The hottest Math Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics
Technology Made Simple β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 17 Jun 22
  1. When faced with a problem involving combinatorics, taking the time to read and analyze the question can provide crucial insights for a more efficient solving approach
  2. In the context of building max heaps from a list of integers, understanding the structure of heaps as complete binary trees allows for simplification of the problem into calculating combinations and values for left and right subtrees
  3. Calculating the values for the left subtree, such as height and number of nodes, can lead to a shift in the coding task complexity from generating heaps to conducting combinatorics
Technology Made Simple β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 15 Jun 22
  1. The post discusses a coding interview question about finding the number of distinct ways to create a max heap from a list of integers.
  2. It emphasizes the importance of practicing unique interview questions to prepare for a variety of challenges.
  3. The author shares personal anecdotes and encourages engaging with the content by sharing preferences for future topics.
Technology Made Simple β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 31 May 22
  1. Logs and exponents are essential for understanding time/space complexity and optimizing numerical computations. They are fundamental for advanced math and important for fields like Machine Learning.
  2. To get good at logs and exponents, practice on Khan Academy. It offers lectures and problems to help you master the basics efficiently.
  3. For those interested in AI/Data Science, mastering log transformations is crucial. Utilize resources like Brilliant's questions and focus on deep learning concepts involving logs to advance your skills.
Technology Made Simple β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 27 May 22
  1. The problem involves finding a celebrity at a party who everyone knows, but who doesn't know anyone in return. A brute force approach of comparing every pair of people at the party can be used, but it is slow with O(N^2) complexity.
  2. It is essential to analyze why a solution is inefficient to brainstorm and develop an optimal solution efficiently. By utilizing constraints given in the problem, like the knowledge asymmetry between the celebrity and others, the time and space complexity can be significantly reduced to O(N) and O(1) respectively.
  3. In problem-solving, understanding and applying constraints effectively can lead to substantial improvements in both time and space complexity, making solutions more efficient and optimal.
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Technology Made Simple β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 18 Mar 22
  1. The problem involves arranging coins in a staircase with specific row numbers, and the solution focuses on finding the maximum number of complete rows that can be built.
  2. The solution involves analyzing the input (number of coins) and output (number of complete rows), and working through a simple approach using math to determine the complete rows.
  3. To improve the solution further, simplifications can be made to optimize the algorithm, aiming for a faster runtime complexity close to square root of n.
Technology Made Simple β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 16 Mar 22
  1. Optimal solutions in coding interviews can impress interviewers and require O(1) time and space complexity.
  2. In a coding problem like this one involving arranging coins in a staircase, understanding the complete rows and incomplete rows is key to solving it.
  3. Preparation for coding interviews, like practicing on Leetcode, can help in tackling similar problems and improving problem-solving skills.
Technology Made Simple β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 14 Mar 22
  1. Understanding the importance of Math in preparation can help with solving problems better.
  2. Knowledge about subjects, problem interpretation, and connections between topics are crucial in problem-solving.
  3. Math Mondays aim to show how mathematical knowledge can enhance problem-solving skills and help make connections between different concepts.
Technology Made Simple β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 11 Mar 22
  1. Understand the problem clearly before jumping into writing code. Break down the problem into smaller parts to uncover important hints and insights.
  2. Start with a simple, naive algorithm for math/algorithm-heavy questions. This can help build intuition for more complex optimizations.
  3. Analyzing the uniformity of a solution is crucial, especially for problems with permutations like shuffling a deck of cards. Cases like odd and even numbers showcase the importance of ensuring uniform distribution.
Technology Made Simple β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 27 Jan 22
  1. The problem involves finding pairs of positive integers that satisfy specific conditions involving addition and XOR operations.
  2. Understanding binary representation and logical operators like XOR can lead to more optimal solutions for certain problems.
  3. Mathematical reasoning and logical analysis can help in optimizing solutions and reducing time complexity, especially when dealing with binary operations.
Technology Made Simple β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 31 Oct 21
  1. Given a complete binary tree, counting the number of nodes can be done faster than O(n) by leveraging the properties of complete binary trees.
  2. For a full binary tree, the number of nodes can be calculated using a simple formula of 2^(depth + 1) - 1, which allows for efficient calculation in O(h) operations.
  3. By recognizing the characteristics of complete binary trees, such as the presence of full sub-trees, one can strategically cut down recursion and analyze only half of the tree at each depth for faster computation.
Kids Who Love Math β€’ 3 HN points β€’ 13 Mar 24
  1. Elementary schoolers are taking high school level Algebra I, which is surprising because it's not common and not widely discussed.
  2. The Baader-Meinhof phenomenon explains how we notice things more once we become aware of them, like kids excelling in advanced math.
  3. The Roger Bannister Effect shows how breaking through perceived limits can inspire others to achieve new possibilities, such as young children excelling in higher-level math.
Quantum Formalism β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 23 Oct 20
  1. Session 6 of the lecture series is now available on YouTube with a corrected slide on GitHub, focusing on advanced topics in quantum formalism.
  2. New participants are encouraged to have an advanced undergraduate level knowledge or should review previous sessions to follow the live sessions effectively.
  3. Those confident in their understanding can fill out a form to attend the next live session for the lecture series.
Kids Who Love Math β€’ 2 HN points β€’ 20 Feb 24
  1. Establishing a routine can help in getting prepared for learning, like dedicating a specific 'Math Time' with all necessary materials ready.
  2. Focusing on the process of getting ready for math is more important than merely sticking to a rigid routine.
  3. Incorporating physical elements or sensory cues can enhance the readiness for learning math, such as having a designated space, an exercise, a specific music, or a scent.
Human Programming β€’ 3 HN points β€’ 24 Jul 23
  1. The Digital Abacus tool allows users to visually understand complex math equations by interactively manipulating values on a flowchart and seeing real-time updates in a plot.
  2. The tool uses a graph data structure called RelGraph to store values and constraints, allowing for easy representation of equations and composite operations.
  3. The system solves for dependent values by updating values iteratively in the graph until equilibrium is reached, showing the math solving process in real-time.
Good Reason β€’ 1 HN point β€’ 01 Dec 23
  1. Success often hinges on other people, their perceptions, preferences, and motives.
  2. Logic is not always the ultimate arbiter in the real world; understanding and accounting for other people is crucial.
  3. Focusing solely on logic and technical problem-solving can sometimes lead to neglecting the importance of managing perceptions and relationships.
John Mayo-Smith's Substack β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 20 Apr 23
  1. The Tiny Language Model is a small functional language model that runs in your browser and learns based on a six-word customizable vocabulary, providing insights into more complex models like ChatGPT.
  2. The Tiny Language Model's training involves a compact 'corpus' from the vocabulary, showcasing a scaled-down version of the training process compared to models like ChatGPT, enhancing understanding through patterns in text.
  3. Observing the changes in weights (parameters) of the Tiny Language Model visually displays how the model is learning and can help identify areas for improvement in its training and performance.
Quantum Formalism β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 01 Sep 22
  1. The Quantum Formalism community is hosting a meme competition tied to their lectures on Measure Theory & Functional Analysis. Participants can submit memes after each lecture on Discord.
  2. The community will vote for the top 3 memes at the end of the course, with winners receiving prizes, including a cute Hippo-looking PokΓ©mon clone. Lectures and homework assignments are also available for those interested in joining.
  3. Engaging with the Quantum Formalism community on platforms like YouTube, GitHub, Discord, and LinkedIn can provide valuable learning opportunities and connections in the field.