2015 Top Ten of Polemic for Mathematics
- Constant (mathematics)
- In mathematics, the word constant can have multiple meanings. As an adjective, it refers to non-variance ; as a noun, it has two different meanings:A fixed and well-defined number or other non-changing mathematical object. The terms mathematical constant or physical constant are sometimes used to distinguish this meaning. A function whose value remains unchanged. Such a constant is commonly represented by a variable which does not depend on the main variable(s) in question
- 420 (number)
- 420 is the natural number following 419 and preceding 421
- Graph traversal
- In computer science, graph traversal refers to the process of visiting each vertex in a graph. Such traversals are classified by the order in which the vertices are visited. Tree traversal is a special case of graph traversal
- Pentagonal number
- A pentagonal number is a figurate number that extends the concept of triangular and square numbers to the pentagon, but, unlike the first two, the patterns involved in the construction of pentagonal numbers are not rotationally symmetrical. The nth pentagonal number pn is the number of distinct dots in a pattern of dots consisting of the outlines of regular pentagons with sides up to n dots, when the pentagons are overlaid so that they share one vertex. For instance, the third one is formed from outlines
- Statistic
- A statistic (singular) or sample statistic is any quantity computed from values in a sample which is considered for a statistical purpose. Statistical purposes include estimating a population parameter, describing a sample, or evaluating a hypothesis. The average of sample values is a statistic. The term statistic is used both for the function and for the value of the function on a given sample. When a statistic is being used for a specific purpose, it may be referred to by a name indicating its purpose
- Slope
- In mathematics, the slope or gradient of a line is a number that describes both the direction and the steepness of the line. Slope is often denoted by the letter m ; there is no clear answer to the question why the letter m is used for slope, but its earliest use in English appears in O'Brien (1844) who wrote the equation of a straight line as "y = mx + b" and it can also be found in Todhunter (1888) who wrote it as "y = mx + c
- Like terms
- In algebra, like terms are terms that have the same variables and powers. The coefficients do not need to match
- Hexagonal prism
- In geometry, the hexagonal prism is a prism with hexagonal base. This polyhedron has 8 faces, 18 edges, and 12 vertices
- Proof by intimidation
- Proof by intimidation is a jocular phrase used mainly in mathematics to refer to a specific form of hand-waving, whereby one attempts to advance an argument by marking it as obvious or trivial, or by giving an argument loaded with jargon and obscure results. It attempts to intimidate the audience into simply accepting the result without evidence, by appealing to their ignorance and lack of understanding
- Table of divisors
- The tables below list all of the divisors of the numbers 1 to 1000