15 votes

Modern Arabic Mathematical Notation

14 comments

  1. [4]
    lesicnik
    Link
    One thing I've always loved about Arabic scripts is how "flow-y" they are, the end result is always so smooth looking, same goes for their math counterparts apparently.

    One thing I've always loved about Arabic scripts is how "flow-y" they are, the end result is always so smooth looking, same goes for their math counterparts apparently.

    4 votes
    1. [3]
      unknown user
      Link Parent
      How do you feel about the Chinese script? the Japanese scripts? the Mongolian script?

      How do you feel about the Chinese script? the Japanese scripts? the Mongolian script?

      4 votes
      1. [2]
        lesicnik
        Link Parent
        Oh wow, have to say I've never seen Mongolian script but it looks super interesting, becsuse it's vertical! Thank you for showing that to me. Chinese (and other similar scripts) are quite...

        Oh wow, have to say I've never seen Mongolian script but it looks super interesting, becsuse it's vertical! Thank you for showing that to me.

        Chinese (and other similar scripts) are quite interesting in how compact they are (what we consider a single character is an entire syllable).

        2 votes
        1. unknown user
          Link Parent
          I thought Mongolian was seriously neat because of its verticality. When I saw it, I knew I had to use it in conlanging. It looks to me as if it's been condensed – as if each symbol's supposed to...

          I thought Mongolian was seriously neat because of its verticality. When I saw it, I knew I had to use it in conlanging. It looks to me as if it's been condensed – as if each symbol's supposed to taller.

          1 vote
  2. unknown user
    Link
    I find it interesting to consider that the scientific Europe, collectively-speaking, took the Arabian advances in mathematics, including the number-writing system, the essence of it – and the...

    I find it interesting to consider that the scientific Europe, collectively-speaking, took the Arabian advances in mathematics, including the number-writing system, the essence of it – and the Arabian scholar community later took the form.

    2 votes
  3. [9]
    cfabbro
    (edited )
    Link
    I know people have mixed feeling about flat wikipedia links like this... but I have to admit a fondness for them and think they do have their place here. I likely never would have stumbled upon...

    I know people have mixed feeling about flat wikipedia links like this... but I have to admit a fondness for them and think they do have their place here. I likely never would have stumbled upon anything about this interesting and unique mathematical notation system, let alone even heard of it, had you otherwise not posted this @diode... so thanks!

    7 votes
    1. [3]
      MimicSquid
      Link Parent
      I think the major problem with them is that there's no conversation hook. I'll read it, go "huh, that's mildly interesting", and move on. Without the meta-conversation regarding the appropriate...

      I think the major problem with them is that there's no conversation hook. I'll read it, go "huh, that's mildly interesting", and move on. Without the meta-conversation regarding the appropriate use of unadorned Wikipedia links there would be exactly one, on sentence comment, not even anything from the OP talking about why they thought this link worth posting.

      5 votes
      1. [2]
        cfabbro
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        While you make a good point about no obvious hook, I think "Without the meta-conversation regarding the appropriate use of unadorned Wikipedia links there would be exactly one, on sentence...

        While you make a good point about no obvious hook, I think "Without the meta-conversation regarding the appropriate use of unadorned Wikipedia links there would be exactly one, on sentence comment" isn't exactly compelling. Look how many other submissions (news, music, even scientific studies) have similar responses, or total lack thereof and yet I don't see people trying to use that as evidence they shouldn't be submitted.

        I am a meta-lover so that was my take on this submission and the reason why I commented, but not everyone is. And as more people populate the site with varying interests (including reading interesting wikipedia links) and hopefully we get a meta comment label as well, there will likely be more legitimate, quality, non-meta comments and less visible meta, even on submissions like unadorned wikipedia links.

        2 votes
        1. MimicSquid
          Link Parent
          That's a decent point. I'm guilty of not starting the conversation I'd like to see in the world, and so I really shouldn't be complaining about it here.

          That's a decent point. I'm guilty of not starting the conversation I'd like to see in the world, and so I really shouldn't be complaining about it here.

          1 vote
    2. Algernon_Asimov
      Link Parent
      I thought the place for bald Wikipedia links was here. But, if not, I've moved this post to ~science, with the other mathematics posts. @diode: FYI

      I thought the place for bald Wikipedia links was here. But, if not, I've moved this post to ~science, with the other mathematics posts.

      @diode: FYI

      2 votes
    3. [4]
      Adys
      Link Parent
      That's exactly what I love about them and why I posted the last thread about it. I think as long as they're interesting/curated in some way, rather than just hitting the MediaWiki:Random button,...

      That's exactly what I love about them and why I posted the last thread about it. I think as long as they're interesting/curated in some way, rather than just hitting the MediaWiki:Random button, it's all a net positive.

      BTW, if you enjoy this sort of stuff, check out "That Wikipedia List" from Wendover Productions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ugvJi2pIck&list=PLqtidGFC6X0srhTGWsAxNg8bO4lsqpInB

      Which eventually became its own channel, "Half as Interesting", here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuCkxoKLYO_EQ2GeFtbM_bw/videos

      1 vote
      1. [2]
        cfabbro
        Link Parent
        Oh, neat. I didn’t realize Wendover had a new channel. Subscribed. Thanks!

        Oh, neat. I didn’t realize Wendover had a new channel. Subscribed. Thanks!

        1. Adys
          Link Parent
          And it's an amazing channel too. This is one of my favourite videos, I actually had to research this to make sure it wasn't an april's fools: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpoLkMcQh24

          And it's an amazing channel too. This is one of my favourite videos, I actually had to research this to make sure it wasn't an april's fools:

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpoLkMcQh24

          1 vote
      2. Algernon_Asimov
        Link Parent
        So, in your opinion, does this post fall into the "interesting/curated" or the "MediaWiki:Random" category? What's the difference - how can we tell whether a Wikipedia link is the former or the...

        I think as long as they're interesting/curated in some way, rather than just hitting the MediaWiki:Random button

        So, in your opinion, does this post fall into the "interesting/curated" or the "MediaWiki:Random" category? What's the difference - how can we tell whether a Wikipedia link is the former or the latter?