> -----Original Message----- > From: Kirby Urner [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > I pick up my tetrahedron (black electrical tape on the edges, good > contrast), and say "Measuring cup!" (I probably say more). Then I scoop > up > a boat load of beans. Now it's full. In my other hand, Cube. How many > tetrahedron cups to fill my Cube? Guesses, kids calling out. Well, let's > see... one.... two.... three. Done. It's brimming with beans, no room > for > more. Is the ratio exact? You betcha.
Might they also be interested that in Egypt, long-ago, in the shadow of the Pyramids, folks not only understood this to be true, but were not content with this knowledge. A way of thinking was developed that allowed them to become satisfied that the truth of this observation "makes sense" - that we should in fact *expect* it to be true. http://babbage.clarku.edu/~djoyce/java/elements/bookXIII/propXIII15.html What seems surprising - given a logical progression of thought - can be found to be not surprising, really. What is the lesson to be learned from that? To me, it *is* the lesson. Art _______________________________________________ Edu-sig mailing list Edu-sig@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig
