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Gaussian Brackets
In mathematics, Gaussian brackets are a special notation invented by Carl Friedrich Gauss to represent the convergents of a simple continued fraction in the form of a simple fraction. Gauss used this notation in the context of finding solutions of the indeterminate equations of the form ax=by\pm 1 . This notation should not be confused with the widely prevalent use of square brackets to denote the greatest integer function: /math> denotes the greatest integer less than or equal to x. This notation was also invented by Gauss and was used in the third proof of the quadratic reciprocity law. The notation \lfloor x \rfloor , denoting the floor function, is now more commonly used to denote the greatest integer less than or equal to x. The notation The Gaussian brackets notation is defined as follows: :\begin \quad ,\,& = 1\\ mm _1& = a_1\\ mm _1, a_2& = _1_2 + ,\,\ mm & = a_1a_2+1\\ mm _1, a_2, a_3& = _1, a_2_3 + _1\\ mm & = a_1a_2a_3 + a_1 + a_3 \\ mm ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mathematics
Mathematics is a field of study that discovers and organizes methods, Mathematical theory, theories and theorems that are developed and Mathematical proof, proved for the needs of empirical sciences and mathematics itself. There are many areas of mathematics, which include number theory (the study of numbers), algebra (the study of formulas and related structures), geometry (the study of shapes and spaces that contain them), Mathematical analysis, analysis (the study of continuous changes), and set theory (presently used as a foundation for all mathematics). Mathematics involves the description and manipulation of mathematical object, abstract objects that consist of either abstraction (mathematics), abstractions from nature orin modern mathematicspurely abstract entities that are stipulated to have certain properties, called axioms. Mathematics uses pure reason to proof (mathematics), prove properties of objects, a ''proof'' consisting of a succession of applications of in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Carl Friedrich Gauss
Johann Carl Friedrich Gauss (; ; ; 30 April 177723 February 1855) was a German mathematician, astronomer, geodesist, and physicist, who contributed to many fields in mathematics and science. He was director of the Göttingen Observatory and professor of astronomy from 1807 until his death in 1855. While studying at the University of Göttingen, he propounded several mathematical theorems. As an independent scholar, he wrote the masterpieces '' Disquisitiones Arithmeticae'' and ''Theoria motus corporum coelestium''. Gauss produced the second and third complete proofs of the fundamental theorem of algebra. In number theory, he made numerous contributions, such as the composition law, the law of quadratic reciprocity and the Fermat polygonal number theorem. He also contributed to the theory of binary and ternary quadratic forms, the construction of the heptadecagon, and the theory of hypergeometric series. Due to Gauss' extensive and fundamental contributions to science ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Simple Continued Fraction
A simple or regular continued fraction is a continued fraction with numerators all equal one, and denominators built from a sequence \ of integer numbers. The sequence can be finite or infinite, resulting in a finite (or terminated) continued fraction like :a_0 + \cfrac or an infinite continued fraction like :a_0 + \cfrac Typically, such a continued fraction is obtained through an iterative process of representing a number as the sum of its integer part and the reciprocal of another number, then writing this other number as the sum of its integer part and another reciprocal, and so on. In the ''finite'' case, the iteration/recursion is stopped after finitely many steps by using an integer in lieu of another continued fraction. In contrast, an ''infinite'' continued fraction is an infinite expression. In either case, all integers in the sequence, other than the first, must be positive. The integers a_i are called the coefficients or terms of the continued fraction. Simple co ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Simple Fraction
A fraction (from , "broken") represents a part of a whole or, more generally, any number of equal parts. When spoken in everyday English, a fraction describes how many parts of a certain size there are, for example, one-half, eight-fifths, three-quarters. A ''common'', ''vulgar'', or ''simple'' fraction (examples: and ) consists of an integer numerator, displayed above a line (or before a slash like ), and a non-zero integer denominator, displayed below (or after) that line. If these integers are positive, then the numerator represents a number of equal parts, and the denominator indicates how many of those parts make up a unit or a whole. For example, in the fraction , the numerator 3 indicates that the fraction represents 3 equal parts, and the denominator 4 indicates that 4 parts make up a whole. The picture to the right illustrates of a cake. Fractions can be used to represent ratios and division. Thus the fraction can be used to represent the ratio 3:4 (the ratio of th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Indeterminate Equation
In mathematics, particularly in number theory, an indeterminate system has fewer equations than unknowns but an additional a set of constraints on the unknowns, such as restrictions that the values be integers. In modern times indeterminate equations are often called Diophantine equations. Examples Linear indeterminate equations An example linear indeterminate equation arises from imagining two equally rich men, one with 5 rubies, 8 sapphires, 7 pearls and 90 gold coins; the other has 7, 9, 6 and 62 gold coins; find the prices (y, c, n) of the respective gems in gold coins. As they are equally rich: 5y + 8c + 7n + 90 = 7y + 9c + 6n + 62 Bhāskara II gave an general approach to this kind of problem by assigning a fixed integer to one (or N-2 in general) of the unknowns, e.g. n=1, resulting a series of possible solutions like (y, c, n)=(14, 1, 1), (13, 3, 1). For given integers , and , the general linear indeterminant equation is ax + by = n with unknowns and restricted to in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Quadratic Reciprocity
