I learned very early the difference between knowing the name of something and knowing something.
Richard Feynman24 April 2024
The prime factorization of 999999 allows us to compute repeating decimals for some common fractions. I work through this idea.
113 May 2023
I describe the process of using ChatGPT-3.5 to write a program that uses OpenAI's API. The program generates LLM fortunes a la the Unix command 'fortune'.
2Problem Solving with Dimensional Analysis
11 February 2023
Dimensional analysis is the technique of analyzing relationships through their base quantities. I demonstrate the power of this approach by approximating a Gaussian integral without calculus.
3Estimating Square Roots in Your Head
01 February 2023
I explore an ancient algorithm, sometimes called Heron's method, for estimating square roots without a calculator.
4How Dangerous Is Biking in New York?
18 June 2022
I estimate my probability of serious injury or death from bike commuting to work in New York, using public data from city's Department of Transportation.
517 May 2022
Many phenomena can be modeled as exponential decay. I discuss this model in detail, focusing on natural exponential decay (base ) and various useful properties.
6Blockchain in 19 Lines of Python
19 September 2021
I walk through a simple Python implementation of blockchain technology, commonly used for public ledgers in cryptocurrencies.
702 September 2021
I describe a useful trick for computing geometric series without closed-form solutions.
815 November 2019
In numerical analysis, the Lagrange polynomial is the polynomial of least degree that exactly coincides with a set of data points. I provide the geometric intuition and proof of correctness for this idea.
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