Pascal and the Probability Theory Research Paper

Pascal and the Probability Theory - Research Paper Example His father introduced him to Mathematics when he was 15 years old. Despite this fact, he had started making discoveries in geometry as early as 12 years. Come 1939, his family moved to Rouen after his father was appointed a tax collector. His creativity was exhibited at this point, whereby; he was able to invent a calculator so as to make his father’s work easier during his day to day endeavors. Later in 1647, Pascal conducted and wrote about experiments concerning vacuums, but many scientists disregarded the existence of vacuums. For instance, the great French philosopher Rene Descartes visited Pascal for 2 days and disagreed with him concerning the vacuum. In a letter Descartes wrote to Huygens after this encounter, he asserts that â€Å"Pascal had too much vacuum in his head†1. This did not deter him from pursuing mathematics and science; in 1653, he published a treatise on the equilibrium of Liquids. Pascal later invented â€Å"Pascal’s Triangle†, a tr iangular array of numbers which solves mathematical problems. He would later become interested in probability after a gambling question was projected to him. In correspondence with another great scientist Fermat, they were able to solve the problem of points; how to divide stakes in a game of dice if the game is incomplete. Pascal almost lost his life in 1654, and this affected him psychologically to the point of being a staunch Christian. Even after setting the ground for the theory of probability, Pascal quit Mathematics to pursue a quieter Christain life in a monastery in Paris. He never married. He succumbed in 1662 to malignant stomach ulcers. Introduction Even from an early age, Pascal was curious about natural occurrences, and he formulated experiments to study these occurrences. Pascal studied fluids, pure and applied sciences, pressure and machines, among other scientific principles. While still a teenager in 1642, Pascal had begun ground-breaking work on calculating machin es. At first, his attempts failed, but he finally managed to invent the mechanical calculator three years later2. This simply shows that Pascal was able to invent scientific principles from an earlier age. However, one of Pascal’s greatest invention is in the field of Mathematics is the â€Å"Theory of Probability†, a theory that is centered on estimating and calculating the chance of doing something. For example, if 6 men are playing dice, what is the chance that each of them can win the game? And if at all two are eliminated, what is the chance that each of the remaining four will win the game? Probability centers on such occurrences. The theory of probability was advanced so as to prove the fact that chance can be mathematically calculated accurately. Various facets in the modern world apply probability. This is not just in mathematics courses, but it is also applicable in the practical courses like genetics, quantum mechanics, kinetic theory of gases, industrial qu ality control and insurance.This paper dwells on the history of the probability theory, and how Pascal contributed to this theory, and how his findings were shaped by other great scientists who were also researching on the theory. Pascal’s involvement with probability dates back to 1654 when another scientist, Chevalier challenged him to solve a puzzle which at that time was known as â€Å"the problem of points†. This problem had been posed in the late 1400s and no one had managed to solve it for a period of 200 years. The problem was that; how the stakes of a chance game should be divided

