Friday, May 27, 2022

Zero Search

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(C)Copyright 2022, C. Burke. "AnthroNumerics" is a trademark of Christopher J. Burke and (x, why?).

You 2 can be a 0!

First off, this comic was first published in Madrid in Boletín Nº50 from Instituto de Matemática Interdisciplinar (IMI), Universidad Complutense de Madrid. I promised them some new comics that I hadn't published here first. The problem is that the comic needed to be about math, not about teachers or geeky stuff, and it couldn't rely on a pun that might not translate. (As it is, the comics are not translated into Spanish. Not be me, at any rate.)

I had the idea for this one for a couple of weeks. When I finally decided to do it, I realized that I didn't like any of the titles I came up with for the talent show. The Next Zero, The Next Big Zero, Top Zero. Obviously, I couldn't include "America" since it was debuting in Spain. Finally, I just fell back on Zero Search, which works well for finding the roots of functions.

Yes, I probably overthought all of this.

For the longtime readers, that Nonnie Tyler ("Holding Out for a Zero") as the third celebrity judge.



I also write Fiction!


You can now preorder Devilish And Divine, edited by John L. French and Danielle Ackley-McPhail, which contains (among many, many others) three stories by me, Christopher J. Burke about those above us and from down below.
Preorder the softcover or ebook at Amazon.

Also, check out In A Flash 2020, by Christopher J. Burke for 20 great flash fiction stories, perfectly sized for your train rides.
Available in softcover or ebook at Amazon.

If you enjoy it, please consider leaving a rating or review on Amazon or on Good Reads.





Come back often for more funny math and geeky comics.



Thursday, May 26, 2022

Algebra Problems of the Day (Integrated Algebra Regents, August 2010)



Now that I'm caught up with the current New York State Regents exams, I'm revisiting some older ones. The Integrated Algebra Regents covered most of the same material as the current Algebra Regents, with a few differences.

More Regents problems.

Integrated Algebra Regents, August 2010

Part I: Each correct answer will receive 2 credits.


1. The school store did a study comparing the cost of a sweatshirt with the number of sweatshirts sold. The price was changed several times and the numbers of sweatshirts sold were recorded. The data are shown in the table below.

Which scatter plot represents the data?


Answer: 3) [See Image]


The x-axis is labeled 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25, which matches the costs of the sweatshirts, not the number sold. Note that there are points where x = 5, x = 10, etc. Eliminate Choices (2) and (4).

The first point in Choice (1) is ($5, 9 sold). That's no data from the table. Eliminate Choice (1).

The points in Choice (3) match up with the data: (10, 9), (25, 6), etc.





2. What is the solution of 3(2m − 1) ≤ 4m + 7?

1) m ≤ 5
2) m ≥ 5
3) m ≤ 4
4) m ≥ 4

Answer: 1) m ≤ 5


Solve the inequality using the Distributive Property and inverse operations.

3(2m − 1) ≤ 4m + 7

6m − 3 ≤ 4m + 7

2m − 3 ≤ 7

2m ≤ 10

m ≤ 5

Which is Choice (1).





3. Which set represents the intersection of sets A, B, and C shown in the diagram below?



1) {3, 4, 5, 6, 7}
2) {2}
3) {2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7}
4) {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9}

Answer: 2) {2}


The intersection of A, B and C is the centermost section which is contained within all three circles.





4. The end of a dog’s leash is attached to the top of a 5-foot-tall fence post, as shown in the diagram below. The dog is 7 feet away from the base of the fence post.


How long is the leash, to the nearest tenth of a foot?

1) 4.9
2) 8.6
3) 9.0
4) 12.0

Answer: 2) 8.6


The Leash is the longest side of a right triangle with legs 5 and 7. It cannot be 4.9 feet because that would be shorter than the other sides. It cannot be 12 feet because 5 - 7 - 12 is not a triangle -- it's a straight line.

You know two sides of a right triangle and you want to know the third side. That's a Pythagoean Theorem problem. (It doesn't involve basic trigonometric ratios.)

