Math Forum Discussions

GS Chandy

Posts: 4,348
From: Hyderabad, Mumbai/Bangalore, India
Registered: 9/29/05

Re: The Chinese man who gave 'proof' zero is a number in
Istanbul...
Posted: Dec 14, 2012 7:45 PM

Plain Text

Responding to Jonathan Crabtree's question (his post is pasted, for reference, below my signature):

Sorry, but I don't 'get' the 'set theory demo' you have mentioned. Some further explanation appears to be needed.

GSC
Jonathan Crabtree posted Dec 15, 2012 3:47 AM:
> [Please have a look at the attached photo.]
>
> Could this unusual picture become a demonstration of
> basic set theory?
>
> What if this 'hole' was filled slice by slice from
> left to right, like slices of jelly?
>
> The empty pool. { }
>
> The first numbered lane is zero {0}
>
> The second numbered lane is one {0, 1}
>
> Daaaave^ said this about such an occasion.
>
> "One of the first things i noticed. The outside lanes
> looked choppy from the stands, and the ladder looks
> like it is up in your business.
>
> I would sure rather be seeded 31st and in lane 4 of
> heat n-minus-3 than seeded 30th and in lane 9 of heat
> n.
>
> (you guys like how I dropped some algebra in there?!
> Aww yeah. #math)"
>
> ^ Source:
> http://swimswam.com/2012/06/no-outside-laneropes-in-pr
> elims-of-the-olympic-trials/
>
> So is the set empty when there is no water or no
> swimmers?
>
> Does the 'set' contain empty or missing things when
> only lanes 1-8 are used in the finals?
>
> Why aren't the lanes just named 1 to 10?
>
> How many ropes are required for races? (Like the
> fence post lesson.)
>
> Width of lanes etc etc
>
> ===========
>
> Is anybody interested in 'refining' the above and
> suggesting some cool lesson plan ideas around the
> attachment?
>
> It never occurred to me there was a lane zero in
> swimming as this was the first time I ever saw the
> heats. Up until now I only ever saw lanes 1 - 8 on
> television.
>
> NOTE: None of the commentators mentioned any algebra
> or set theory!