Prison Term Policy Recommendation Proposal

Prison Term Policy Recommendation Proposal The state overseeing body will vote on a bill that will twofold the best correctional facility time that an individual will get for outfitted robbery if sentenced. The reason behind this suggestion is unreasonably help give unmistakable plans that may help the state authorization people see diverse game plans that may be more profitable. The bill is conspicuous with the state get together; there is an outright need to review the factors that could be a component. I have examined what the new bill potential results are and if there is even need to settle something that is not broken. According to the Uniform Crime Report (UCR), outfitted robbery is portrayed as an exasperated sort of theft in which the respondent is equipped with a perilous weapon. Taking property from an individual or inside seeing someone else with the usage of force or by undermining the use of compel while furnished with a dangerous weapon is suggested quite recently like the importance of prepared robbery (Dictio nary). During the commonplace days a wide range of burglary were meriting passing. The United States Constitution does not allow the execution for a man who has been prosecuted just thievery alone; in any case, in case some person is butchered over the traverse of the burglary the individual can be sentenced to death on a legal offense murder affirmation (Law). Prepared burglary is an exceptional wrongdoing; from January 1, 2011 to March 31, 2011 there were 1081 bank robberies (FBI). I have seen from all the gave reports from the Bureau of Justice Statistics are the lessening in those numbers. Notwithstanding the way that numbers have lessened, they are still exorbitantly various in sum. When trying to make a proposition for this possible bill to twofold the correctional facility sentence for equipped burglary we ought to look at to where the rates where conversely with the past and where they are before long. I picked the years 1980, 1990, and 2005 in light of the way that these years hold a one of a kind expecting to me. In 1980 the rate of prepared robbery was d own 6.6%, in 1990 rate of equipped thievery was down to 5.7% finally in 2005 the outfitted theft rate was down to 2.7%. These numbers reflect an abatement without the development of the correctional facility sentence. Changes made on the quick side could have a negative effect. I am firm follower that if something is not broken it doesnt ought to be settled. The most fundamental suggestion that I can offer is to big business out into the all inclusive community extends that have the extended wrongdoing rates and give more law approval officers in those regions. The extended measure of law approval officers can give debilitation and moreover make the subjects of that gathering feel more secure. A minute proposal that I can offer would be as opposed to actually duplicating the correctional facility sentence, rather essentially increase it by three or four years. In case this bill is passed by this state board, the detainee masses will increase. Exactly when the development of the prisoner masses accomplishes a particular level there will be a need to gather more restorative facilites and correctional facilites to house the overall public. There is always strong common contentions that develop when a remedial office or correctional facility will be gathered in light of the way that no region or gathering needs this kind of office near their territory. Quite of what we would do or new felt that we would endeavor there will constantly be wrongdoing. The last recommendation that I have to offer is to look at the expenses. Considerations, for instance, the expenses to house, support, dress, and give therapeutic organizations to these prisoners will impact everyone from subjects to the gatherings. Individuals on this state administering body board need to remember what the gatherings require and do what is best for them; growing charges it not going to be the fitting reaction with the present conditions of our economy. This bill benefits have contemplations to help fight wrongdoing; I trust that all components ought to be broke down. The best segment will guarantee the gatherings wont be hurt. I assume that since wrongdoing rates of outfitted theft have shown a reducing without the raising of the discipline, the state lawmaking body should not misuse the time and money by brining into component another bill that may not work. This state lawmaking body needs to make his or herself known inside the gatherings and choose for them what is a need and a flat out need. I am firm lover of recuperation. My posit ion is with the use of gathering based conformities and strict endorsements for rehabilitative purposes to the unemployed repeat blameworthy gathering who gives outfitted theft (Limbaugh, 2009). With the use of specialists, ventures, and treatment centers, for instance, informational help aptitudes, coordinating for substance misuse, abuse, and other mental issue could be the reason a man would not submit equipped burglary (Limbaugh). References: FBI. (n.d.). Retrieved August 4, 2012, from Bank Crime Statistics:  http://ww.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/bank-crime-statistics-2011/bank-crime-statistics Limbaugh, S. (2009, October 31). Prison Term Policy Recommendation. Retrieved August  2,2012, from Yahoo voices:http://voices.yahoo.com/shared/print.shtml?content_type=articlecontent_type_id=5645150 Robbery. (n.d). Retrieved August 2, 2012, from Robbery-The History of Robbery:http://law.jrank.org/pages/1984/Robbery-history-robbery.html The Free Dictionary. (n.d.). Retrieved August 2, 2012, from Armed Robbery: http://legal-dictionary.the freedictionary.com/armed+robbery

The Immortal Heroes of Homer’s Iliad Essay -- Iliad essays

The Immortal Heroes of Homer’s Iliad In Homer’s Iliad, a warrior can only attain heroism and immortality by embracing an early death. Jean-Pierre Vernant describes this paradox in his essay, â€Å"A ‘Beautiful Death’ and the Disfigured Corpse in Homeric Epic.† According to Vernant, heroes accept the fact that life is short and â€Å"devote themselves completely and single-mindedly to war, adventure, glory, and death† (53). 1 Curiously, this is because heroes overcome death only when they embrace it (57). The importance of death stems from the fact that the individual is defined by his reputation and esteem among others, as Vernant points out when he argues that . . . real death lies in amnesia, silence, demeaning obscurity, the absence of fame. By contrast, real existence—for the living or the dead—comes from being recognized, valued, and honored. Above all, it comes from being glorified as the central figure in a song of praise, a story that endlessly tells and retells a destiny admired by all. (57) He made on it a great vineyard heavy with clusters, lovely and in gold, but the grapes upon it were darkened and the vines themselves stood out through poles of silver. About them he made a field-ditch of dark metal, and drove all around this a fence of tin; and there was only one path to the vineyard, and along it ran the grape-bearers for the vineyard’s stripping. Young girls and young men, in all their light-hearted innocence, carried the kind, sweet fruit away in their woven baskets, and in their midst a youth with a singing lyre played charmingly upon it for them, and sang the beautiful song for Linos in a light voice, and they followed him, and with singing and whistling and light dance-steps of their f... ...g death —and this is what makes a hero. Perhaps the final proof of this heroic immortality lies in the fact that the exploits of Achilleus and the other heroes of the Trojan War remain to this day the subject of passion and controversy. In this way, they have purchased a measure of fame and glory beyond anything they could have imagined. Truly, these heroes are immortal. NOTES 1 Jean-Pierre Vernant, â€Å"A ‘Beautiful Death’ and the Disfigured Corpse in Homeric Epic,† in Mortals and Immortals: Collected Essays (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1991). 2 Homer, Iliad, trans. Richmond Lattimore (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1951), . 3 Homer, Odyssey, trans. Richard Lattimore (New York: Harper & Row Publishers, 1965). 4 Homer, Iliad. 5 Edith Hamilton, Mythology (New York: Mentor, 1969), 294. 6 Homer, Iliad. 7 Vernant, 60. 8 Homer, Iliad.