52 + 7 2 = c2

25 + 49 = c2

74 = c2

c = 8.6

You have a calculator, so use it. However, once you had 74, you should realize that 74 is between 64 and 81, so c was between 8 and 9. There's only one choice between 8 and 9.





5. What is the slope of the line passing through the points A and B, as shown on the graph below?



1) -3
2) -1/3
3) 3
4) 1/3

Answer: 2) -1/3


Rise/run. It's going down, so it's negative. It has a shallow (not steep) slope, so it's a fraction less between 0 and -1. There's only one choice.

Rise / run = -2 / 6 = -1 / 3




More to come. Comments and questions welcome.

More Regents problems.

I also write Fiction!


You can now preorder Devilish And Divine, edited by John L. French and Danielle Ackley-McPhail, which contains (among many, many others) three stories by me, Christopher J. Burke about those above us and from down below.
Preorder the softcover or ebook at Amazon.

Also, check out In A Flash 2020, by Christopher J. Burke for 20 great flash fiction stories, perfectly sized for your train rides.
Available in softcover or ebook at Amazon.

If you enjoy it, please consider leaving a rating or review on Amazon or on Good Reads.



Tuesday, May 24, 2022

Keys: An Empirical Study

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(C)Copyright 2022, C. Burke. "AnthroNumerics" is a trademark of Christopher J. Burke and (x, why?).

The probabilty of successfully unlocking the door on the first time is very low.

In actuality, the incorrect key fits into the cylinder but doesn't turn. However, the correct key, at times, does not turn on the first attempt leading the user (i.e., me) to believe that it is, in fact, the incorrect of the two keys.

However, this wasn't as easy to illustrate, so I went with non-entry, which doesn't actually happen with similar keys. The bathroom key, for example, is a completely different key and wouldn't fit into the cylinder at all. However, there is no circumstance under which I'd mistake the bathroom key for the classroom key.

I will add in these notes that I believe I saw a similar image years ago about orienting a thumb drive correctly. I will defend this comic by saying first, these involves the selection of one out of two separate keys, as opposed to lining up a USB or picking up the correct end of a paper clip. Second, this actually happens to me on a daily basis. I'm living this comic, making this autobiographical.



I also write Fiction!


You can now preorder Devilish And Divine, edited by John L. French and Danielle Ackley-McPhail, which contains (among many, many others) three stories by me, Christopher J. Burke about those above us and from down below.
Preorder the softcover or ebook at Amazon.

Also, check out In A Flash 2020, by Christopher J. Burke for 20 great flash fiction stories, perfectly sized for your train rides.
Available in softcover or ebook at Amazon.

If you enjoy it, please consider leaving a rating or review on Amazon or on Good Reads.





Come back often for more funny math and geeky comics.



Algebra 2 Problems of the Day (Algebra 2/Trigonometry Regents, January 2011)



Now that I'm caught up with the current New York State Regents exams, I'm revisiting some older ones.

More Regents problems.

Algebra 2/Trigonometry Regents, January 2011

Part IV: A correct answer will receive 6 credits. Partial credit is available


39. The temperature, T, of a given cup of hot chocolate after it has been cooling for t minutes can best be modeled by the function below, where T0 is the temperature of the room and k is a constant.

ln(T − T0) = −kt + 4.718

A cup of hot chocolate is placed in a room that has a temperature of 68°. After 3 minutes, the temperature of the hot chocolate is 150°. Compute the value of k to the nearest thousandth. [Only an algebraic solution can receive full credit.]

Using this value of k, find the temperature, T, of this cup of hot chocolate if it has been sitting in this room for a total of 10 minutes. Express your answer to the nearest degree. [Only an algebraic solution can receive full credit.]

Answer:


For the first part, T is 150°, T0 = 68°, and k = 3.

ln(T − T0) = −kt + 4.718

ln(150 - 68) = −k(3) + 4.718

ln(82) = −3k + 4.718

4.4067 = −3k + 4.718

-0.3113 = −3k

0.1038 = k

k = 0.104

ln(T − T0) = −kt + 4.718

ln(T − 68) = −(0.104)(10) + 4.718

ln(T − 68) = 3.678

T − 68 = e3.678

T - 68 = 39.567

T = 107.567

T = 108 degrees

Note that if you got both numbers and showed no work, you received 1 credit. (One answer with no work is worth 0.)

