What Formula Would You Tattoo? 110
My_Skin_As_A_Cheatsheet asks this potentially painful question:
"I have a friend/colleague who is planning on getting a tattoo in the next month or so. She has decided that this tattoo will be a mathematical or statistical formula, and has been scouring the web and books in recent weeks looking for a cool formula to put on her upper back/shoulder. If you could tattoo a single formula, axiom, etc. (from math, statistics, or any other similar field) on you, what would it be and why? Are there any you think are particularly profound or important? Cool symbols are a plus." Do you have a formula that means so much to you that you would get it tattoed onto your skin? If so, please share it with us. Please try to do you best in HTML (and I wish there was MathML support in something other than Mozilla...of course, Slashdot won't accept those tags anyways...yet!).
Infinity (Score:2)
P = NP (Score:1)
FLT (Score:1)
x,y,z>0 and n>2 ==> x^n + y^n != z^n
Re:To celebrate my MCSE (Score:1)
Drakes equation (Score:1)
check out http://www.seds.org/~rme/drakeeqn.htm
Good luck with your tattoo!
What you are looking for... (Score:2)
this one is nice... (Score:4)
that has always been one of my favourites. (mostly because it brings several important numbers into one small formula)
Proof. (Score:1)
My personal favorite.. (Score:5)
Integral(E^x) = f(u^n)
Which becomes, when you look at it,
Sex = Fun
That would be my suggestion.
Pre-algebraic Existentialism (Score:2)
x = x
If your friend likes non-sequitors, she might prefer:
x != x
If she's intrigued by Zen, she might like:
x = x != x
Though I suppose a more experienced Zen master would just say:
x
Several options: (Score:2)
Another option would be \pi = \sum_{i=0}^{\infty}{(\frac{1}{16})^i(\frac{4}{8i+
If you want something statistical, how about \sqrt{\pi} = \int_{-\infty}^{\infty}{e^{-x^2} dx} ?
OTOH, if you have lots of space, the Peano axioms (or, even better, the axioms of ZF set theory) would be really cool...
Re:this one is nice... (Score:1)
e^(i*pi) = 0 +/- 5%
Of course, you'll want it in mathematical notation rather than ASCIIfied.
Re:What you are looking for... (Score:4)
Algebraic fundamental formula: Although Euler's formula is very beautiful, I would opt for, the more algebraic, Lagrange's Theorem...
|G|=|H|[G:H]
Where H is a subgroup of a finite group G. Here is a theorem that is at the very basis of algebra and numbers.
Number thoery cool formula: Another equation that would be good for a tattoo is Hardy and Ramanujan's equation for the number of partitions of a number n, p(n). I will TeX the equation since I can't do it justice with HTML. If you don't use LaTeX, then refer to Number Theory, by George Andrews, p. 150 (it's a Dover book so it's $6.95 and excellent).
p(n)=\frac{1}{2\pi\sqrt{2}}\frac{d}{d n}\left{ \frac{\exp \left( \frac{2\pi}{\sqrt{6}} \sqrt{n-\frac{1}{24}} \right) }{\sqrt{n-\frac{1}{24}}}
An interesting thing about this equation is that it doesn't actually converge. You can make it converge to an answer by replacing the exp with a sinh and remove the 2 in the very first denominator, but Hardy and Ramanujan never figured that out.
Simple Chaotic Formula: One of the simplist equations to display a period 3 orbit, and hence chaotic behavior, is the logistic map:
f( x(n+1) )= 4 x(n) ( 1- x(n) )
I would recommend using subcripts in place of (n) and (n+1).
Fourier Series: Finally, nothing in mathematics is more beautiful and elegant than Fourier series. The following equation is at the heart of the MP3 piracy debate and it is responsible for most video and sound encoding. I don't know any equations for Fast Fourier Transforms, but here's one for the general Fourier series (in complex form, because that makes a better tattoo).
\Phi(x)=\sum^{\infty}_{n=-\infty} c_n e^{in\pi x/l}
For further reading in Fourier series (at an undergraduate level), I recommend Partial Differential Equations, an Introduction by Strauss
This slashdot story has inspired me to get a tattoo!
If it were a chemical formula... (Score:1)
CH3CH2OH
Re:Tattoo (Score:3)
You're link is to an article that talks about hepititus. You can avoid this 100% by going to a reputable tattoo artist and not a hole in the wall place.
