Category Archives: Math

Q: Does Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorem imply that it’s impossible to be logical?

Posted on November 24, 2010 by The Physicist

The original question was: The question is in context with Kurt Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorem. Question: If no formal logic can ever be, complete and consistent, does that mean, humans are illogical beings? Further elaboration of the question:  Imagine a mathematician … Continue reading →

Posted in -- By the Mathematician, -- By the Physicist, Logic, Math, Philosophical | 28 Comments

Q: Why is pi not a definite number?

Posted on November 13, 2010 by The Physicist

The original question was: If the diameter of a circle is a fixed number, say 10cm, why does Pi go on for billions of numbers even though it extrapolates from the diameter’s value? Why is it not a definite number? … Continue reading →

Posted in -- By the Mathematician, Geometry, Math | 7 Comments

Q: How do “Numerology Math Tricks” work? (adding digits and tricks with nines)

Posted on November 5, 2010 by The Physicist

The original question was: Please help me solve this math card trick, I do not understand how it works: If you take a deck of 52 cards and split it into any number of piles (lets say 3) and count … Continue reading →

Posted in -- By the Physicist, Brain Teaser, Math, Number Theory | 10 Comments

Q: What is the probability that two randomly chosen people will have been born on the same day?

Posted on October 31, 2010 by The Physicist

Physicist: 0.0035% or about 1 in 28,500. The most recent, complete information I could find is the 2000 American census.  There they have the number of people of a particular age sorted into five year blocks, so I assumed a … Continue reading →

Posted in -- By the Physicist, Probability | 4 Comments

Q: What are Feynman diagrams, how are they used (theoretically & practically), and are there alternative/competing diagrams to Feynman’s?

Posted on October 5, 2010 by The Physicist

Physicist: Feynman diagrams are primarily a way to keep track of what you’re doing.  Physicists aren’t geniuses or anything, and they get distracted pretty easily. When you’re trying to calculate the probability of a particular particle interaction you’ll find yourself … Continue reading →

Posted in -- By the Physicist, Combinatorics, Equations, Particle Physics, Physics, Quantum Theory | 11 Comments

Q: Does the 2nd law of thermodynamics imply that everything must eventually die, regardless of the ultimate fate of the universe?

Posted on October 4, 2010 by The Physicist

Physicist: The 2nd law of thermodynamics states that in any closed system entropy will increase over time. The exact rate at which entropy increases is situation dependent (e.g., being on fire or not). As a quick aside, one of my … Continue reading →

Posted in -- By the Physicist, Biology, Entropy/Information, Evolution, Paranoia, Philosophical | 9 Comments