If you solve for k, with work, and went no further, you received 2 credits, not 3.

If you used any method other than algebraic (such as graphing), you received half credit, which is 3 credits.




End of Exam.

More to come. Comments and questions welcome.

More Regents problems.

I also write Fiction!


You can now preorder Devilish And Divine, edited by John L. French and Danielle Ackley-McPhail, which contains (among many, many others) three stories by me, Christopher J. Burke about those above us and from down below.
Preorder the softcover or ebook at Amazon.

Also, check out In A Flash 2020, by Christopher J. Burke for 20 great flash fiction stories, perfectly sized for your train rides.
Available in softcover or ebook at Amazon.

If you enjoy it, please consider leaving a rating or review on Amazon or on Good Reads.



Monday, May 23, 2022

This One's For the Birds

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(C)Copyright 2022, C. Burke. "AnthroNumerics" is a trademark of Christopher J. Burke and (x, why?).

Yes, I used that pun in the Title.

There are two pictures because one good tern deserves another.



I also write Fiction!


You can now preorder Devilish And Divine, edited by John L. French and Danielle Ackley-McPhail, which contains (among many, many others) three stories by me, Christopher J. Burke about those above us and from down below.
Preorder the softcover or ebook at Amazon.

Also, check out In A Flash 2020, by Christopher J. Burke for 20 great flash fiction stories, perfectly sized for your train rides.
Available in softcover or ebook at Amazon.

If you enjoy it, please consider leaving a rating or review on Amazon or on Good Reads.





Come back often for more funny math and geeky comics.



Algebra 2 Problems of the Day (Algebra 2/Trigonometry Regents, January 2011)



Now that I'm caught up with the current New York State Regents exams, I'm revisiting some older ones.

More Regents problems.

Algebra 2/Trigonometry Regents, January 2011

Part III: Each correct answer will receive 4 credits. Partial credit is available


36. Write the binomial expansion of (2x − 1)5 as a polynomial in simplest form.

Answer:


The long way is to write out (2x - 1)(2x - 1)(2x - 1)(2x - 1)(2x - 1) and multiply. That's a long way to go for the points, but you'll get full credit.

Binomial expansion follows Pascal's Triangle. The 5th row of Pascal's Triangle is

1 5 10 10 5 1

You can find those numbers making the triangle or using 5CN. (Honestly, you should know 1, 5, ..., 5, 1. You should only have to check the middle numbers if you didn't know them.)

So the binomial expansion is:

(1)(2x)5(-1)0 + (5)(2x)4(-1)1 + (10)(2x)3(-1)2 + (10)(2x)2(-1)3 + (5)(2x)1(-1)5 + (1)(2x)0(-1)6

32x5 - 80x4 + 80x3 - 40x2 + 10x - 1.

The (-1)n changes the signs from plus to minus. An exponent of 0 means that that factor is 1.





37. In △ABC, m∠A = 32, a = 12, and b = 10. Find the measures of the missing angles and side of △ABC. Round each measure to the nearest tenth.

Answer:


Use the law of Sines to find the measure of ∠B. Subtract A and B from 180 to find m∠C. Use the law of Sines again to find the length of side c.

Sin A / a = Sin B / b

Sin 32 / 12 = Sin B / 10

Sin B = 10 (Sin 32) / 12

Sin B = 0.4416

B = 26.2 degrees




m∠C = 180 - (32 + 26.2) = 121.8




Sin A / a = Sin C / c

Sin 32 / 12 = Sin 121.8 / c

c = 12 (Sin 121.8) / Sin 32

c = 19.24 = 19.2





38. The probability that the Stormville Sluggers will win a baseball game is 2/3. Determine the probability, to the nearest thousandth, that the Stormville Sluggers will win at least 6 of their next 8 games.

