Mathematical metaphor: vivid mathematical metaphor

Mathematical metaphor: vivid mathematical metaphor

Pre-editor: After reading the article "Vivid Mathematical Metaphor", I suddenly had the idea of getting in touch with mathematics again from now on. Many people who love words are at a loss when it comes to mathematics. Have you thought about the reason? Is it because people who love words have much more emotional thinking than rational thinking? Is it smug or self-deprecating to call yourself "math blind"?

Pythagoras believes that numbers are the origin of all things. Can it be understood as "Mathematics is the simplest language"? Do people who deal with words all day feel closer to language? Then how come you know nothing about mathematics, the universal language of the universe?

I think everything we encounter every day can be abstracted into numbers. Look at those experts who make sense on blogs. Can you feel the mystery of their thinking? Then let us who love words get close to mathematics and know the most beautiful language!

Kou Hei Ma San

The most obvious feature of mathematics is nothing more than abstraction and boredom, so the abstract and rigorous mathematical language is obscure and difficult to understand, and it is inevitable that it will be boring to read. However, when people use mathematical language to compare things with truth reasonably and properly, concise and clear mathematical description can not only achieve intuitive and vivid results, but also contain thought-provoking philosophy and intriguing interest, which is impressive. Many famous people in history know this well, leaving many familiar and interesting mathematical metaphors, which make people applaud. The following are some examples of classification for readers' reference.

1. Score

Tolstoy, a great Russian writer, compared people to a score when talking about the evaluation of people. He said: "A person is like a score, his practical ability is like a numerator, and his evaluation of himself is like a denominator. The larger the denominator, the smaller the value of the score. " He also compared this passage to a division formula: "A person's value = practical ability/self-evaluation." This interesting metaphor vividly tells us that modesty makes people progress and pride makes people lag behind, and it also subtly satirizes those arrogant people who are self-righteous.

2. Percentage

Wang Juzheng, a scientist in China, has a motto about the failure of the experiment, which is called "There is still a 50% hope of success if you continue, and 1000% failure if you don't do it." As long as you have a little knowledge of mathematics, you will agree with the correctness of this proverb. Everything, like all experiments, may succeed or fail, and the probability is 50%. Efforts are the 50% that strive for success, and naturally 100% completely choose to fail.

3. Rybakov constant and variables

Rybakov, an academician and historian of the former Soviet Union, put it this way when using time: "Time is a constant, but it is a' variable' for diligent people. People who use' minutes' to calculate time spend 59 times more time than people who use' hours'. " The calculation here is deliberately expressed by reverse thinking. On the surface, the time calculated by' hours' is 59 times more than that calculated by' minutes', but conversely, people who always calculate time by' minutes' are naturally 59 times more than those who calculate time by' hours'. Thus profoundly expressing the meaning that diligent people should keep pace with the times.

1, parallel lines

William shakespeare, a great British playwright, once described the characteristics of time as follows: "Time will pierce the gorgeous feelings of youth, carve parallel lines on a beauty's forehead, eat rare treasures, be born beautiful, and nothing can escape its sickle." The poet uses parallel lines to describe the wrinkles left by the passage of time, which is neither conventional nor vivid and amazing.

2. Curve

Aristotle, an ancient Greek philosopher, once said: a wise man always agrees with another wise man; Fools often disapprove of both wise men and fools. Similarly, straight lines can always coincide with straight lines; And the curves do not coincide with each other, let alone with straight lines. This metaphor directly describes the difference between the wise and the mediocre. Rousseau, a famous French enlightenment thinker, also said: the development of heterosexual friendship is like a hyperbola, infinitely close, but never touched. This also vividly illustrates the correct orientation of heterosexual friendship, that is, mutual sincerity, mutual appreciation, mutual understanding, and no ambiguity.

1, minus sign

When talking about learning and exploration, Hua, a famous mathematician in China, pointed out: "To dare to do subtraction in learning is to subtract what the predecessors have solved and see what problems have not been solved, which requires us to explore and solve." On the surface, this metaphor reveals the relationship between learning and exploration by subtraction, but when I think about it, subtraction here is essentially addition, because what is subtracted is the known part that has been solved by predecessors, and what is encouraged to explore is the unknown part and the innovative part, which is valuable to obtain (increase).

2. Symbols

Dimitrov, an internationally renowned worker's movement activist, commented on a day's work: "We should take time to think about what we have done in a day, whether it is' addition' or' subtraction'. If it is' addition', we will make progress; If it is'-',you have to learn from it and take measures. " It is not difficult to see that the addition and subtraction here is an effective and ineffective use of the corresponding time. If a person wants to live a valuable day, it is natural to reflect on whether it is'+'or' _' and work hard in a positive direction. This is essentially the same as "three rescues a day" said by the ancients in China, that is, everyone should evaluate what he has done every day and constantly adjust himself.

1, Edison formula

Edison was a famous inventor. When he talks about genius, he describes it with an equation. He said: "Genius = 1% inspiration +99% sweat". The percentage in the formula is a true description and incisive explanation of a genius, which may change the misunderstanding of genius by ordinary people and pay more attention to the interpretation of efforts. The equation shows that 65,438+0% inspiration is one of the indispensable conditions for genius to succeed. Although it is difficult to find it, 99% blood and sweat perfectly describes the long-term and importance of the acquired efforts. In a word, if people want to create miracles on the road of exploring the unknown, they must have both talent and perseverance.

2. Einstein formula

Einstein, the greatest scientist in modern times, wrote a formula when talking about the secret of success: a = x+v+z V+Z. He explained: "A stands for success, X stands for hard work, Y stands for the correct method, and Z stands for less empty talk. It can be seen that this formula is more detailed and credible in describing the factors of success. Because the expressions of X, Y and Z tend to work hard and skillfully, whoever can do these three things will surely succeed. These two equations vividly illustrate several elements of success, similar to an old saying of China, "There is a road in the mountains, but there is no limit in the sea". "

1 and prescription

After becoming famous, Jack London, an American writer, received a courtship letter from a noble lady, which wrote: "You have a beautiful reputation and I have a noble position. Coupled with omnipotent gold, it is enough for us to build a happy family that heaven can't match. " Jack London wrote back and said, "According to the love formula you listed, I think it needs to be squared!" " Unfortunately, this square root is still negative. "The writer euphemistically expressed his point of view: love based on fame, status and money is not the love he wants!

2. Equation

Archimedes was an outstanding scientist and mathematician in ancient Greece. He was famous for his great achievements and attracted many admirers. Two women, A and B, have been haunting him. A threat said, "I love it a hundred times more than B." One declared that "I love it a thousand times more than A." So Archimedes called them together. After confirming their respective love declarations, he listed the following equation: X=lOOY.

Where x is a woman's love Y= 1000X.

Y is the love of woman B.

The results of the solution are x=o and y = o, which shows that what A and B said is false and Archimedes got rid of it skillfully.

3. Proportion

Guo Moruo, a famous modern writer and historian in China, pointed out: "If you study hard and practice hard, you can give full play to your talents;" The exertion of talent is directly proportional to individual efforts. Lu Xun, a famous modern writer, also said: "Great success is directly proportional to hard work. Work hard and you will get something. Over time, from less to more, miracles can be created! Chen Jingrun, a famous mathematician in modern times, also thinks: "Success is directly proportional to genius and also to the square of effort. "These metaphors vividly illustrate the important role of hard work and hard work in the success of spinal suture. As the saying goes, no pains, no gains!