Subject: Re: [HM] Poetry and Mathematics
From: Antreas P. Hatzipolakis (xpolakis@otenet.gr)
Date: Sat Jun 10 2000 - 17:45:24 EDT
Poetry as math. problem:
"... the fair pearl necklace of the Queen,
That burst in dancing, and the pearls were spilt;
Some lost, some stolen, some as relics kept.
But nevermore the same two sister pearls
Ran down the silken thread to kiss each other
On her white neck - "
- From Vivien by Tennyson
Suppose the clasps alone remained upon the string while 50 pearls
were spilt and 40 found. What is the chance of stringing these afresh to
fit the poet's fancy?
(The American Math. Monthly 33 (1926), p. 47, #3163 by Norman Anning)
Antreas
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b28 : Sat Jun 10 2000 - 17:47:32 EDT