Answer:


The probability that they will win at least 6 games is the probability that they will win six games plus the probability that they will win seven games plus the probability that they will win eight games.

P(6 wins) = 8C6(2/3)6(1/3)2 = 0.273129...

P(7 wins) = 8C7(2/3)7(1/3)1 = 0.1560737...

P(8 wins) = 8C8(2/3)8(1/3)0 = 0.039018...

0.27312 + 0.15607 + 0.03901 = 0.4682 = 0.468.




End of Part III.

More to come. Comments and questions welcome.

More Regents problems.

I also write Fiction!


You can now preorder Devilish And Divine, edited by John L. French and Danielle Ackley-McPhail, which contains (among many, many others) three stories by me, Christopher J. Burke about those above us and from down below.
Preorder the softcover or ebook at Amazon.

Also, check out In A Flash 2020, by Christopher J. Burke for 20 great flash fiction stories, perfectly sized for your train rides.
Available in softcover or ebook at Amazon.

If you enjoy it, please consider leaving a rating or review on Amazon or on Good Reads.



Saturday, May 21, 2022

Algebra 2 Problems of the Day (Algebra 2/Trigonometry Regents, January 2011)



Now that I'm caught up with the current New York State Regents exams, I'm revisiting some older ones.

More Regents problems.

Algebra 2/Trigonometry Regents, January 2011

Part II: Each correct answer will receive 2 credits. Partial credit is available


32. The graph below represents the function y = f(x).

State the domain and the range of this function.


Answer:


The domian is the set of all x values, which run from -5 to 8, inclusive, of [-5,8].

The range is the set of all y values, which run from -3 to 2, inclusive, or [-3,2].

Note that you need square brackets because the endpoints are included.

Note that the y values are not dependent on the endpoints of the function. You want the maximum and the minumum values for y.

You could also express your answers using inequalities: -5 < x < 8 and -3 < y < 2. Again, make you use < and not <.





33.Express [see image] in simplest radical form.



Answer:


Look at the image below:

Put the entire fraction under the radical. Simplify the terms by dividing 108 by 6, subtracting 1 from 5, and subtracting 5 from 8. Next take the square root of the factors that are perfect squares. That leaves only 2y under the radical sign.





34. Assume that the ages of first-year college students are normally distributed with a mean of 19 years and standard deviation of 1 year.

To the nearest integer, find the percentage of first-year college students who are between the ages of 18 years and 20 years, inclusive.

To the nearest integer, find the percentage of first-year college students who are 20 years old or older.


Answer:


Students who are 18 years old are one standard deviation below the mean. Students who are 20 years old are one standard deviation above the mean. If you look at the diagram of the Normal Curve Standard Deviation, the percentage of students within one standard deviation from the mean is:

15.0 + 19.1 + 19.1 + 15.0 = 68.2 per cent.

68% are between 18 and 20.

The students who are 20 years old or older are more than 1 standard deviation away from the mean. According to the table, 9.2 + 4.4 + 1.7 + 0.5 + 0.1 = 15.9. So 16% of the first-year college students are 20 years old or older.





35. Starting with sin2 A + cos2 A = 1, derive the formula tan2 A + 1 = sec2 A.

Answer:


Use the identities you know.

In particular, tan = sin / cos and sec = 1 / cos.

sin2 A + cos2 A = 1

(sin2 A)/(cos2 A) + (cos2 A)/(cos2 A) = 1/(cos2 A)

tan2 A + 1 = sec2 A




End of Part II.

More to come. Comments and questions welcome.

More Regents problems.

I also write Fiction!


You can now preorder Devilish And Divine, edited by John L. French and Danielle Ackley-McPhail, which contains (among many, many others) three stories by me, Christopher J. Burke about those above us and from down below.
Preorder the softcover or ebook at Amazon.

Also, check out In A Flash 2020, by Christopher J. Burke for 20 great flash fiction stories, perfectly sized for your train rides.
Available in softcover or ebook at Amazon.

If you enjoy it, please consider leaving a rating or review on Amazon or on Good Reads.



