h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

So, my Gruesomes were fascinated that you have spent so long studying maths. (they're not convinced that it's 'normal' )

Anyway, now they are quite keen on that TV show: Numbers. Have you seen it? If so: what do you think?

I haven't seen it (unfortunately? Fortunately? You know how it is when TV shows are about your own stuff )

Reassure the Gruesomes too, they are right indeed: it is not quite normal

And a topical http://xkcd.com/587/

Actually I like cooking very much. I'm quite happy not to do it on a professional basis though. Is a keen amateur mathematician, I wonder?

hahaha! I like that.

If you want some advice: don't watch. If Numb3rs (for so it is written) comes your way, run very fast in the opposite direction.

As for - the only maths he does is when playing Darts or working out totally complex calculations about involving which football team will do what at the end of the season.

OK then, I won't watch. Thanks for the warning

By the way, should I remind you to send me a Stollen recipe?

(even, would you consider writing it up for ?)

I'll get onto the Stollen recipe this week.

What would writing it up for entail?
(because I have a great christmas pudding recipe which would make a good companion piece)

I don't know what writing for the post entails B'El would surely know.

There used to be a Recipe column, I think. In any case it could be a one-shot Christmas recipe special (with justification of being in advance because these puddings need quite some resting time).

Oh, and:

Blimey, my brain hurts.
Trying to work out perfect numbers and the factors of 8128...
it's got to be over 30 years since i had anything to do with that gubbins. (but I guess if you just multiply the small one by two, and divide the big one by two you're on the right track?)

I'll have the Stollen recipe by the end of the week. I hope that's ok? (and if you are very good, and trusting, we could always send you a small one when does his baking)

By the end of the week is fine

Trusting, I certainly am Good, on the other had...

How did you end up having to work out factors of 8128?

By the way...

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=factors+8128

if only I'd had that half an hour ago when I was working out the factors...

(first they were given the number 6... then they had to work out a perfect number between 25 and 30... and that hurt my brain... then they were given the next two and had to show how they are perfect numbers...)

I really thought I'd finished with maths when I did my A-level

Well, for 8128 you could even have used A2136070

But with your math trouble, really. Not to mention that finding divisors of a large number and adding them up all together is not the most entertaining part of the topic

Actually I never thought to look here!

And it's doubly bad because now all this is in German - and I only know maths in English. Germans don't do anthing the same way as we did. (they do multiplication sums alongside each other instead of underneath - I'm totally baffled by it all)

like

47.27

instead of

47.
27

Oh, for once the French do the same as the British!

It's funny to see the little differences. (Do you know what they call a Quarter Pounder with Cheese in Paris?)

And apparently, some theorems carry the same name but have different statements depending on the country. (Equivalent statements, but not *obviously* equivalent. Like, like, eeeer.... I'll look for an example, maybe.)

You know, it wasn't until I saw Pulp Fiction that I realised that a Hamburger Royale (with or without the TS) was a quarter-pounder

It just never occurred to me (but then, I've never really eaten burgers anywhere apart from Germany - and then not that often)

I was so worried about not being able to help the Gruesomes out with things like history and German homework, that I completely neglected to realise that Maths would be such a huge problem (and I have to say - the German way seems unnecessarily complicated and backwards)

I wouldn't have expected it from maths either Maybe it is a matter of getting used to it. Like, sometimes I try alabaster or goo instead of brunel but I really cannot do anything with it. But all the goo and alabaster fans cannot be wrong! (Well, I think they *are*, but )

How do you manage with history or German then?

I'm a Goo-Girl



With History - so far it's pre-history which is pretty much the same for everyone, and Romans with a bit of Mittel-alter (which is pretty similar) but after that I'm going to have to start reading. Fast.

As for German - I have to rely on the fact that they seem to have both picked it up pretty well. If the grades start to go down, I'll get some kids from the grammar school to give nachhilfe.

Romans? Are the Gruesomes up-to-date on Life of Brian?

I used to be very bad in history. I wonder if I would understand more now that I've grown up (or at least aged)

Goo girl - there's nothing wrong with that, really*. I was just wondering how it is possible to find it soo hard to switch from one skin to the other (and in both directions apparently). Maybe I'll start a goo week tonight.

* yes there is Have you noticed how a little star always seems to mean 'this statement is a lie'? (Basically -- who hasn't noticed? "Unlimited calls*" "100 Euros discount*" and so on.)

Oh don't start on a different skin - I totally can't find ANYTHING in any other skin than Goo. And I've heard it's worse going to Goo from more sensible* skins

The Gruesomes are probably a wee bit young for Brian - but I'm counting the days/years until we can watch it.

Strangely, they know a lot about Egyptian religion from watching Stargate SG-1. I'm such a bad parent!

*yep - always an * after a lie