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Algebra In Wonderland

Posted by kdawson on from the you-are-sad-said-the-knight dept.

theodp writes "As Tim Burton's 'Alice in Wonderland' shatters 3-D and IMAX records en route to a $116.3 million opening, the NY Times offers a rather cerebral op-ed arguing that Alice's search for a beautiful garden can be neatly interpreted as a mishmash of satire directed at the advances taking place in mid-19th century math. Charles Dodgson, who penned 'Alice' under the name Lewis Carroll, was a tutor in mathematics at Christ Church in Oxford who found the radical new math illogical and lacking in intellectual rigor. Op-ed writer Melanie Bayley explains: 'Chapter 6, "Pig and Pepper," parodies the principle of continuity, a bizarre concept from projective geometry, which was introduced in the mid-19th century from France. This principle (now an important aspect of modern topology) involves the idea that one shape can bend and stretch into another, provided it retains the same basic properties — a circle is the same as an ellipse or a parabola (the curve of the Cheshire cat's grin). Taking the notion to its extreme, what works for a circle should also work for a baby. So, when Alice takes the Duchess's baby outside, it turns into a pig. The Cheshire Cat says, "I thought it would."'"

7 of 184 comments (clear)

  1. you're kidding by pbjones · · Score: 3, Funny

    sometimes a cigar is just a cigar...

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    There was an unknown error in the submission.
    1. Re:you're kidding by Vintermann · · Score: 4, Funny

      And sometimes a caterpillar sitting on a giant mushroom smoking a hookah is just a caterpillar sitting on a giant mushroom smoking a hookah.

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      xkcd is not in the sudoers file. This incident will be reported.
  2. A baby is not a sphere by slim · · Score: 4, Funny

    Surely a mammal is a torus.

    1. Re:A baby is not a sphere by maxume · · Score: 3, Funny

      It all hinges on the topological properties of a sphincter.

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      Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
  3. Re:Yeah Not Really by Shadow+of+Eternity · · Score: 4, Funny

    How can math be unrigorous? Either something adds up, or it doesnt, or both.

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    A bullet may have your name on it but splash damage is addressed "To whom it may concern."
  4. Re:a mammal is a torus by EdIII · · Score: 4, Funny

    people have 4 entry and exit points

    I am sure there is some German porn on the Internet that refutes that statement.

  5. The scariest part about it is ... by D4C5CE · · Score: 4, Funny

    http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Annotated-Alice/Lewis-Carroll/e/9780393048476/?itm=1&USRI=annotated+alice

    ..."Customers who bought this also bought"