Comments on: Math Functions in the Real World http://flowingdata.com/2010/02/12/math-functions-in-the-real-world/ Strength in Numbers Sat, 11 Feb 2012 07:35:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mathe in der echten Welt – Openmedi http://flowingdata.com/2010/02/12/math-functions-in-the-real-world/#comment-39109 Mathe in der echten Welt – Openmedi Thu, 18 Feb 2010 09:02:09 +0000 http://flowingdata.com/?p=5278#comment-39109 [...] (via Flowing Data) [...] [...] (via Flowing Data) [...]

]]> By: version3.0 » v3 Guide to the Interneat #2 http://flowingdata.com/2010/02/12/math-functions-in-the-real-world/#comment-39108 version3.0 » v3 Guide to the Interneat #2 Thu, 18 Feb 2010 08:50:38 +0000 http://flowingdata.com/?p=5278#comment-39108 [...] Sticking on the maths nerd tip, Found Functions is a cool project where mathematician/photographer Niki Graziano finds mathematical functions in nature, and photographs them. I would love to know whether she looks for the functions to photograph, or looks at her photographs to see which ones she can apply functions to. (Via FlowingData) [...] [...] Sticking on the maths nerd tip, Found Functions is a cool project where mathematician/photographer Niki Graziano finds mathematical functions in nature, and photographs them. I would love to know whether she looks for the functions to photograph, or looks at her photographs to see which ones she can apply functions to. (Via FlowingData) [...]

]]> By: efishm http://flowingdata.com/2010/02/12/math-functions-in-the-real-world/#comment-39092 efishm Thu, 18 Feb 2010 01:10:36 +0000 http://flowingdata.com/?p=5278#comment-39092 I would have to agree with Jeremy. I don't think it describes anything in a scientific sense...the shapes chosen seem rather arbitrary. Is accuracy the goal? If so, it falls short...for example, the sand dune one seems more like the sum of two Gaussians than that parametric function, which seems kinda shoe-horned in. From an artistic standpoint, though, it's kind of a nice melding of science/math visuals and the natural world. I would have to agree with Jeremy. I don’t think it describes anything in a scientific sense…the shapes chosen seem rather arbitrary. Is accuracy the goal? If so, it falls short…for example, the sand dune one seems more like the sum of two Gaussians than that parametric function, which seems kinda shoe-horned in.

From an artistic standpoint, though, it’s kind of a nice melding of science/math visuals and the natural world.

]]> By: Rob http://flowingdata.com/2010/02/12/math-functions-in-the-real-world/#comment-39007 Rob Wed, 17 Feb 2010 02:28:55 +0000 http://flowingdata.com/?p=5278#comment-39007 This post provided inspiration for me to finally do something with some parametric equations I've had laying around. Check them out at http://www.flickr.com/photos/robshell/sets/72157623326197755/ This post provided inspiration for me to finally do something with some parametric equations I’ve had laying around. Check them out at http://www.flickr.com/photos/r.....326197755/

]]> By: 天才数学者と数学関数オタクの日記 | WEB DREAM http://flowingdata.com/2010/02/12/math-functions-in-the-real-world/#comment-39006 天才数学者と数学関数オタクの日記 | WEB DREAM Wed, 17 Feb 2010 01:08:09 +0000 http://flowingdata.com/?p=5278#comment-39006 [...] RITの学生日記グラツィアーノ現実の世界で数学関数の写真を掲載。 Math Functions in the Real World WEBマーケティング Light Rails [...] [...] RITの学生日記グラツィアーノ現実の世界で数学関数の写真を掲載。 Math Functions in the Real World WEBマーケティング Light Rails [...]

]]> By: Jeremy http://flowingdata.com/2010/02/12/math-functions-in-the-real-world/#comment-38958 Jeremy Mon, 15 Feb 2010 22:29:18 +0000 http://flowingdata.com/?p=5278#comment-38958 Yang and DVR, math and scientific observation of nature cross pollinate. It works both of the ways you suggest. Sometimes, someone comes up with a hypothesis for how the world is, then comes up with the math to describe that — math following nature, per se. Other times, the mathematical model describing what we observe doesn't having anything to do with our existing understanding of what we're looking at and inspires a new hypothesis based on the new structure of the math — our knowledge of nature following math. It looks like Graziano's work doesn't have much to do with this cross pollination — it looks more like comparing vaguely similar shapes, to me. The cloud-normal curve example from her series is grasping particularly hard at a relationship that just isn't there. P.S. The expression for the first photo is NOT a function as written, despite the "f(x)=" notation. However, it could be a function if you rotated the axes with respect to the image or used polar coordinates. Yang and DVR, math and scientific observation of nature cross pollinate. It works both of the ways you suggest. Sometimes, someone comes up with a hypothesis for how the world is, then comes up with the math to describe that — math following nature, per se. Other times, the mathematical model describing what we observe doesn’t having anything to do with our existing understanding of what we’re looking at and inspires a new hypothesis based on the new structure of the math — our knowledge of nature following math.

It looks like Graziano’s work doesn’t have much to do with this cross pollination — it looks more like comparing vaguely similar shapes, to me. The cloud-normal curve example from her series is grasping particularly hard at a relationship that just isn’t there.

P.S. The expression for the first photo is NOT a function as written, despite the “f(x)=” notation. However, it could be a function if you rotated the axes with respect to the image or used polar coordinates.

]]> By: DVR http://flowingdata.com/2010/02/12/math-functions-in-the-real-world/#comment-38949 DVR Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:49:01 +0000 http://flowingdata.com/?p=5278#comment-38949 This models, rather than explain - doesn't it? This models, rather than explain – doesn’t it?

]]> By: Jeff Forster http://flowingdata.com/2010/02/12/math-functions-in-the-real-world/#comment-38943 Jeff Forster Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:49:41 +0000 http://flowingdata.com/?p=5278#comment-38943 I didn't do the exact same thing, but I took a few charts in a presentation I made two years ago and underlayed images of house rooflines that aligned with the shape of the charts. It just broke up chart monotony visually a little bit and (I hope) made it more memorable for the audience. I didn’t do the exact same thing, but I took a few charts in a presentation I made two years ago and underlayed images of house rooflines that aligned with the shape of the charts. It just broke up chart monotony visually a little bit and (I hope) made it more memorable for the audience.

]]> By: yang http://flowingdata.com/2010/02/12/math-functions-in-the-real-world/#comment-38923 yang Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:26:15 +0000 http://flowingdata.com/?p=5278#comment-38923 Math is originally came from nature ,isn't it? Math is originally came from nature ,isn’t it?

]]> By: Il mondo visto da un matematico : Tau Zero http://flowingdata.com/2010/02/12/math-functions-in-the-real-world/#comment-38901 Il mondo visto da un matematico : Tau Zero Sat, 13 Feb 2010 10:50:05 +0000 http://flowingdata.com/?p=5278#comment-38901 [...] (Nikki Graziano via Flowing Data) [...] [...] (Nikki Graziano via Flowing Data) [...]

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