Aug 27 2008
Ladies against german apples…
Finally, somebody is demanding to abolish the environment.
Naturally, let us not forget the German Apple Front.
Aug 22 2008
Stupid question
Is there a one line proof of the following not too hard fact? And if so, what is it?
Claim: If X is a random variable in the range [0,M] with expectation u, then
Var(X) < =u(M-u).
Aug 19 2008
Color these points
Given a set P of n points in the plane (hallelujah!) color them by black and white (or by gold and lavender if your taste is more tacky), so that if a line has more than, say, 50, points on one side of it, then this side contains at least one white point and at least one black point.
Talking points:
- This problem is not easy but not too hard. It is taken from some paper. I have my own solution, but its not as elementary as the original solution.
- 50 is just a convenient constant to talk about. I think 4 or 8 is possible, but if you can do it with any constant thats good.
- This problem has interesting connections to discrepancy and similar stuff.
- The 3d version is harder (points and planes) – I dont know its status.
Aug 18 2008
Summer summary
A workshop in France,and a vacation in Washington (the state) consumed without remorse the last three weeks. Now, I am back, and the semester is about to begin. And so the summer had flown away, like an arrow with a jet engine.
Our broadcasts of nonsense and even more nonsense would resume soon…