That is a great question!

The guy running the trivia thing was surprised that five groups got it right.

I wonder how common long multiplication is these days. They still teach it in schools, right? Although I suppose most kids pull out their calculators and promptly forget it.

When I was in HS, somewhere I read about the pattern that 1² = 1, 11² = 121, 111² = 12321, etc. I can't remember where I read that - perhaps in a book of math stuff I read on my own....

They still teach it in schools. From what I've seen, most of the schools that know what they're doing will allow elementary-school kids to use calculators for certain activities, but will still also have them learn to do arthmetic without them. Middle school and high school will allow calculators a lot more. (And I usually end up with a whole bunch of undergrads who are terrified to do even basic calculations without a calculator. They know how to do it, but they just don't trust that a non-calculator answer will be right and they'll panic and say "I can't do this." I haven't noticed the same thing in elementary and middle school kids, though.)

I just sent out an email to the Midwest list about plans for tomorrow.

I'm not on the list, so you'll have to cc: me.

Damn, that's a cool math problem.

When I was in HS, somewhere I read about the pattern that 1² = 1, 11² = 121, 111² = 12321, etc. I can't remember where I read that - perhaps in a book of math stuff I read on my own....

They still teach it in schools.

Well, shoo. Either they never taught it at mine, or (more likely) one of my higher-math teachers mentioned it during one of the classes when I was sitting in the back crying and feeling stupid and I never heard it, which just makes me sad because it's exactly the kind of absurd/logical frickin' coolness that would've gotten me all hopped up and excited about math again.

ION, San Francisco is bright and sunshiney -- but barren, barren, I say. For some reason, the lack of Scola is hitting especially hard this morning.

When I was in HS, somewhere I read about the pattern that 1² = 1, 11² = 121, 111² = 12321, etc.

For me, it's cool because you can picture it visually doing long multiplication -- each rows of 1's shifted one to the left from the row above it.

I'm not on the list, so you'll have to cc: me.

Done!

Also, is there anyone who could meet up with Tom to help him get to my place? Brenda? tommyrot?

Sorry I can't give rides to the downtown-istas today!

ChiKat, do you want me to bring sweet munchies for dessert? I need to get some things at Jewel tonight for the apartment, and was thinking about throwing some of their brownies in the cart, as well.

Tommyrot, are you able? My day has gone all wonky and I may be here late.