Open post to fans of Indian mathamaticians

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Srinivasa Ramanujan (1887-1920), 

by unknown author - creofire.com (archived from the original), Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3911499

 

(Image: Brahmagupta - credit unknown)  

I'd like readers of this blog to suggest Indian mathematicians, in addition to Ramanujan and Brahmagupta, to be included in the list of the top ten Indian mathematicians of all time. Respond in the Comments.

Book Review: On the Edge, The Art of Risking Everything

(Image: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/529280/on-the-edge-by-nate-silver/)

I just finished Nate Silver's latest book and asked Gemini to summarize the mathematical, sports gambling and poker elements of the book.

Nate Silver's On the Edge is a fascinating exploration of risk-taking, particularly through the lens of mathematics, sports gambling, and poker. Silver, renowned for his statistical analysis and predictive modeling, delves into the world of high-stakes decision-making, examining how individuals and institutions can gain an edge.

A significant portion of the book is dedicated to the world of poker, a game where skill and probability intersect. Silver dissects the intricacies of poker strategy, highlighting the importance of understanding pot odds, implied odds, and the concept of expected value. He also explores the psychological factors that influence decision-making under pressure, drawing parallels to other high-stakes endeavors.

While the book touches on various aspects of risk-taking, its focus on mathematics and probability provides a rigorous framework for understanding uncertainty. Silver's ability to translate complex statistical concepts into accessible language makes the book engaging for both seasoned data enthusiasts and casual readers.

Ultimately, On the Edge is a thought-provoking exploration of the human capacity for risk and reward. By examining the strategies and mindsets of successful risk-takers, Silver offers valuable insights for anyone seeking to make better decisions in a world full of uncertainty.

In summary, I recommend the book. As I read it, I thought that readers not familiar with poker or sports gambling might get lost in some of the analogies that Silver outlines. However, he included an expansive glossary in the book to explain the terms he uses throughout the book.

Timeline of Systematic Data and the Development of Computable Knowledge

WolframAlpha has a nice visual summary of mathematics over the past 20,000 years: https://www.wolframalpha.com/docs/timeline.

It includes topics included in this blog, such as:

The Ishango bone, a tally stick from central Africa, dates from about 20,000 years ago. See: https://jamesmacmath.blogspot.com/2023/12/the-ishango-bone-one-of-earliest.html.

The On-Line Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences (OEIS):

https://jamesmacmath.blogspot.com/2020/10/what-is-next-number-in-sequence.html

A New Kind of Science:

https://jamesmacmath.blogspot.com/2023/08/book-review-new-kind-of-science-online.html