I've set up a site called whystartat.xyz. My aim is to collect ambiguous, inconsistent, or just plain unpleasant conventions in mathematical notation.

It's a wiki, so you can edit it. Please add in any examples that come to mind!

hey is there anybody on the fediverse who lived in germany between like 1982-1984 and listened to NDR

or anyone who was active in the music scene there around that time

or even any radio DJ's from that era

because the world could use your help solving the mystery of the most mysterious song on the internet

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Most

basically, all you need to do is read the wikipedia article and listen to the song and hopefully you'll recognize it and remember who it is

boosts appreciated, you never know, fedi might be the place to crack this case!!!

My name is Colin, and I am a mathematician. If you’re into calendar-related coincidences, today is both Tau Day (6.28, if you write the date wrong) and a perfect day (28 and 6 are perfect numbers). Is there anything more meaningful I can help you with this week?

OK, Mathstodon: you know the drill: I plotted something, and you’ve got to guess what it is. For the third time: what’s the plot? (Postcards for responses I deem to be the winners.)

Hello! My name is Colin, I am a mathematician and it is Monday: what can I help you with this week?

What's the most tedious problem you have at the moment?

According to 99% Invisible, today is Flag Day. How can I help you raise your standards or succeed with flying colours this week?

My name is Colin, I am a mathematician, and I’m here to help. Let me know how!

What, EXACTLY, is your problem, buster?

No, hang on, wait a minute. Wrong tone entirely.

My name is Colin and I’m a mathematician. I love solving problems. Do you have one I can help with?

The results of this episode of What's The Plot are up: flyingcoloursmaths.co.uk/whats

A postcard for @pretentious7 -- if you let me know privately the best way to get it to you, I'll pop it in the post :-)

Hello, Mastodon! My name is Colin, and I am a mathematician. I play by the rules and still get results*. What can I help you with this week?

* mainly. No guarantees.

I plotted something… it looked interesting… that’s right: it’s time for another round of What’s My Plot?

Tell me what you think the logic behind this diagram is, and YOU could win a coveted postcard!

This is the most recent thing I can find on the topic: arxiv.org/abs/1508.07562

I stumbled down a rabbit-hole and came across Almost Pythagorean Triples (APTs), integers such that $$a^2+b^2=c^2+1$$.

I reckon that if $$T$$ is any triangular number and $$2T = QR$$, (with $$Q$$ and $$R$$ positive integers) then:

* $$a = Q-R$$
* $$b = \sqrt{4QR+1}$$
* $$c = Q+R$$

forms an APT. I *believe* all APTs are of this form; those with three odd values appear twice, and those with only one appear once.

Oh, are we a \\\[ sort of place? Sorry.

Hello! My name is Colin and I am a mathematician.

As a famed octogenarian sang, “You gotta serve somebody”. How can I be of service to you* this week?

* (Offer not restricted to the Devil and the Lord.)

spoiler

*drumroll*

The plot was to do with Pythagorean triples. More here: flyingcoloursmaths.co.uk/whats

(Last call for this -- I'll be running a blog post about it on Friday.)

Let’s play a game of “What’s the plot?”!

A postcard for the first person to tell me what the logic behind this plot is (or, failing that, the answer I like best).

Good morning! My name is Colin, and I am a mathematician. What can I help you with this week?

Let’s play a game of “What’s the plot?”!

A postcard for the first person to tell me what the logic behind this plot is (or, failing that, the answer I like best).

Good morning, Mathstodon! My name is Colin, and I am a mathematician. It's Monday and I'm meant to be writing a book proposal -- what can I help you with instead?

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