Wikipedia:Reference desk archive/Mathematics/2006 August 31

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Contents 1 measurement 2 Translation of odds needed for Wikinews 3 Polynomial Factoring 4 Symbol for Counting

[edit] measurement

How many ml is 1 cc?209.16.210.85 00:22, 31 August 2006 (UTC)Janice Cain

A milliliter (ml or mL) is the same as a cubic centimeter (cm³). The abbreviation cc is an outdated abbreviation for cubic centimeter. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Gerry Ashton (talk • contribs).

"Outdated"? I see it in use all the time. -- Meni Rosenfeld (talk) 09:32, 31 August 2006 (UTC)

Consider that "cubic" is an English word, and the equivalent word in other languages probably does not start with "c". --Gerry Ashton 00:37, 1 September 2006 (UTC)

cubic is also a Romance word, I believe. —Tamfang 07:10, 2 September 2006 (UTC)

1 ml = 1 cc

1 cc = 1 ml

Ohanian 03:43, 31 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Translation of odds needed for Wikinews

Could anyone translate these odds into the normal "1:5" format that normally is published? I'm writing an article for Wikinews. -- Zanimum 15:15, 31 August 2006 (UTC)

See Moneyline odds. If the value is positive, the ratio is (x/100) : 1, if the value is negative the ratio is 1 : (x/100). So i guess Vivica Fox's odds translate to 4:1, Jerry Springer's to 30:1. ---Sluzzelin 17:40, 31 August 2006 (UTC)

Great, that's what I presumed they were. Mario Lopez, however, has 3.5:1 odds. Is this how it's represented? Or is it 7:2? -- Zanimum 15:47, 1 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Polynomial Factoring

How do you factor a multi-variable polynomial? Black Carrot 17:35, 31 August 2006 (UTC)

This list of publications by Arjen K. Lenstra lists several relevant entries. Look for "factoring multivariate polynomials". --Lambiam^Talk 18:47, 31 August 2006 (UTC)

Often you can't. The fundamental theorem of algebra does not extend to multivariate polynomials. For example, the polynomial y²−x³+x, which defines an elliptic curve, cannot be factored. Bivariate polynomials define algebraic curves, and more generally we get into algebraic geometry. --KSmrq^T 23:00, 31 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Symbol for Counting

What is a "symbol for counting" that contains six letters and starts with an "N" and ends with a "D"?

   N _ _ _ _ D

—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 71.100.220.64 (talk • contribs).

N U M B E R ? (which would mean the D is wrong). --Lambiam^Talk 03:00, 1 September 2006 (UTC)

Try http://www.crossword-dictionary.com? - Rainwarrior 04:42, 1 September 2006 (UTC)

Are you sure it begins with a N and ends with a D and has 6 letters? --Yanwen 17:49, 1 September 2006 (UTC)

grepping a dictionary yielded

nacred nakhod nammad nanoid napead napped nasard neaped nebbed necked Nereid nervid netted neurad nevoid nibbed nimbed Nimrod Niobid nonaid nongod nooked norard nutted --jbaber