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Open Source Math

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the wouldn't-it-be-nice dept.

An anonymous reader writes "The American Mathematical society has an opinion piece about open source software vs propietary software used in mathematics. From the article : "Increasingly, proprietary software and the algorithms used are an essential part of mathematical proofs. To quote J. Neubüser, 'with this situation two of the most basic rules of conduct in mathematics are violated: In mathematics information is passed on free of charge and everything is laid open for checking.'""

16 of 352 comments (clear)

  1. Lol by Matt867 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Thanks for the article, now some crazed company is going to try to copyright math.

    1. Re:Lol by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      I am going to copyright 0 = 1.
      Any software that contains i = i+1 must license my math.

    2. Re:Lol by Dunbal · · Score: 4, Funny

      Sorry, but I've already patented the systematic use and manipulation of abstract symbols representing real world quantities in order to derive relationships.

      --
      Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
    3. Re:Lol by Plutonite · · Score: 4, Funny

      Sorry, but I've already patented the systematic use and manipulation of abstract symbols representing real world quantities in order to derive relationships. And I've copyrighted proverbial hand-waving. Together, we hold the scientific community hostage!
    4. Re:Lol by RockoTDF · · Score: 2, Funny

      i++ will then become the new symbol of freedom! Way to go dude.

      --
      There is more to science than physics!

      www.iomalfunction.blogspot.com
    5. Re:Lol by william_tell · · Score: 3, Funny

      I wish I figured this out in school. All those times the teacher would ask me to show my work. I could have just said, "Sorry but my solution is proprietary, and therefore I can't show my work."

    6. Re:Lol by Jarjarthejedi · · Score: 2, Funny

      Not without my patents on 'Methods of convincing individuals, or groups of individuals, to abide unanimously with a procedure or piece of information developed or discovered by an independently third party' and 'Preventing a group of individuals, or an individual, from being able to make an independent decision by means of force, be it verbal, physical, or implied.'

      --
      There are two kinds of fool One says 'This is old therefore good' Another says 'This is new therefore better'- Dean Ing
    7. Re:Lol by donscarletti · · Score: 3, Funny

      The assertion i=i+1 just made the field of complex numbers one step more, um, complex.

      --
      When Argumentum ad Hominem falls short, try Argumentum ad Matrem
  2. Propriatary Software by calebt3 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Increasingly, proprietary software and the algorithms used are an essential part of mathematical proofs Like Excel's 65,535-equals-100,000 formula?
  3. Re:speaking of proprietary by Main+Gauche · · Score: 5, Funny

    "While it was typeset with TeX (open), only the PDF (closed and uneditable) is provided."

    Indeed. Now we are left wondering whether the TeX code is buggy. Like maybe an extra character accidentally slipped into the file.

    therefore mathematics software should %not
    be open source!

    Now we'll never know.

  4. Maths...... by Seoulstriker · · Score: 5, Funny

    Look around you. Look around you!

    That's how I learned maths in high school.

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    I am defenseless. Use your button. Mod me down with all of your hatred.
  5. Re:Python is part of the answer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I am a mathematician.
    Yeah right. I don't see any publications by you on MathSciNet, Mr. poopdeville.
  6. Re:Python is part of the answer by ozbird · · Score: 2, Funny

    The are all manor of subtle mistakes... Irony?

  7. Re:Lol but... by BoRegardless · · Score: 2, Funny

    I've applied for a patent for the carefully aimed use of airborne chairs for intimidation of employees, particularly when they are threatening to resign to go to work for a competitor.

  8. Re:Python is part of the answer by dotancohen · · Score: 2, Funny

    e^pi-pi is 19.999099979

    --
    It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
  9. Re:Python is part of the answer by Dunbal · · Score: 2, Funny

    duhhhh, before you flame, make sure you're right idiot

    --
    Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.