Author Archives: Jean Joseph

Some poetry

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Jean Joseph

A translated poem by mathematician Omar Khayyam from The Rubaiyat: XXVI Why, all the Saints and Sages who discuss’d Of the Two Worlds so wisely–they are thrust Like foolish Prophets forth; their Words to Scorn Are scatter’d, and their Mouths … Continue reading →

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What do Mathematicians do?

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Jean Joseph

After I heard someone ask about what a mathematician does, I myself wonder what it means to do mathematics if all what one can answer is that mathematicians do mathematics. Solving problems have been considered by some as the main … Continue reading →

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Why Kant in a Math Class?

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Jean Joseph

If one takes a look at the list of classes offered at a university, one can discover a very diverse list with very inventive names. If one becomes more curious and reads some of the descriptions of those classes, it … Continue reading →

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The Musical and the Mathematical

Posted on January 8, 2013 by Jean Joseph

Not too long ago, I happened to listen to Bartók’s Piano Concerto No. 2; I think there was more emphasis on creating elaborate patterns of sounds than on producing what some call “nice” music. As a result, enjoyment from listening … Continue reading →

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Machines or us?

Posted on December 7, 2012 by Jean Joseph

Some people claim that there needs to be a computer or some machine to do this or that for them, and over the years, it seems this agenda has been able to be carried out since many things they used … Continue reading →

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