Re: Diophantine problem from current MONTHLY

In article <1141658196.163464.156340@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
David M Einstein <Deinst@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Arturo Magidin wrote:
In article <440b8333$2@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Thomas Mautsch <mautsch@xxxxxxx> wrote:
In news:<1141340590.522065.171860@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
schrieb Proginoskes <CCHeckman@xxxxxxxxx>:
Proginoskes wrote:
[...]
Nicely handled, Arturo. I had programmed a heat-seeking missile to lock
into Ray Steiner's brain waves, but your way is much cleaner.

Actually, the missile should have been for Thomas Mautsch (who posted a
solution, which fortunately is at best incomplete), not Ray Steiner
(who should get only a slap on the wrist). Sorry, Ray. 8-)

What's wrong with you? - In most countries,
sending missiles is considered an act of war,
and you reconsider thrice before you even try
to *threaten* someone with such a thing.
I guess people don't have manners these days anymore. ;-(

Indeed. Here you have someone who clearly cares nought for the purpose
behind the problem section of the Monthly, and when called on it
complains that since HE doesn't care about it, nobody should.

What, pray tell, is the purpose behind the problem section of the
Monthly.

Was that supposed to an actual question, or a rhetorical one?


I had always assumed that the problems were for the amusement and
edification of the subscribers.

Fair enough. In that case, discussing them on an open forum might be
deemed a violation of copyright. Not that I do, mind you.

Glancing at the lists of solvers in
the solutions section, there is certainly no restriction against
collaborating.

There is usually no ban on homework collaboration either, but open
discussion of homework problems is usually restricted until such time
as the assignment is due. I view the problems in the Monthly the same
way: open usenet discussion should wait until the deadline, which is
never more than a couple months away; not the "one year" claimed
elsewhere.

From my admittedly limited experience, it appears that
many more people actually solve the problems than submit solutions. I
would conjecture that this is because writing mathematics clearly is a
good deal more work, and a good deal less entertaining, than just
solving the problems. It is not as if one gets a chance at a life size
David Hilbert kewpie doll with each correct solution.

On the other hand, many mathematic departments use the problems as
part of the Mathematics Club or Undergraduate Math Seminars or problem
solving classes. This seems a reasonable use to me.


That said, a discussion of a monthly problem is likely to contain way
more than the median amount of math for a sci.math thread (present
thread, of course excepted), so an argument could be made to banish
such discussions based on upholding sci.math traditions, but I do not
think that keeping the S/N ratio low is worth fighting for.

Sorry, you have well exceeded the sarcasm limit for any non-JSH,
non-Plutonium thread. Please refraing from any more sarcasm until
April 1st.


--
======================================================================
"It's not denial. I'm just very selective about
what I accept as reality."
--- Calvin ("Calvin and Hobbes")
======================================================================

Arturo Magidin
magidin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

.

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