Comments on: A problem courtesy of Shakespeare http://mathsformortals.wordpress.com/2007/11/29/a-problem-courtesy-of-shakespeare/ Mathematics demystified Fri, 28 Dec 2007 17:34:26 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Denise http://mathsformortals.wordpress.com/2007/11/29/a-problem-courtesy-of-shakespeare/#comment-9 Denise Sat, 08 Dec 2007 00:36:20 +0000 http://mathsformortals.wordpress.com/2007/11/29/a-problem-courtesy-of-shakespeare/#comment-9 This is a good example of a problem where Guess-and-Check works more efficiently than the 4-page explanation at the link. The portrait either is or is not in the gold casket. If it is not, the inscription on the silver casket turns into one of those logical nonsense statements like "This statement is false," which can be true if and only if it is not true. So the question becomes, do you trust Portia, or don't you? This is a good example of a problem where Guess-and-Check works more efficiently than the 4-page explanation at the link. The portrait either is or is not in the gold casket. If it is not, the inscription on the silver casket turns into one of those logical nonsense statements like “This statement is false,” which can be true if and only if it is not true.

So the question becomes, do you trust Portia, or don’t you?

]]> By: Jonathan Vos Post http://mathsformortals.wordpress.com/2007/11/29/a-problem-courtesy-of-shakespeare/#comment-7 Jonathan Vos Post Sun, 02 Dec 2007 18:23:14 +0000 http://mathsformortals.wordpress.com/2007/11/29/a-problem-courtesy-of-shakespeare/#comment-7 From Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. PORTIA: The quality of mercy is not strain'd, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest [i.e. blessed x 2]; It blesseth him that gives and him that takes [i.e. + and -, or adjoint functors, or something like that] "The quality of mercy is not strained" through a sieve of Eratosthenes? Profit and loss analysis, with mathematical biotechnology focus: Fom Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice, 1596. The insistence by Shylock of the payment of Antonio's flesh is the central plot device of the play: SHYLOCK: The pound of flesh which I demand of him Is deerely bought, 'tis mine, and I will haue it. The figurative use of the phrase to refer to any lawful but nevertheless unreasonable recompense dates to the late 18th century. From Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice.

PORTIA: The quality of mercy is not strain’d,

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest
[i.e. blessed x 2];
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes
[i.e. + and -, or adjoint functors, or something like that]

“The quality of mercy is not strained” through a sieve of Eratosthenes?

Profit and loss analysis, with mathematical biotechnology focus:

Fom Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice, 1596. The insistence by Shylock of the payment of Antonio’s flesh is the central plot device of the play:

SHYLOCK:
The pound of flesh which I demand of him Is deerely bought, ’tis mine, and I will haue it.

The figurative use of the phrase to refer to any lawful but nevertheless unreasonable recompense dates to the late 18th century.

]]> By: Carnival of Mathematics #21: Bar-hopping at last « Secret Blogging Seminar http://mathsformortals.wordpress.com/2007/11/29/a-problem-courtesy-of-shakespeare/#comment-6 Carnival of Mathematics #21: Bar-hopping at last « Secret Blogging Seminar Sat, 01 Dec 2007 19:39:38 +0000 http://mathsformortals.wordpress.com/2007/11/29/a-problem-courtesy-of-shakespeare/#comment-6 [...] for Mortals uses A problem courtesy of Shakespeare (which doesn’t match too well with my recollection of the Merchant of Venice, but let’s [...] [...] for Mortals uses A problem courtesy of Shakespeare (which doesn’t match too well with my recollection of the Merchant of Venice, but let’s [...]

]]> By: vlorbik http://mathsformortals.wordpress.com/2007/11/29/a-problem-courtesy-of-shakespeare/#comment-5 vlorbik Fri, 30 Nov 2007 19:23:22 +0000 http://mathsformortals.wordpress.com/2007/11/29/a-problem-courtesy-of-shakespeare/#comment-5 i've got this sneaky feeling that "exactly one of these propositions is true" isn't a proposition at all ... and a dead certainty that *i* can't make any sense at all of "... she has placed her portrait in one of the caskets in a manner that is consistent with this truth or falsity of the inscriptions." portia may be smarter than me ... but i think she's blowing smoke. i’ve got this sneaky feeling that
“exactly one of these propositions is true”
isn’t a proposition at all …
and a dead certainty that
*i* can’t make any sense at all of
“… she has placed her portrait in one of the caskets in a manner that is consistent with this truth or falsity of the inscriptions.”

portia may be smarter than me …
but i think she’s blowing smoke.

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