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1500 questions
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The origin of logic gate symbols
Who first proposed the distinctive shapes and the rectangular shape labels?
What is the consideration behind the shapes and the labels?
Hao Chen
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Why is the Halting problem attributed to Alan Turing?
The halting problem is a very famous example from computability theory of a problem that is undecidable. It is often said that the proof of its undecidability was given by Alan Turing, indeed wikipedia repeatedly says so.
However, Turing's paper "On…
mrp
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First proof that circumference/diameter $=\pi$
I am interested in this question:
Who was the first to show that for every circle the fraction $$\frac{\text{circumference}}{\text{diameter}}$$ is always constant?
I am not interested in $\pi$ approximations.
By "proof" I mean any argument that…
Konstantinos Gaitanas
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How much of mathematics did Russell's paradox really break?
According to my quite likely wildly oversimplified understanding, a revolution occurred in the foundations of mathematics when Cantor's formulation of set theory was found to be inconsistent due to Russell's paradox, which ultimately lead to the…
N. Virgo
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What is the truth behind "The Turk" (the mechanical chess machine)?
It was in lime light for more than a century (late 18th century to late 19th century). They say it was inspected and found fake. But, what was fake about that. There are stories that this machine won most of the matches it played. It didn't just won…
Amit Tyagi
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10
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Why is the natural logarithm represented by $\ln$?
The natural logarithm is often represented by several different notations:
$\log_e x$
$\log x$ (although this is also used for logarithms with a base of 10)
$\ln x$
It is the third notation that has me wondering. Why is $\ln$ used, and not, say,…
HDE 226868
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Was the term "manifold" (or its German equivalent) chosen with the verb "to fold" in mind?
Recently I came across several papers of Monge and Lagrange, around the end of the 18th century, considering developable surface as 'folded' planes, using specifically the word "plié" (i.e. folded). Now, as these surface are now considered as part…
David
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What caused the name change from "analysis situs" to "topology"?
J. Alexander's 1926 paper, Combinatorial Analysis Situs, doesn't refer to the field as combinatorial topology.
He mentions that combinatorial analysis situs is concerned with topological invariants and topological constants.
However, he refers to…
Catherine Ray
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On the notion of a chain (as for example in chain complex)
The thing with mathematics is that on one if you define something, you are completely free in choosing any name you want, and on the other hand you should find a meaningful name that evokes some intuitive ideas that coincide with what you actually…
mlk
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When and by who was fluoride found to prevent tooth decay?
In the Science Daily press release New evidence on how fluoride fights tooth decay (ACS, 2013), they report on recent research that may explain how fluoride strengthens tooth enamel.
The report describes new evidence that fluoride also works by…
user22
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3 answers
What is the history behind the concept of "schemes" in algebraic geometry?
Let me start by saying that I've just started studying algebraic geometry. I have a habit of trying to find out something about the motivation behind new concepts that I'm studying, in this case that means that I'm trying to find out something about…
Ripan Saha
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Was Thomson's model of Plum Pudding widely accepted as a model of atom?
Was this model widely accepted in the time as a model for the atom? or was it just a model between many alternatives?
FNH
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What is the historical basis for the length of a year?
It is currently accepted that a year is equal to the time it takes for the earth to revolve around the sun. However around Roman times, Ptolemy's geocentric model was the widely accepted view of nature. Under the geocentric model the sun and all the…
cspirou
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What were Newton's six laws of motion?
In The Norton History of the Mathematical sciences, Ivor Grattan-Guinness writes of Newton's Principia,
Indeed, in working drafts for the book Newton considered up to six laws, and this trio are wanting in their (non-) handling of angular momentum…
HDE 226868
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10
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When was the first command-line interface developed?
I want to know what the first command-line interface was, and when it was. That is, the first time one could type in a command on a keyboard or similar, and receive feedback via a screen or teleprinter, as opposed to entering commands via paper…
Ne Mo
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