is always a solution to the problem such that f(x) = 0.

    Restriction: but the polynomial must not consist of only a constant term, i.e., f(x) = 5 would be inadmissible. The x must appear at least once in the polynomial. Otherwise, there are really no restrictions :-)

    PS: In the example given in the image (f(x) = x^2 + 2 = 0), a solution would be approximately x = √2 i ≈ 1.4 i.



    Then I asked: “Please make it understandable to a general audience and phrase it like a pop-science author would.”

    Here is the translation in a more accessible, pop-science style:

    The Hidden Power of Complex Numbers

    Most people think complex numbers are just some obscure math concept, useful only for electrical engineers. But these mysterious numbers actually have a hidden superpower - they can solve all sorts of important math problems.

    You see, in math, we often want to find a number x that makes a function f(x) equal to zero. This comes up a lot when working with polynomials - those nice, smooth equations made up of powers of x.

    The problem is, sometimes there just doesn’t seem to be any real number x that does the trick. That’s where complex numbers swoop in to save the day!

    The Fundamental Theorem of Algebra proves that as long as we allow x to be a complex number (a number with both a real and imaginary part), then there will always be a solution that makes f(x) equal to zero. No exceptions!

    So complex numbers unlock the ability to solve all kinds of polynomial equations that would be impossible with just regular old real numbers. It’s like they have a secret mathematical superpower.

    Of course, there is one small catch - the polynomial can’t be a simple constant, like f(x) = 5. It has to actually contain the variable x somewhere. But other than that, complex numbers can tackle any polynomial problem you throw at them.

    So the next time you see an imaginary number like √(-1), remember - it’s not just some weird math trick. It’s a powerful tool for solving important equations. Complex numbers may seem strange, but they’re secretly the heroes of the math world!


  • General_Effort@lemmy.world
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    tomemes@lemmy.worldIt's true.
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    3 months ago

    Electrical engineers use them for calculating AC-circuits. In a DC circuit, you only have to worry about how much volt and amperes are in each part of the circuit. In an AC circuit, you also have to worry about the phase, cause the voltage goes up and down. The phase means where in that up and down you are.

    The complex number is interpreted as a point on a 2-dimensional plane; the complex plane. You have the “normal” number as 1 axis, and orthogonal to that the imaginary axis. The angle of the vector to that point gives the phase.

    They can be generally used for such “wavy” (ie periodical) processes. But I think this particular field of electrical engineering is the main application.


  • General_Effort@lemmy.world
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    toLemmy Shitpost@lemmy.worldstop
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    3 months ago

    Believing that animals are just like us s hardly and outlandish belief, on the facts. We’re evolutionarily closely related. We have basically the same skeleton. Skull, spine, rib cage, hips, 4 extremities. Arms and legs go: 1 big bone, 2 smaller bones, and lotsa little bones. It looks to be the same with the brain.

    We expect vegans not to blow up slaughterhouses or such. Fair enough. But expecting them to shut up about their beliefs is a bit much, no? Expecting them not to tell people how they feel, not to kiss in public, or hold a pride para… Sorry, wrong prosecuted minority.

    I’ve heard these takes about vegans for literal decades now, and not once has an actual vegan popped up to tell me that I’m a murderer.


  • General_Effort@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    Ok, so that’s why you’re not making any sense. You have no idea what’s going on.

    Look, it’s very simple. Vegans are a small, harmless minority. So some people bully them. Of course, it’s their own fault. They wouldn’t mind them if they weren’t “out and proud”. It’s always the same story. There’s almost no variation.

    I thought you were saying that it’s ok to bully them because they believe the wrong thing. That’s what @redisdead is saying. He compares them to “right wing cunts” when they speak their beliefs. Fascis get bashis. Just like vegans, I guess.

    Watch the company you keep.


  • General_Effort@lemmy.world
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    toLemmy Shitpost@lemmy.worldstop
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    3 months ago

    Vegans believe that animals have the same rights to live as humans. A nazi believes that the “others” do not have the same right to live as “his people”.

    I don’t think you’ll be able to convince me that these are morally or ethically equivalent positions. But I see the point. They both believe the wrong thing. The out-group sucks. Yes, I know how humans tick.