Finally I think that your comment about seeing a psychiatrist is a little overboard. I would hardly refer to a tattoo as currently cool and trendy.
Tattoos have been cool and trendy for hundreds of years now. They are here to stay. Hard mathematics has been accurate and around for hundreds of years. Thus, tattoos of hard mathematics are not a temporary fad.
Okay, my logic isn't 100% sound, but you get the point. Now shove off, pal!
Area (Score:1)
(pi)r^2 and c^2=a^2+b^2
I don't think that anyone can deny that these two equations form part of the basis for all math, not just modern stuff. While Pythagoras has the advantage of being longer, I'd go with the area formula because it's simple, short (so when you decide that having a math quation on your arm isnt what you want, it'l be easy to remove), and has the added bonus of having the funkiest symbol (with the possible exception of either the sum or integral symbols) in there: pi.
Re:My personal favorite.. (Score:2)
The traditional (Score:2)
\intragel_0^\infinity \Delta\hartsuit dt = 0
Which is loosely:" and in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make"
But personally I prefer Euler ($e^{i\pi}+1=0$) or Fermatewith but my < body part> is to small for the eligante proof.
The old classics (Score:1)
My choices (Score:1)
Physics and geometric algebra (Score:1)
In particular, on page 5 of lecture 11, Maxwell's equations (which describe all of electromagnetism - pretty much the entire basis of modern technology and which were the starting point for Einstein's discovery of relativity) in one simple equation: (triangle)F = J.
And don't forget (Score:3)
(For those who haven't seen this before, the left side evaluates to log cabin + C.)
Not really a formula, but... (Score:2)
I got it... (Score:1)
It may not be right, but it will catch people's interest.
This message was encrypted with rot-26 cryptography.
Re:My personal favorite.. (Score:2)
The limit as u -> u(c) of the integral(e^x) = 0.
Re:Maxwell's Equations (Score:2)
Re:Infinity (Score:1)
try this one :
https://sourceforge.net/snippet/download.php?ty
BTW, oo is n/0 technically.
The Schroedinger Wave Equation (Score:2)
There's a good example (LaTeX->image) here [bu.edu].
The big one (Score:1)
All we are, is whats left after the big bang, if it wasn't for that formula, we wouldn't be.
Feynman's Theory of Everything (Score:1)
But seriously, Moebius inversion is pretty cool:
\prod_{n | m} {(\prod_{d | n} {g(d)})^{\mu (\frac{m}{n})} = g(m)
Alternatively,
\sum_{n | m} {(\mu (\frac{m}{n}) \sum_{d | n}{f(d)})} = f(m),
which true for any function from the positive integers to any commutative ring, where \mu is the Moebius function, mu(d) = (-1)^(number of prime factors of d) if d is squarefree, 0 otherwise.
Good lord (Score:2)
If you HAVE to get a tattoo, shouldn't you like something a lot and THEN decide to get it tattoos permanently on your skin?
--
Why not "E=MC'" squared"? (Score:1)
ok computer. (Score:1)
Re:The Schroedinger Wave Equation (Score:1)
H psi = E psi
(H should be bold, it's an operator) which tells us that energy is the eigenvalue of the Hamiltonian. This is the time-independent version, useful for solving static systems (like the infinite square well, or the hydrogen atom).
If you're looking for something a little more theoretical, from the world of mathematics instead of physics, may I reccomend the Generalized Stokes Theorem? Very elegant, and of deep theoretical significance.
It says, integral of omega over d psi = integral of d omega over psi
omega is a differential form, and psi is some region in k-D space. d is the differential operator, so d omega is the differential of the differential form, and d psi is the (k-1)-D boundary of psi.
Okay, I have a quantum mechanics exam tomorrow that I need to go back to studying for. Good luck with the tattoo!
Dysprosium
a pretty proof (Score:1)
Well.... (Score:4)
Of course if she already has other tats and wants to add a formula as another but doesn't have anything particularly meaningful to her in mind, I think it'd be hard to beat Grey's suggestion [slashdot.org] or something patterned after it. Failing that, there are all sorts of interesting things to use from the simple, compact fundamentals to larger "unexpected" items. Ask one of the math faculty or a calculus student about curves where the area under the curve is infinite but the volume of the solid created by spinning it is finite.
If nothing else, she should keep in mind that she's likely to be asked semi-regularly what it means, and if she can't explain it she's going to end up feeling stupid. "Hey, what's the math tat mean?" "Um, I can't really explain it, I just thought it looked neat..."
