I. Arabic numerals

Arabic numerals were invented by ancient Indians and later spread to Arabia and Europe. Europeans mistakenly thought it was invented by Arabs, so they called it "Arabic numerals". Because it has been circulated for many years, people call it Yi, so people still mistakenly believe that these numerical symbols invented by ancient Indians are called Arabic numerals.

Second, 99 songs

Jiujiuge is the multiplication formula we use now. As early as the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period BC, Jiujiu songs have been widely used by people. In many works at that time, there were records about Jiujiu songs. The original 99 songs started from "99.8 1" to "22.24", with 36 sentences. Because it started with "998 1", it was named 99 Song.

The expansion of Jiujiu Song to "One for One" was between the 5th century and10th century. It was in the 13 and 14 centuries that the order of Jiujiu songs became the same as it is now, from "one for one" to "9981". At present, there are two kinds of multiplication formulas used in China. One is a 45-sentence formula, usually called "Xiao Jiujiu"; There is also a sentence 8 1, which is usually called "Big Uncle Nine".

Third, Mobius ring

Mobius ring is a topological structure with only one face and one boundary. You can twist a piece of paper into 180 degrees, and then stick the two ends together to form a Mobius ring.

Cutting Mobius ring along the midline can get a larger ring for the first time. The second time and after, you will get two nested rings every time. The middle will never break, which is also the magic of Mobius ring.

Interesting knowledge of mathematics

1. Two boys each ride a bicycle, starting from two places 20 miles apart (1 mile +0.6093 km) and riding in a straight line. At the moment they set off, a fly on the handlebar of one bicycle began to fly straight to another bicycle. As soon as it touched the handlebar of another bicycle, it immediately turned around and flew back. The fly flew back and forth, between the handlebars of two bicycles, until the two bicycles met. If every bicycle runs at a constant speed of 10 miles per hour and flies fly at a constant speed of 15 miles per hour, how many miles will flies fly?

answer

The speed of each bicycle is 10 miles per hour, and the two will meet at the midpoint of the distance of 2o miles after 1 hour. The speed of a fly is 15 miles per hour, so in 1 hour, it always flies 15 miles.

Many people try to solve this problem in a complicated way. They calculate the first distance between the handlebars of two bicycles, then return the distance, and so on, and calculate those shorter and shorter distances. But this will involve the so-called infinite series summation, which is very complicated advanced mathematics. It is said that at a cocktail party, someone told john von neumann (1903 ~ 1957, one of the greatest mathematicians in the 20th century). ) Put forward this question, he thought for a moment, and then gave the correct answer. The questioner seems a little depressed. He explained that most mathematicians always ignore the simple method to solve this problem and adopt the complex method of summation of infinite series.

Von Neumann had a surprised look on his face. "However, I use the method of summation of infinite series," he explained.