Archive-name: sci-math-faq/intro
Last-modified: June 1, 1994
Version: 5.0


This is an introductory posting to the list of Frequently Asked Questions
for sci.math. A new version of the FAQ will be ready for the fall. Please
be patient.


                   I N T R O D U C T I O N


This introduction is posted weekly. Every 12th of the month the full version
is published. At any time you can access the full faq list by anonymous ftp
(userid: anonymous) at rtfm.mit.edu /pub/usenet-by-group/sci.math.

Before posting to sci.math, keep in mind that mathematical topics are
covered in a plethora of newsgroups. Your posting may be better suited
for one of them.

Related newsgroups :


        sci.math.num-analysis
        sci.math.research
        sci.math.symbolic

 k12.ed.math

        sci.stat.*
        sci.physics.*

        comp.theory.*
        comp.compression.*

        sci.engr.*
        sci.econ.*
        sci.crypt
        sci.chaos
        sci.fractals
        sci.logic
        sci.nonlinear
 sci.op-research

        rec.puzzles
        rec.games.chess

        Mailing lists:

        l-math : History and philosophy of mathematics and probability.
                 Subscriptions: <l-math-request@math.uio.no>




The FAQ list contains the following topics:


             Table of Contents
             -----------------

 1Q.- Fermat's Last Theorem, status of .. 
 2Q.- Values of Record Numbers      
 3Q.- Formula for prime numbers... 
 4Q.- Digits of Pi, computation and references 
 5Q.- Odd Perfect Number 
 6Q.- Computer Algebra Systems, application of ..
 7Q.- Computer Algebra Systems, references to ..
 8Q.- Fields Medal, general info ..
 9Q.- Four Colour Theorem, proof of ..
10Q.- 0^0=1. A comprehensive approach 
11Q.- 0.999... = 1. Properties of the real numbers ..
12Q.- There are three doors, The Monty Hall problem, Master Mind and
      other games .. 
13Q.- Surface and Volume of the n-ball  
14Q.- f(x)^f(x)=x, name of the function ..
15Q.- Projective plane of order 10 ..   
16Q.- How to compute day of week of a given date 
17Q.- Axiom of Choice and/or Continuum Hypothesis? 
18Q.- Cutting a sphere into pieces of larger volume  
19Q.- Pointers to Quaternions
20Q.- Erdos Number 
21Q.- Why is there no Nobel in mathematics? 
22Q.- General References and textbooks... 
23Q.- Interest Rate...
24Q.- Euler's formula e^(i Pi) = - 1 ...


You can obtain the full version of the FAQ list by anonymous ftp
(userid: anonymous) at rtfm.mit.edu.

Directory:

/pub/usenet-by-group/sci.math/

Archive names are:

sci.math:_Frequently_Asked_Questions_[1_3]
sci.math:_Frequently_Asked_Questions_[2_3]
sci.math:_Frequently_Asked_Questions_[3_3]
sci.math:_Introduction_to_Frequently_Asked_Questions

"anonymous FTP" is just a way for files to be stored where anyone can
retrieve them over the Net. For example, to retrieve the latest version
of the sci.math FAQ, do the following:

  > ftp rtfm.mit.edu      /* connect to the site; a message follows  */
  > anonymous             /* type this when it asks for your name    */
  > <your email address>  /* type your address as the password       */
  > cd /pub/usenet        /* go to the directory you want to be      */
  > cd sci.math           /* one level down (no slash).              */
  > dir                   /* look at what's there                    */
  > mget *                /* get the file; case-sensitive            */
  > y                     /* say yes if you want to get the file     */
  > quit                  /* stop this mysterious thing              */

If your FTP program complains that it doesn't know where the site you
want to use is, type the numerical address instead of the sitename
(numerical addresses may change from time to time thus their use is
discouraged):

  > ftp 18.181.0.24       /* connect with numerical address          */

If you don't have ftp access, send e-mail to mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu
with the single word "help" in the body of the message.

--------------

A bit of historical background on the sci.math FAQ:

The sci.math faq list was started during Christmas 1989. At that time
I wrote the answer to all 9 questions except 1Q (Fermat). 

Thus, I didn't compile a list of contributors. With time, people have
made innumerable suggestions and contributions. 

I estimate that I have received over 2000 mailings from over 500 persons
commenting on the FAQ list.

As such it is not possible to explicitly thank them all. But I would 
like to take a minute to commend all those who have contributed to
this list in one way or another.

  This FAQ is Copyright (C) 1994 by Alex Lopez-Ortiz. This text, 
  in whole or in part, may not be sold in any medium, including,
  but not limited to electronic, CD-ROM, or published in print,
  without the explicit, written permission of Alex Lopez-Ortiz.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions and Answers Edited and Compiled by:

Alex Lopez-Ortiz                              alopez-o@maytag.UWaterloo.ca
Department of Computer Science                      University of Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario                                                   Canada
-- 
Alex Lopez-Ortiz                             alopez-o@neumann.UWaterloo.ca
Department of Computer Science                      University of Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario                                                   Canada