-- fencepost
The answer, my friend, is in the Quadratic (Score:1)
In words, it is as follows:
X equals negative B plus or minus the square root of (B squared minus 4 times A times C) all over 2 times A
Plus, it's a very widely recognized formula, so you have that going for you also.
An old favorite (Score:1)
Fibo (Score:1)
/whois John Galt
the dot product! (Score:1)
(t should be a theta)
Re:Not really a formula, but... (Score:1)
I was even thinking of bar-coding it. I want the 8x8 matrix on my foot. Uber cool. And very few people will get it.
Re:ok computer. (Score:1)
.anacron
Re:I got it... (Score:2)
1 + 1 = 11
And this one is actually right!
Favorite Formula (Score:1)
1.618
Annie
Re:Maxwell's Equations (Score:1)
-- hgc
Hello World! (Score:1)
That's why I got it tattooed on my back in binary. *grin*.
All uppercase characters, ASCII encoded (I figured most people aren't fluent in EBCDIC.)
-tec
Cheap digital camera pic of it here [216.71.209.189].
------------------
Re:Maxwell's Equations (Score:1)
Symmetric (Score:1)
Re:Not really a formula, but... (Score:1)
Re:Area (Score:1)
And as for pi, I still stand by my beleif that it's one of the funkiest mathematical symbols in common usage that most people understand and recognize. As was said earlier; it's not worth having some hugely complex formula on your shoulder if you have to explain it to everyone that sees your shoulder on a beach. Both of the above formulas I suggested are compact, simple enough for most ppl to understand, and are important.
The best formula (Score:1)
ouch!! (Score:1)
Re:Infinity (Score:1)
Re:I got it... (Score:1)
Re:The big one (Score:1)
DeCSS (Score:1)
Circumvent this!
Euler (Score:1)
My vote (Score:3)
In the beginning God said:
[insert Maxwell's equations]
...and there was light.
Maybe... (Score:1)
Re:Not really a formula, but... (Score:2)
:)
Re:Maxwell's Equations (Score:2)
If you're into karate... (Score:2)
Re:The traditional (Score:1)
Ahh..... Math and a Beatles quote... How sweet!
Re:Pre-algebraic Existentialism (Score:2)
Re:The answer, my friend, is in the Quadratic (Score:1)
It looks cool, it's somewhat recognized....plus it has the bonus of being the only formula I can explain what it's used for and how to solve it
Re:FLT (Score:2)
Re:Maxwell's Equations (Score:1)
pie? (Score:1)
No! No! No! (Score:1)
She should get the RSA code tattooed on her ass. Then she's classified as munitions.
Gives a whole new meaning to blonde bombshell.
Schematics (Score:1)
Anybody have favorite schematics they'd get tattooed?
Re:Fibo (Score:1)
http://cut-the-knot.com/arithmetic/Fibonacci.ht
Re:Why not "E=MC'" squared"? (Score:1)
Re:Several options: (Score:2)
Re:Several options: (Score:1)
Beer's Law Is An Obvious Choice For A Drunken Tat (Score:1)
A = (absorptivity)bc
get the Decss! (Score:1)
Re:Maxwell's Equations (Score:1)
Limit function (Score:2)
Huh? (Score:1)
"1 + 1 = 10" ?
Re:If you're into karate... (Score:1)
Re:How about a proof? (Score:1)
Re:Tattoo (Score:1)
wouldnt it be easier... (Score:2)
How about the RSA equations? (Score:1)
I'm getting a circuit board (Score:1)
not a suggestion, just what that made me think of
Ever get the impression that your life would make a good sitcom?
Ever follow this to its logical conclusion: that your life is a sitcom?
I suggest... (Score:1)
Re:The big one (Score:1)
e is usually not an energy but the elementary charge e=1,602e-19 C. (C stands for Coulomb, the unit of electric charge)
C is usually not the speed of light, but stands for a capacity or conductance.
M is used as symbol for mass, but only if you run out of letters, i.e. you have more than one mass.
If you use the common symbols you don't have to say what each of them stands for because everybody will know it. If you use uncommon symbols you have to explain what they stand for otherwise you will confuse people.
Re:Huh? (Score:1)
Fantasy Island (Score:1)
Tattoo says:
x/a + y/b + z/c = 1
"The plane! The plane!"
The Eponymous Mallard3.14159265358979323846264338327950288419716939... (Score:1)
It's accurate to up to 214 decimal places.