Friday, May 20, 2022

Solve For X

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(C)Copyright 2022, C. Burke. "AnthroNumerics" is a trademark of Christopher J. Burke and (x, why?).

Believe it or not, not based on a true story. But it does sound like one. I'd be impressed if a student said it, actually.

The answer is let as an exercise for any students that the teachers in my audience want to inflict this on.

I hate to say that I'll be more productive when summer gets here, because that's over a month away. But with the tech issues I have at work, even when I have free time to work on something, it's too frustrating which makes it difficult to focus.



I also write Fiction!


You can now preorder Devilish And Divine, edited by John L. French and Danielle Ackley-McPhail, which contains (among many, many others) three stories by me, Christopher J. Burke about those above us and from down below.
Preorder the softcover or ebook at Amazon.

Also, check out In A Flash 2020, by Christopher J. Burke for 20 great flash fiction stories, perfectly sized for your train rides.
Available in softcover or ebook at Amazon.

If you enjoy it, please consider leaving a rating or review on Amazon or on Good Reads.





Come back often for more funny math and geeky comics.



Algebra 2 Problems of the Day (Algebra 2/Trigonometry Regents, January 2011)



Now that I'm caught up with the current New York State Regents exams, I'm revisiting some older ones.

More Regents problems.

Algebra 2/Trigonometry Regents, January 2011

Part II: Each correct answer will receive 2 credits. Partial credit is available


28. Solve algebraically for x: 162x + 3 = 64x + 2

Answer:


Make the bases the same, and then compare the exponents.

Both 16 and 64 are is a powers of 2.

Rewrite the equation as 2(4)(2x + 3) = 2(6)(x + 2)

Now solve (4)(2x + 3) = (6)(x + 2)

(4)(2x + 3) = (6)(x + 2)

8x + 12 = 6x + 12

8x = 6x

2x = 0

x = 0

You can check your work if you don't believe 0 is the answer:

163 = 4096, 642 = 4096





29.Find, to the nearest tenth of a degree, the angle whose measure is 2.5 radians

Answer:


There are 180 degrees in π radians. Set up a proportion and solve it:

180/π = x/2.5

πx = (2.5)(180)

x = (2.5)(180)/π

x = 143.23...

Approximate 143.2 degrees to the nearest tenth of a degree.

Since 180 degrees is approximately 3.141592... radians, this seems like a reasonable amount.

If you calculated the number of radians in 2.5 degrees (correctly), you would receive one credit.





30. For a given set of rectangles, the length is inversely proportional to the width. In one of these rectangles, the length is 12 and the width is 6. For this set of rectangles, calculate the width of a rectangle whose length is 9.

Answer:


Inversely proportional means that LW is constant, so L1W1 = L2W2

(12)(6) = (9)W2

W2 = 72/9 = 8





31. Evaluate


Answer:


You can do this the long way or the short way.

The long way:

n = 1, (13 - 1) = 1 - 1 = 0

n = 2, (23 - 1) = 8 - 1 = 7

n = 3, (33 - 1) = 27 - 1 = 26

n = 4, (43 - 1) = 64 - 1 = 63

n = 5, (53 - 1) = 125 - 1 = 124

10 + 0 + 7 + 26 + 63 + 124 = 230

Quicker would be the know that 13 + 23 + 33 + 43 + 53 = (1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5)2.

So 10 + 152 - 5 = 10 + 225 - 5 = 230.




More to come. Comments and questions welcome.

More Regents problems.

I also write Fiction!


You can now preorder Devilish And Divine, edited by John L. French and Danielle Ackley-McPhail, which contains (among many, many others) three stories by me, Christopher J. Burke about those above us and from down below.
Preorder the softcover or ebook at Amazon.

Also, check out In A Flash 2020, by Christopher J. Burke for 20 great flash fiction stories, perfectly sized for your train rides.
Available in softcover or ebook at Amazon.

If you enjoy it, please consider leaving a rating or review on Amazon or on Good Reads.



