Month: January 2017

My Own Imaginary Number

JackyLeave a comment

hexting

So this all started during elementary school.

When I was about 6 years old, I tried to invent a new ‘whole’ number – to squeeze in somewhere between, say, integers 2 and 3. I couldn’t conceptually think of one, and promptly gave up as I started learning about decimals and fractions.

Flash forward to near-present day at the office.

A coworker and I were discussing a series of numbers – 2, 8, 68, 128, 260, and so on – generated by a computer program. Each figure represented some collection of comments for financial analysis, but to the our (untrained) human eyes, it might as well have come straight out of a science fiction novel.

Imagine if we were deciphering these numbers, etched on the interior walls of an ancient alien spacecraft1!

Except, we were studying them on our very-human computer screens.

What we learned was that the figures were converted from hexadecimal values, which counts in a base-16 format – meaning it is a numerical system comprised of 16 base units from integers 0 thru 9, and then letters A thru F2. By comparison, we normally count in base-10 (the decimal system), using digits 0 thru 9 to construct numerical values.

In a way, this is like saying 20 regular dollars’ worth of groceries would cost 14 dollars in hex. Better yet: a low score of 10 points (out of 100) on your math exam would become an A3!

The differences between hex and decimal counting point to different needs. Hex is generally referenced for computer science4, while the decimal system is…well, some speculate it’s because humans have 10 fingers5. Perhaps if we had evolved to have 4 fingers on each hand (like the Simpsons), we would be counting in base-8!

My 6-year-old self sure would have been proud if I were able to invent the number 8 from (7 + 1).

Truth be told, my (really unsophisticated) imagination for numbers still exists – for example, grasping what ‘infinity’ looks like. Think: outer space and the ever-expanding universe. Is there an “edge” to the seemingly endless empty black space?

On another note, I also have a difficult time coming up with new colors…


Additional thoughts:

  1. Anyone read Sphere by Michael Crichton?
  2. This means that the number 15 is represented by a single hexadecimal digit, F. However, the number 16 will require a second hex digit, translating it to hexadecimal 10. Similarly in the decimal system, the number 10 is when we would need a second digit (from 9 to 10).
  3. From my not-a-computer-science-expert notes: This is not to say that a hexadecimal world would have lower grading standards (ha ha). In reality, converting from base-10 to base-16 serves computing needs and computational memory purposes . For example, we can store data (numbers, texts, or both) in binary for computers to process. The same goes for hex.
  4. Also from my notes: The reason base-16 is useful for programming is because computers are founded on binary (two states, 0 and 1) logic – a circuit operation starts at being either True or False (which is supplemented by And, Or, Xor operators, etc.). As modern computing becomes more powerful and computers can hold more memory, we move up in factors of 2. 16 is derived from 8, from 4, and finally from 2. On the other hand (no pun intended), base-10 is not used because while 10 is divisible by 2, 5 is not.
  5. One of the forums pointed out that the ancient Babylonians employed base-60 numerals. This was based on the 3 knuckles on each of the 4 fingers (excluding the thumb, which is used to point to these knuckles) on one hand, and then using each of the 5 fingers on your other hand. 3 x 4 x 5 = 60. This is why we have 60 seconds in a minute and 60 minutes in an hour!
  6. On the cartoon: Hexadecimal outputs can be denoted by the “0x…”, similar to how binary might start with “0b…”. Also, the cell phone contains a message!

Sources:
http://www.businessinsider.com/octal-numbers-and-fingers-2014-6
http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/141184/does-the-word-integer-only-make-sense-in-base-10
http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/8734/why-have-we-chosen-our-number-system-to-be-decimal-base-10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9m2jck1f90

My Own Imaginary Number

2017 Resolutions, More or Less

Jacky6 Comments

This year, I resolve to make mistakes, more or less.

Okay, not the kind of mistakes like forgetting to wear pants to work or, worse, confusing ‘who’ and ‘whom’ in a sentence (oh the humanity!). I meant the mistakes that come with trying to achieve a goal – like when you repeatedly tumble over while learning to ride a bicycle. You might be a little bruised, but you jump back up on the bike and hold tight onto the handlebars. Eventually the stumbling will help you figure out how to balance a little better on two wheels.

A friend recently shared with me an article on developing a mindset for achieving success. He pointed out a few words quoted from a speech by Teddy Roosevelt. It goes like this:

“[The accomplished individual is one] who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly…”

Daring greatly. It’s a brilliant description that speaks to the courage of chasing dreams and transcending boundaries even – or perhaps especially – in the face of possible failure.

And so, this year, my resolutions are to go running in more places around the world. To read a new book every week. To write (letters, journals, stories, and the ever-so-overdue blog posts) more often. To pursue bigger career goals, and to continue learning and trying new things.

And while ambition often refers to doing more, I also resolve to do less. To idle less when I come home from work. To eat less meat (in particular, less beef, given its environmental impact with water usage). To spend less on unnecessary things.

Sure, I will make mistakes along the way – the road to accomplishing a goal is probably bumpier than that of a bike ride. Maybe I’ll come up short on reading 52 books this year, or maybe my work aspirations will have to traverse tough hurdles. But seeding ideas and taking action is a helluva lot more exciting than being afraid to fail. It’s what keeps life interesting.

In short, take on more challenges and live less within my comfort zone. After all, what’s the worst that can happen?

Worst-case scenario, I forget to wear my pants to work.

Cheers to the New Year, y’all.

2017 Resolutions, More or Less