"Nothing pertaining to humanity becomes us so well as mathematics. There, and only there, do we touch the human mind at its peak." - (Isaac Asimov)
William Rowan Hamilton (1805-1865): Hamilton shocked the world of mathematics by inventing a new type of number called a quaternion. A quaternion is a vector-like quantity. The laws of quaternion algebra are the same as those of ordinary algebra - except that the commutative law for multiplication that we take for granted does not hold true. That is, if x and y are quaternions, then it doesn't follow that xy = yx. In fact, in the system of quaternions, xy = (-y)x. Hamilton's creation made mathematicians realize that the laws of common algebra are not universal truths. His work led to the invention of other useful algebras and paved the way for modern abstract algebra.
Where did Herkimer spend most of his time when he was a diamond cutter?
Answer: Mowing grass at the local baseball park.
Herky's friends:
MEL PRACTICE: This guy was a medical doctor, but not a very good one.
GRACE FULL: A very polished ballet dancer.
ASSIGNMENT #82
Reading: Section 13.1 (Pages 702-709)
STAT PACK (Pages 16A, 16B)
SECTIONS SUMMARIES for Chapter 13
Exercises: 13.1, 13.3, 13.4 (page 710).