Thursday, May 19, 2022

Algebra 2 Problems of the Day (Algebra 2/Trigonometry Regents, January 2011)



Now that I'm caught up with the current New York State Regents exams, I'm revisiting some older ones.

More Regents problems.

Algebra 2/Trigonometry Regents, January 2011

Part I: Each correct answer will receive 2 credits.


25. A four-digit serial number is to be created from the digits 0 through 9. How many of these serial numbers can be created if 0 can not be the first digit, no digit may be repeated, and the last digit must be 5?

1) 448
2) 504
3) 2240
4) 2520

Answer: 1) 448


There are 8 choices for the first digit (not 0 and not 5).

There are 8 choices for the second digit (not 5 and not the 1st digit).

There are 7 choices for the third digit (not 5 and neither of the 1st 2 digits).

There's 1 choice for the fourth digit (5).

8 * 8 * 7 * 1 = 448, which is Choice (1).

Since the fourth digit had to be 5, only three digits were in play, which meant there were less than 1000 possibilities. So Choices (3) and (4) could be eliminated immediately.





26. Which equation represents the circle shown in the graph below that passes through the point (0,−1)?

1) (x − 3)2 + (y + 4)2 = 16
2) (x − 3)2 + (y + 4)2 = 18
3) (x + 3)2 + (y - 4)2 = 16
4) (x + 3)2 + (y - 4)2 = 18

Answer: 2) (x − 3)2 + (y + 4)2 = 18


The equation of a circle is (x − h)2 + (y - k)2 = r2, where (h,k) is the center of the circle and r is the radius.

Notice that the radius is a little more than 4, so r2 is not 16. The center is at (3,-4) and there is a point on the circle at (0,-1). You can draw a right triangle with legs equal to 3 and 3. That would mean that the hypotenuse, which is the radius of the circle, has a length of √(18). That means that r2 = 18. Eliminate Choices (1) and (3).

There are minus signs in the formula, so the numbers are flipped. Choice (2) is correct.





27. Which task is not a component of an observational study?

1) The researcher decides who will make up the sample
2) The researcher analyzes the data received from the sample.
3) The researcher gathers data from the sample, using surveys or taking measurements.
4) The researcher divides the sample into two groups, with one group acting as a control group.

Answer: 4) The researcher divides the sample into two groups, with one group acting as a control group.


An observational study does not have a control group.




End of Part I.

More to come. Comments and questions welcome.

More Regents problems.

I also write Fiction!


You can now preorder Devilish And Divine, edited by John L. French and Danielle Ackley-McPhail, which contains (among many, many others) three stories by me, Christopher J. Burke about those above us and from down below.
Preorder the softcover or ebook at Amazon.

Also, check out In A Flash 2020, by Christopher J. Burke for 20 great flash fiction stories, perfectly sized for your train rides.
Available in softcover or ebook at Amazon.

If you enjoy it, please consider leaving a rating or review on Amazon or on Good Reads.



Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Algebra 2 Problems of the Day (Algebra 2/Trigonometry Regents, January 2011)



Now that I'm caught up with the current New York State Regents exams, I'm revisiting some older ones.

More Regents problems.

Algebra 2/Trigonometry Regents, January 2011

Part I: Each correct answer will receive 2 credits.


21. For which equation does the sum of the roots equal −3 and the product of the roots equal 2?

1) x2 + 2x - 3 = 0
2) x2 - 3x - 2 = 0
3) 2x2 + 6x + 4 = 0
4) 2x2 - 6x + 4 = 0

Answer: 3) 2x2 + 6x + 4 = 0


The product of the roots is C/A, and the sum is -B/A.

Choice (1) has a sum of -3/1 = -3. Eliminate Choice (1).

Choice (2) has a sum of -2/1 = -2. Eliminate Choice (2).

Choice (3) has a sum of 4/2 = 2, and a product of -6/2 = -3. This is the correct choice.

Choice (4) has a sum of 4/2 = 2, and a product of -(-6)/2 = 3. Eliminate Choice (4).





22. The expression (2x + 4) / (√(x + 2)) is equivalent to


Answer: 4) [See Image]


See image.