In number theory, the law of quadratic reciprocity is a theorem about modular arithmetic that gives conditions for the solvability of quadratic equations modulo prime numbers. Due to its subtlety, it has many formulations, but the most standard statement is: This law, together with its supplements, allows the easy calculation of any Legendre symbol, making it possible to determine whether there is an integer solution for any quadratic equation of the form x^2\equiv a \bmod p for an odd prime p; that is, to determine the "perfect squares" modulo p. However, this is a non-constructive result: it gives no help at all for finding a ''specific'' solution; for this, other methods are required. For example, in the case p\equiv 3 \bmod 4 using Euler's criterion one can give an explicit formula for the "square roots" modulo p of a quadratic residue a, namely, :\pm a^ indeed, :\left (\pm a^ \right )^2=a^=a\cdot a^\equiv a\left(\frac\right)=a \bmod p. This formula only works if it is ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Floor Function
In mathematics, the floor function is the function that takes as input a real number , and gives as output the greatest integer less than or equal to , denoted or . Similarly, the ceiling function maps to the least integer greater than or equal to , denoted or . For example, for floor: , , and for ceiling: , and . The floor of is also called the integral part, integer part, greatest integer, or entier of , and was historically denoted (among other notations). However, the same term, ''integer part'', is also used for truncation towards zero, which differs from the floor function for negative numbers. For an integer , . Although and produce graphs that appear exactly alike, they are not the same when the value of is an exact integer. For example, when , . However, if , then , while . Notation The ''integral part'' or ''integer part'' of a number ( in the original) was first defined in 1798 by Adrien-Marie Legendre in his proof of the Legendre's formula. Ca ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Recursion
Recursion occurs when the definition of a concept or process depends on a simpler or previous version of itself. Recursion is used in a variety of disciplines ranging from linguistics to logic. The most common application of recursion is in mathematics and computer science, where a function (mathematics), function being defined is applied within its own definition. While this apparently defines an infinite number of instances (function values), it is often done in such a way that no infinite loop or infinite chain of references can occur. A process that exhibits recursion is ''recursive''. Video feedback displays recursive images, as does an infinity mirror. Formal definitions In mathematics and computer science, a class of objects or methods exhibits recursive behavior when it can be defined by two properties: * A simple ''base case'' (or cases) — a terminating scenario that does not use recursion to produce an answer * A ''recursive step'' — a set of rules that reduce ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Symmetric
Symmetry () in everyday life refers to a sense of harmonious and beautiful proportion and balance. In mathematics, the term has a more precise definition and is usually used to refer to an object that is invariant under some transformations, such as translation, reflection, rotation, or scaling. Although these two meanings of the word can sometimes be told apart, they are intricately related, and hence are discussed together in this article. Mathematical symmetry may be observed with respect to the passage of time; as a spatial relationship; through geometric transformations; through other kinds of functional transformations; and as an aspect of abstract objects, including theoretic models, language, and music. This article describes symmetry from three perspectives: in mathematics, including geometry, the most familiar type of symmetry for many people; in science and nature; and in the arts, covering architecture, art, and music. The opposite of symmetry is asymmetr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Determinant
In mathematics, the determinant is a Scalar (mathematics), scalar-valued function (mathematics), function of the entries of a square matrix. The determinant of a matrix is commonly denoted , , or . Its value characterizes some properties of the matrix and the linear map represented, on a given basis (linear algebra), basis, by the matrix. In particular, the determinant is nonzero if and only if the matrix is invertible matrix, invertible and the corresponding linear map is an linear isomorphism, isomorphism. However, if the determinant is zero, the matrix is referred to as singular, meaning it does not have an inverse. The determinant is completely determined by the two following properties: the determinant of a product of matrices is the product of their determinants, and the determinant of a triangular matrix is the product of its diagonal entries. The determinant of a matrix is :\begin a & b\\c & d \end=ad-bc, and the determinant of a matrix is : \begin a & b & c \\ d & e ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Focal Length
The focal length of an Optics, optical system is a measure of how strongly the system converges or diverges light; it is the Multiplicative inverse, inverse of the system's optical power. A positive focal length indicates that a system Convergence (optics), converges light, while a negative focal length indicates that the system Divergence (optics), diverges light. A system with a shorter focal length bends the Ray (optics), rays more sharply, bringing them to a focus in a shorter distance or diverging them more quickly. For the special case of a thin lens in air, a positive focal length is the distance over which initially Collimated beam, collimated (parallel) rays are brought to a Focus (optics), focus, or alternatively a negative focal length indicates how far in front of the lens a point source must be located to form a collimated beam. For more general optical systems, the focal length has no intuitive meaning; it is simply the inverse of the system's optical power. In mos ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