Unless it's real cold outside, then it just gets rounded to 3.
DeCSS. Drake Equation (Score:2)
And there's the Drake Equation about the number of extraterrestrial civilizations. Quite transcendental, if not mathematical: [seti-inst.edu]
N = R* × fp × ne × fl × fi × fc × L
__
Re:Several options: (Score:2)
Do any Math Geeks have an opinion? (Score:2)
I've often heard of Gauss being it but I've always admired Euler more than Gauss. Euler may have published more mathematics than anyone else as I read in a math textbook once plus he was rumored to have incredible mental calculating ability which would of course have come in handy since he lost sight in one and then the other eye as he grew older.
Re:Schematics (Score:2)
Re:Axioms "obviously" true (Score:2)
I'm not an expert, so I hope not to insert foot into mouth. (Although certian other body parts are fine.)
For example. An obviously true axiom: two lines which are parallel to each other can be extended infinitely in either direction, and the two lines will never meet. Problem however. If our universe is the three-dimensional "surface" of a four dimensional sphere, then the parallel lines will meet -- twice -- at each point, halfway around the universe, until each line goes all the way "around" the universe back to it's starting point. Just like Mr. A Square's universe might seem 2D, it might really be the 2D "surface" of a 3D sphere. If Mr. A Square extneds a line far enough, it eventually meets it's starting point. Our line is curved in the fourth dimension all the way "around" the universe, just like Mr. A Square's line is curved in the third dimension, which he cannot percieve.
Re:Axioms "obviously" true (Score:2)
Geometries
Euclidean-->Spherical-->Hyperbolic
One of the basic axioms of Euclidean geometry is that a point not on a line contains a line parallel to the line. This kind of sounds like what you meant to say in terms of axioms.
It is true that "world lines" in Spherical geometry are "parallel" to each other and perhaps that is what you are really referring to? IIRC parallel lines in this geometry are indeed parallel since the end points are at +/- Infinity. The lines technically do not ever meet.
wave-state equation (Score:2)
findable in any physical chemistry text (usually in the first chapter (maybe second) dealing with quantum). The nice thing about it is that it would be "tunable" for the subject's pain threshold, and it has cool greek letters in it (I say tunable because the form of the Hamiltonian operator depends on what dimensionality system yer lookin' at (hint: if they like to pour hot wax on themselves for kicks give them the 3d polar coordinates version, which expands quite a bit with that lambda thingy (the Lambertian? something like that, I can never recall the name) that ends up in the Hamiltonian).
But make sure they understand what the equation means, like a previous poster said. Covering yourself with Greek gibberish is just as bad as the fools that had the Hip'n'Trendy(TM) Kanji tats done when they don't speak Japanese. I've thought about getting my fav russian quote done, but that's only becuase I'd know if the tattoo artist decided to write "I am a stupid American" rather than "pravda harasho, a chaste luche[1]", which is not idle speculation as a local shop had/has a big flashy kanji tat offering that translates as "I have no fucking clue what this means becuase I'm an idiot." according to my Japanese-speaking friends.
[1] "The truth is good, but happiness is better.", and what I wrote up there is of course just a mangling of english letters to sort of produce the same sounds as the cyrillic/russian words.
--
News for geeks in Austin: www.geekaustin.org [geekaustin.org]
Union of M with m (Score:2)
Its the union of the set M with the set m. It looks like this:
M u m
I can't think why it's so popular.
Baz
Re:Axioms "obviously" true (Score:2)
In short, given a consistent set of axioms, NONE of them are false. They can't be. If any of them were, then the axioms are not consistent, and that flies in the face of what I told you in the first sentence of the paragraph, doesn't it?
HOWEVER (and this, perhaps, addresses your concerns), when you try to apply mathematics to reality (as you do by asking if lines REALLY ARE PARALLEL) you don't have mathematics anymore; you have physics. You can have a beautiful, consistent set of axioms that describe no reality that ever existed.
BTW, note that, in reality, points and lines don't exist - or at least, they've never been observed. I've seen graphite deposited on paper, I've seen glowing phosphors on a piece of glass, I've seen calcium carbonate dust on slate. But I've never seen a point or a line. Therefore, all of geometry is false.
Re:Area (Score:2)
I don't see how this is any different from having a mystic sigil tattooed onto your body. A friend of mine delights in explaining what the eye of Ra is.