Semi-OT: The Victors and the quadratic formula
Anyone who has taken a high school algebra class has had to deal with the quadratic formula at some point in the process. Here it is again, in all its glory: 
for equations of form 0=a(x^2)+bx+c.
Remembering this equation, and helping others to remember this equation, has bedeviled students of mathematics for centuries. Now, thanks to the magnificent fight song The Victors, there is an easy solution to this problem. Here is the Quadratic Song (sung to the tune of The Victors). Fist pumps are optional.
Neg!-a-tive b plus or minus
Square! root of b-squared minus
4! a! c all over
2 times a (repeat)
Your kids will thank you for teaching them this song.
we need some prentheticals
we need some prentheticals
Leave to our fanbase to come up with something like this.
Still pretty funny if i do say so myself.
You'd never see it on Bucknuts or RCMB, that's for sure.
Of course not, they'd have to understand math.
I actually think this is awesome.
I learned it to the tune of pop goes the weasel. And 10 years later I still remember it. I actually can't say it in my head without doing it to that tune, and unfortunately it just sounds so wrong to the victors because of that.
However to pop goes the weasel it goes: x equals negative b plus or minus the square root, of b squared minure 4ac, all over 2a.
I know. I can't even figure out how it goes because I am so brainwashed to do it to Pop Goes the Weasel.
I'm missing how 4 factorial and A factorial fit? /s
I left the quadratic in high school where it belongs. Just seeing it written out again makes my balls hurt.
I wouldn't have pegged the quadratic formula as a tease, note to self...
Why the quadratic formula hate? It made factoring so much easier.
I learned it to the Notre Dame fight song, and to this day I sing the song in my head to remember it. This is a definite improvement!
I think you should drop the "or" from the first line. It scans better and still makes sense.
But did anyone else hear they are considering scrapping Pi in favor of Tau, which is 2*Pi?
What the crap is that? Sure, it will be marginally easier to do stuff in radians, but what the hell, man...
Mathematicians had better watch out for the Physics Mafia, when they come looking for their torque.
Yeah, it does seem to have the added benefit of making some calculations make slightly more sense. (Of course, if you can't handle multiplying things by two because pi is half of tau, then you shouldn't be doing higher math for a living.)
But the obvious, ugly downside is that you can't celebrate Tau Day with delicious desserts and it doesn't fall during the school year, unless your school board is evil. So that's a deal-breaker.
I had a discussion about this at work (I am doing math research) and my theory is: unless I'm at the beach, I'd rather have two pies than a tau.
I should defend myself by saying that one of the guys I work with kind of mumbles so he sounded like he was saying "towel".
were at a bar discussing the relative merits of having a girlfriend versus a wife.
Lawyer: I have a girlfriend. No legal ties or obligations.
Accountant: Oh, I'm married. Gotta take advantage of the tax deductions.
Actuary: I have both.
((The lawyer's and accountant's jaws drop to the floor.))
Actuary: Oh, yes, it's definitely best to have both. That way, I can tell the wife I'm sleeping with the girlfriend, and tell the girlfriend that I'm staying home with the wife. Then I get to work all night!
Is tau actually gaining any serious traction? I hadn't heard of it until now. I doubt anything will come of it.
I could go either way on the subject.
First, they take away Pluto, then they take away 2*pi... but they will never take.... OUR FREEDOM TO INTEGRATE!
/nerd Braveheart
When I was partying in high school I would "prove" to other people that I wasn't as drunk as they said I was by reciting the quadratic formula.
Yeah, I'm that awesome.
I used to do the Rubic's Cube to prove I wasn't all that drunk.
I never had any problem memorizing formulas... but I never paid attention in the class (and I never read the text in math books) so I never knew when to use the formulas.
but I never paid attention in the class (and I never read the text in math books)
I just didn't read text books period. It's a wonder I still managed to get into and graduate from college.
Come up with a song for Cardano's formula, and I'll be impressed.
Come up with a song for the generalized quintic, and I'll be really impressed.
In high school, our 9th grade math teacher made us memorize the quadratic formula to ND's Victory March and then sing the formula in front of the class to a different song of our choosing a week later.
My buddy tried "Like a Virgin." I've never laughed so hard in math class.
this is how I was taught the quotient rule in HS.
low! times d high minus
high! times d low and
its all over low squared
that is the quotient rule
I didn't learn it to a song or any type of pnenomic device
Seems like a good idea for our youth to be educated by learning to The Victors :)
This blog has truly reinforced in my mind that we have the best fans in college football.
...now if we could only work on that humility thing.