Posts Tagged ‘mathematical’
Friday, December 18th, 2009
How to Define Cardinal Numbers
Description
A detailed tutorial on the definition of cardinal numbers. Step by step tutorial including several examples of how to define cardinal numbers for reference.
Overview
Cardinal numbers are natural numbers that are used to measure cardinality of sets. Cardinality is a fancy way of saying the size of a set. This means the cardinality is the number of elements in a set, provided that the set is finite. If the set is infinite, something called a transfinite cardinal number is used to describe the cardinality of the set. Cardinal numbers are a very important part of set theory, even though they are not studied often or used constantly.
Tags: abstract, algebra, analysis, cardinal, cardinality, combinatorics, elements, finite, infinite, mathematical, measure, natural, number, set, set theory, size, transfinite
Posted in Algebra | No Comments »
Friday, November 20th, 2009
How to Pick Variables
Description
A detailed tutorial on how to pick variables. Step by step tutorial including several examples of how to pick variables for reference.
Overview
Variables are letters picked to represent unknown values in expressions and equations. Usually they are lowercase, but they can be made uppercase. When trying to pick a variable, you must choose wisely. x is the most common variable, followed by n. x is picked because people associate it with the unknown, and n is picked because it stands for “number.” The variable should be easily recognizable – you should not use a variable that looks like another number or some symbol of a mathematical operation. You should check to see what is included in your equation – for instance, m stands for slope, so if you are doing an equation with slope you need to pick a different variable to avoid confusion. And you should always pick a variable that makes sense – the first letter of your subject matter usually works quite well.
Tags: a, algebra, b, c, choose, equation, expression, lowercase, m, mathematical, n!, number, operation, slope, symbol, unknown, uppercase, value, variable, variables, x, y, z
Posted in Algebra | No Comments »
Thursday, November 19th, 2009
How to Determine the Center of a Circle
Description
A detailed tutorial on how to determine the center of a circle. Step by step tutorial including several examples of the center of a circle for reference.
Overview
The center of the circle is very easy to find. It is one of the endpoints of the radius and the midpoint of the diameter. The video shows you how to find it based on a series of accurate drawing. However, there is a mathematical way to find the center of the circle, which is also sometimes called the origin of the circle. Just use the midpoint formula with the diameter. If you have the radius just multiply it by two, because you cannot use the distance formula without already having the coordinates of the origin.
Tags: center, circle, coordinates, diameter, distance, endpoint, formula, mathematical, midpoint, origin, point, radius
Posted in Algebra | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009
Well-Ordering Principle Explained
Description
A detailed tutorial on the well-ordering principle. Step by step tutorial including several examples of the well-ordering principle for reference.
Overview
The well-ordering principle states that every nonempty subset of the set of all natural numbers has a smallest element. This is possible because the number zero is not included in the set of natural numbers, and therefore cannot appear in a subset of all natural numbers. The well-ordering principle is equivalant to the Principle of Mathematical Induction, but they are proved in different ways and have different sets. Sometimes it is a better idea to use the Well-Ordering Principle, and other times it is a better idea to use the Principle of Mathematical Induction.
Tags: discrete math, element, induction, mathematical, n!, natural, nonempty, number, ordering, PMI, principle, set, smallest, subset, well, well-ordering, WOP
Posted in Discrete Math | No Comments »
Friday, October 30th, 2009
Overview of Summation by Parts
Description
A detailed tutorial on summation by parts. Step by step tutorial including several examples of summation by parts for reference.
Overview
Summation by parts transforms the summation of products of sequences into other summations. Often it will simplify the computation of certain sums. Summation by parts is also referred to as Abel’s lemma or Abel’s transformation. Summation by parts is similar to integration by parts, only by using summation instead of integration. In mathematical notation, summation by parts can be written as: ![\sum_{k=m}^n f_k(g_{k+1}-g_k) = \left[f_{n+1}g_{n+1} - f_m g_m\right] - \sum_{k=m}^n g_{k+1}(f_{k+1}- f_k)](http://s.wordpress.com/latex.php?latex=%5Csum_%7Bk%3Dm%7D%5En%20f_k%28g_%7Bk%2B1%7D-g_k%29%20%3D%20%5Cleft%5Bf_%7Bn%2B1%7Dg_%7Bn%2B1%7D%20-%20f_m%20g_m%5Cright%5D%20-%20%5Csum_%7Bk%3Dm%7D%5En%20g_%7Bk%2B1%7D%28f_%7Bk%2B1%7D-%20f_k%29&bg=ffffff&fg=000000&s=0 "\sum_{k=m}^n f_k(g_{k+1}-g_k) = \left[f_{n+1}g_{n+1} - f_m g_m\right] - \sum_{k=m}^n g_{k+1}(f_{k+1}- f_k)")
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Tags: Abel, algebra, computation, integration, lemma, mathematical, parts, product, sequence, sum, summation, transformation
Posted in Algebra | No Comments »
Thursday, October 22nd, 2009
Inductive Sets in Set Theory
Description
A detailed tutorial on inductive sets in set theory. Step by step tutorial including several examples of inductive sets in set theory for reference.
Overview
An inductive set is a continuous set of natural numbers that follows a basic pattern of n + 1. This means that for all numbers in the set, that number plus the number one must also be included in the set.The set does not need to include all natural numbers – that is, the set may start at any natural number provided it is greater than or equal to one. However, the set must continue to infinity or it cannot be considered an inductive set.
Tags: -1, addition, complete, continuous, discrete math, element, equal, greater, induction, inductive, infinity, mathematical, natural, numbers, one, pattern, principle, set, subset, theory
Posted in Discrete Math | No Comments »
Friday, October 9th, 2009
Mathematical Application of the Queueing Theory
Description
A detailed tutorial on the queueing theory. Step by step tutorial including several examples of the queueing theory for reference.
Overview
The queueing theory is the study of waiting lines – from a mathematical point of view. Because of this, it is sometimes called the waiting-line theory. It is the mathematical process of arriving at the back of the line, waiting in the line, and getting to the front of the line. We should be familiar with this – it happens every time we go out shopping. But by using the queueing theory, you will be able to tell how long you will be stuck in that line for – instead of waiting to find out! In a mathematical sense, you will be able to figure out the probability of how many people are waiting in line, and how long you will be waiting in line.
Tags: algebra, line, Math, mathematical, probability, queue, queueing, queuing, theory, time, waiting
Posted in Algebra | No Comments »
Thursday, October 8th, 2009
Introduction to the Principle of Mathematical Induction
Description
A detailed tutorial of the principle of mathematical induction. Step by step tutorial including several examples of the principle of mathematical induction for reference.
Overview
The principle of mathematical induction is basically a method of proof-writing, which involves trying to prove that a certain statement is true for all natural numbers. The first statement will be proved, and then the next statement, and the next one. In this way, it is similar to a proof by exhaustion. However, since the statement must be proven for all numbers, eventually an integer will be used in the calculations. This should not be confused with mathematical induction – the principle of mathematical induction is actually a type of deductive reasoning.
Tags: deductive, discrete math, exhaustion, induction, interger, k, Math, mathematical, n!, natural, number, principle, proof, reasoning, statement
Posted in Discrete Math | No Comments »