Multiply by &radic(x+2)/&radic(x+2). Then factor (2x + 4)/(x + 2) = 2.





23. Which equation is sketched in the diagram below?



1) y = csc x
2) y = sec x
3) y = cot x
4) y = tan x

Answer: 1) y = csc x


The U shaped graphs are secant and cosecant, not tangent and cotangent. Eliminate Choices (3) and (4).

Sec x = 1 / cos x and csc x = 1 / sin x.

At x = 0, cos x = 1 and sin x = 0. That means that csc x is undefined at 0, as shown in the graph.

The correct choice is (1).





24. The expression log5(1/25) is equivalent to

1) 1/2
2) 2
3) -1/2
4) -2

Answer: 4) -2


If x = log5(1/25) then 5x = 1/25.

So x = -2, which is Choice (4).




More to come. Comments and questions welcome.

More Regents problems.

I also write Fiction!


You can now preorder Devilish And Divine, edited by John L. French and Danielle Ackley-McPhail, which contains (among many, many others) three stories by me, Christopher J. Burke about those above us and from down below.
Preorder the softcover or ebook at Amazon.

Also, check out In A Flash 2020, by Christopher J. Burke for 20 great flash fiction stories, perfectly sized for your train rides.
Available in softcover or ebook at Amazon.

If you enjoy it, please consider leaving a rating or review on Amazon or on Good Reads.



Friday, May 13, 2022

The Square

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(C)Copyright 2022, C. Burke. "AnthroNumerics" is a trademark of Christopher J. Burke and (x, why?).

When now we know who's the kite in the breeze...

I liked the idea behind this comic and I was really getting into it when I was coming up with dialogue ... until I remembered that it's a four- (or six-) paneled strip and I didn't have room for all that. And, let's face it, no one want to read a novel like this.

The crux of it is that Bibi was friends with each of the other two first, and they were friends for different reasons. So Freedom and Serenity (Ningjing) were friends through Bibi but weren't originally friends with each other. (Granted, since their first appearance, they've always been in the same strips. However, I was creating backstory.)

I also contemplated having Mr. Wayne appear to make a comment about Geometry class. This exercise is left to the imagination of the reader.



I also write Fiction!


You can now preorder Devilish And Divine, edited by John L. French and Danielle Ackley-McPhail, which contains (among many, many others) three stories by me, Christopher J. Burke about those above us and from down below.
Preorder the softcover or ebook at Amazon.

Also, check out In A Flash 2020, by Christopher J. Burke for 20 great flash fiction stories, perfectly sized for your train rides.
Available in softcover or ebook at Amazon.

If you enjoy it, please consider leaving a rating or review on Amazon or on Good Reads.





Come back often for more funny math and geeky comics.



Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Cellphone

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(C)Copyright 2022, C. Burke. "AnthroNumerics" is a trademark of Christopher J. Burke and (x, why?).

Except when two lines are on top of one another...

I usually refreain from commenting on people's dumb arguments, whether I agree with them or not. (Yes, there are quite a few out there who will argue positions I may agree with, but they argue them very badly. Heaven forbid that you should try to correct them to make their argument stronger.)

A problem with social media (I almost wrote "the problem") is that too many people seek the perfect applause line or "mic drop". Then in creating such a construction (using a process similar to that of Dr. Frankenstein) they eschew any sort of logic without taking into account if their position is upon solid purchase (as opposed to shaky ground, don't you know).

Some responses are so smug that the creators don't realize that there isn't anything clever about them at all and can usually be shot down with a single retort. This is generally taken as an inverted measure of their cleverness.

Social media is a crazy place.



I also write Fiction!


You can now preorder Devilish And Divine, edited by John L. French and Danielle Ackley-McPhail, which contains (among many, many others) three stories by me, Christopher J. Burke about those above us and from down below.
Preorder the softcover or ebook at Amazon.

Also, check out In A Flash 2020, by Christopher J. Burke for 20 great flash fiction stories, perfectly sized for your train rides.
Available in softcover or ebook at Amazon.

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