“A Sound of Thunder” and “Nethergrave” Essay

â€Å"A Sound of Thunder† by Ray Bradbury and â€Å"Nethergrave† by Gloria Skurzynski were good, well written science fiction stories. Both stories used technology to greatly change the life of the main characters. â€Å"A Sound of Thunder† involved dinosaurs and a time machine in which the characters used to go back in time. The time machine was built to go to the stories setting in a jungle, sixty million years in the past. In â€Å"Nethergrave†, the main character, Jeremy, choses to get sucked into the virtual world instead of staying the real world after having a quite embarrassing and lonely day. This stories setting seemed to be in the present time but did not say for sure. The climax in â€Å"Nethergrave† was when all Jeremy’s online friend had left him and he got a message from someone telling him to turn on his mic. I didn’t know what was going to happen or what the man wanted from Jeremy. He made the decision to leave the rea l world of being ignored and bullied to go to somewhere he was promised never to be abandoned. The climax in â€Å"A Sound of Thunder† was when the men were on the time machine returning to the present time. I thought this was the most suspenseful time because I knew Echkels had walked of the path he was forbidden to leave and I was waiting to read if that small action had really affected the future. Both the stories’ climaxes made me wonder what was going to happen next. One of the themes in the â€Å"A Sound of Thunder† is that one small bad action can lead up to a massive destruction. I think a theme for â€Å"Nethergrave† is that when reality is tough, it is easy to make poor decisions that seem to make it better. Both themes are ideal to remember because they go hand in hand. If you think about it, the theme in â€Å"Nethergrave† is saying if life is hard, then it is easier to make poor decision, and if you make poor decision, than it can affect yourself or others like the theme is in â€Å"A Sound of Thunder†. Both of these short stories show how technology can be extremely dangerous. Advancements in technology are being made every day. Even though these are science fiction stories, I thinkt the dangers of technology from the stories  might actually be possible in the future. Both stories kept me wanting to keep reading, but â€Å"A Sound of Thunder† was more effective than â€Å"Nethergrave† in my opinion. It had better characterization in describing the charters, a more relatable theme, had more description, and helped the readers get familiar with the setting. The last line of Bradbury’s story, â€Å"There was a sound of thunder†, made me sit dazed for a moment, questioning if he really did kill Echkels. Overall, I thought it had more exciting action and was my favorite of the two. Works Cited Bradbury, Ray. A Sound of Thunder. New York: Doubleday, 1952. Print. Skurzynski, Gloria. Nethergrave.

Analysis of Edward Albee’s Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

According to Edward Albee, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? aims to examine whether American society was able to â€Å"live up to the principles of the American Revolution† (qtd in Bottoms 16). In another interview, he noted that the play stands as a response to O’Neill’s The Iceman Cometh, a response that acknowledges that the denial of the self leads to fiction and prevents the acceptance of reality (qtd in Bottoms 46). In this sense, one might state that aforementioned play serves as a critique to the way of life led within American societies as it enables and tolerates the denial of reality through the creation of fictitious images of American culture. This is evident if one considers the similarities between the characters within the play. George and Martha stand as representations of the effects of the rapid shifts in the industrial, social, and historical climate within the United States to the individual. Nick and Honey, on the other hand represent the effects of these changes to the individuals whose existence started during this period. Within the play, George stands as the epitome of the individual whose commitment to life the self and to others has been deprecated by his career as an associate professor of history in New England. Martha, on the hand, stands as the embodiment of the angry, strong, and frustrated individual. The couple’s identities were emphasized by their counterparts Nick and Honey. Within the play, Nick represents the opportunistic superficial individual. Like George, who is also a professor, Nick is a new biologist instructor in the college. His wife, Honey, on the other hand is the daughter of a rich family who like Martha is plagued with hatred and terror which may be traced to her husband’s treatment. These feelings are veiled with a pretense of laughter. The characters, within the text, thereby portray distraught individuals who are continuously being destroyed by their pretenses and their failure to accept and realize their selves. Such a realization, however, was achieved by the protagonists (George and Martha) as they were able negotiate their identities as well as the recent failure of their marriage. Note for example that the initial part of the play portrays George and Martha as being engaged in verbal battle. Martha describes her husband as â€Å"A FLOP! A great†¦big†¦fat†¦FLOP† (Albee 84). The later part of the novel, however, shows an end to the verbal battle between the couple as the chasm between illusion and reality has finally been crossed. The question posed by George in the initial part of the play was answered. He states, â€Å"Truth and illusion. Who knows the difference? † (Albee 201). It seems, only those who can accept a life without illusions, one purely founded upon reality can know the difference and in effect can live a ‘real’ life. In the initial part of the essay, it was mentioned that Albee’s purpose for writing the play was to show the American society’s failure to live up to the ideals of the revolution. This failure lies in our failure to go beyond our pre-fabricated illusions. Our failure to face reality as is.