My name is Mason Porter. I am a Professor in Nordita (Nordic Institute for Theoretical Physics) and am Professor in Complex Systems in the Department of Mathematics at Stockholm University. Previously, I was a Professor in the Department of Mathematics at UCLA. Before that, I was Professor of Nonlinear and Complex Systems in the Mathematical Institute at University of Oxford. I was also a Tutorial Fellow of Somerville College. I am still a Senior Research Fellow of Somerville College.
Friday, November 02, 2007
The Calculus of Religion
I mean this literally. Take a look at this notice that one of my friends (Arcane Gazebo) found on the windshield of his car yesterday.
More seriously: Perhaps, but I won't be impressed unless God can deal with the asymptotic properties of elliptic integrals. (Mmmm... elliptic integrals. I like elliptic integrals.)
OK, that's the type of thought processes I get from teaching asymptotic methods this term...
Is only God able to integrate 'x/x!'? (Or, I guess, x/Gamma[x+1])
ReplyDeleteI bet we could find students who think that. :)
ReplyDeleteMore seriously: Perhaps, but I won't be impressed unless God can deal with the asymptotic properties of elliptic integrals. (Mmmm... elliptic integrals. I like elliptic integrals.)
OK, that's the type of thought processes I get from teaching asymptotic methods this term...