http://www.mathhelpforum.com/math-help en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:41:04 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.mathhelpforum.com/math-help/images/MHF/misc/rss.jpg http://www.mathhelpforum.com/math-help http://www.mathhelpforum.com/math-help/mathematics-news/113654-i-m-gelfand-1913-2009-a.html Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:32:02 GMT Yesterday's Guardian has a whole-page obituary of Israel Gelfand, who died last month.

Israel Gelfand obituary | Science | The Guardian

Gelfand and his collaborator Mark Naimark, along with John von Neumann, were the founders of the theory of operator algebras (of which my username is an abbreviation). This has developed into one of the more active strands of mathematical research in the past half century, with important applications in noncommutative geometry, knot theory, quantum field theory, quantum statistical mechanics and the representation theory of topological groups.

I met Gelfand a few years ago, at the International Congress of Mathematics. His mind was as sharp as ever, although by then he was well into his nineties. He was eagerly listening to young mathematicians explaining their work to him, and giving them ideas and advice. ]]> Mathematics News Opalg http://www.mathhelpforum.com/math-help/mathematics-news/113654-i-m-gelfand-1913-2009-a.html http://www.mathhelpforum.com/math-help/mathematics-news/113495-major-poker-tournament-demonstrates-lack-basic-math-skills.html Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:59:09 GMT 24.9 million chips Pre-flop almost 8 million chips get into the pot and two players remain. On the flop Moon checks and...]]> At the final table of this year's World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event final table the following hand took place.

Steven Begleiter: 24.9 million chips
Darvin Moon: > 24.9 million chips

Pre-flop almost 8 million chips get into the pot and two players remain. On the flop Moon checks and Begleiter bets 5 million. Moon raises to 15 million and Begleiter goes all in for 21 million total. Moon folds!

(3.9 million * 2 players preflop) + 5 million initial flop bet + 15 million raise + (21 million total left- 5 initial bet= 16 million) = 43.8 million. The pot was actually a little larger because of antes but the next point still remains.

Moon had to call 6 million to win 43.8 million total, giving him better than 7 to 1 odds! on the total pot, over 8:1 on the total pot with the call in. You don't have to know anything about poker to know that you cannot make the 15 million chip raise the Moon did if you can't call 6 million more on top of it. This fold is considered one of the worst folds in poker tournament history both in terms of strategy and pot odds ever.

Some how though, Moon has made it down to the final two players and has a possibility of winning the entire tournament. Shows the luck in poker. ]]> Mathematics News Jameson http://www.mathhelpforum.com/math-help/mathematics-news/113495-major-poker-tournament-demonstrates-lack-basic-math-skills.html http://www.mathhelpforum.com/math-help/mathematics-news/112137-better-news.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:22:44 GMT Mathematician is top profession: The Best and Worst Jobs in the U.S. - WSJ.com (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123119236117055127.html?mod=igoogle_wsj_gadgv1) CB Mathematician is top profession:

The Best and Worst Jobs in the U.S. - WSJ.com

CB ]]> Mathematics News CaptainBlack http://www.mathhelpforum.com/math-help/mathematics-news/112137-better-news.html