Seeing Math on the Page
Math and literature are probably two of the subjects that bring students headaches. However,scientists wonder the beauty of math can be found in literary works.A UK mathematician Sarah Hart,who presents some interesting thoughts about "three"in her book, (argue)that the beauty of this number is indeed evident in many works of western literature and languages,
"Throe"is the minimum number with a two-dimensional shape can be defined. For example,throe sticks can create triangle,a stable structure,Many common phrases are in three wards,such as"ready,set,go",Some nursery rhymes have t word (repeat)three times,such as"row,row,row your boat",In stories,there are usually three main characters and for a series of (novel),there are usually three books rather than four.
Why is it always the third son who behaves differently from his two older brothers,thus (win)the princess?Hart explains that obviously we require two repetitions.to get to know the pattern,so,that the breaking of the pattern in the third character can surprise or amuse us. (similar),another study by researchers at the University of Vermont also connected math and storytelling.They analyzed more than 1,300 fiction books and arranged for 10,000 words from the books it be rated by 50 participants on' a happiness scale of 1 to 9. Then the ratings (categorize)into different graphs,which showed how the readers' emotions changed while reading.It turned out that each story fit perfectly into one of six basic graphs,a mathematical pattern.
"The idea that one would have to choose between mathematics and literature is something a tragedy,"Hart says,"The two fields are fundamentally linked".
