Expressing a Name as a Mathematical Equation

[kjv1611]

I have heard of a person whom I know being able to somehow convert a person's name into a mathematical equation. Now if I can't get an answer here, I intend on asking him personally to see what he says. I might ask him anyway, but I thought it would make for a good discussion here.

Does anyone have a suggestion as to how to do this, or either a good link referencing the art/science?

Is there a particular name for the process?

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[AnotherHiggins]

Are you talking about Numerology?

I'd be surprised if you are, KJV, since that kind of smacks of the occult.

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[kjv1611]

Well, I'm just asking here, as I have no clue as to the method. I am sure it has nothing to do with the occult, however.

Looking at Numerology over at wikipedia, I'd say that it very well could be a form of numerology from ancient history - but I've not seen it, and haven't heard an actual example, just that it happened.

Here's the wikipedia article on Numerology:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numerology

It does seem somewhat interesting - not how that the occult and what not uses it today, but in the original mentions of it, as far as is recorded in history. The idea is intruiging, at least - converting a name to a number.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[AnotherHiggins]

I don't know much about numerology, but as far as converting someone's name into a number, I think it goes something like this:

-Assign values to the letters in a person's name
-Add them up (or do some sort of mathematical calculation with them)
-Claim to be able to draw conclusions about the person based on the resulting number

Makes about as much sense as astrology. IMHO, of course.

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[white605]

anotherhiggens - I read the question differently.

convert a person's name into a mathematical equation

Is he looking for an equation that if ran against some set of values that would represent his name, or is he looking for the result of an equation that evaluates the name?
wjwjr

 

[ESquared]

An equation has two sides: the input, and the output. Or the evaluation, and the result. To represent a name as an equation, one has to make the name one part, and then derive or integrate to the desired opposite.

Example:
Name: DAVE
Convert to letter numbers starting with A = 0:
3•0•21•4
Multiply by successive powers of 36 starting from 36[sup]0[/sup] at the rightmost character
3*46656•0*1296•21*36•4*1
Add together:
139968+0+756+4
Result:
140728 = DAVE

And this is fully reversible. It's a base 10 expansion of the base-36 representation of the name. But, I see now that the name is not actually an equation. I used an equation ON the name and presented an output.

I can't think of a way to reliably turn a name into a mathematical equation that accepts an input and delivers an output. Perhaps it could be like this:

Vowels are the operator multiply
Consonants are the operator add
The number of vertices of the simply-drawn letter is the operand.

So DAVE becomes the equation:
y = ((x + 2) * 3 + 1) * 3

There are an infinitely many ways that one could represent a name as an equation.

 

[kjv1611]

Thanks, E[SUP]2[/SUP]!

To me, I'm thinking that maybe he did something like the first method. In the particular group of people where he did this, it probably seemed like it was something amazing or either something absurd.

Either way, I am just itching to ask him about it. If I ever do find out just what he did, I will try to post a bit about it in this thread. I am very curious.

Mainly, of course, it's not important, just interesting.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[gbaughma]

You could also sample the spoken version of the name, run it through an A to D converter, and get a long string of numbers representing the waveform of the name, that when reversed through a compatible D to A converter, would speak the name aloud.



Just my 2¢
-Cole's Law: Shredded cabbage

--Greg

http://parallel.tzo.com

 

[kjv1611]

Well, though I won't say it's impossible, I doubt the man's ears are good enough to do the latter. He did not previously know the name, so he could only either do all that processing himself, or already know how it would process in order to accomplish it by that method. The man may have good hearing, but I just wouldn't think it humanly possible to be THAT good!

I am just getting more and more curious as I think about this. I may actually get a chance to ask him in a couple days. If so, I just hope I don't forget!

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[AnotherHiggins]

Was this a sort of "magic trick" where you take the letters in someone's name and end up with a predetermined number? If so, someone can probably find variations outlined on the interwebs.

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[kjv1611]

I don't think so, but I don't really know exactly what it is for sure - yet. I am very curious, though.

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"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[AnotherHiggins]

What did you hear?

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[kjv1611]

I have heard of a person whom I know being able to somehow convert a person's name into a mathematical equation.

That's about it - no details. It was a reliable source, and I'm not really shocked if it's complicated from the person who actually did the conversion. I also would not be shocked if it is any method taught by a historical figure, as was mentioned on wikipedia.

But if able, I'll post some info about it next week.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[ESquared]

I honestly doubt it's very exciting or interesting.

 

[philhege]

Or correct.

'Dave' = 'Dave' is an equation.

Some activity that converts 'Dave' to a number is called a function.

[small]Dave, Dave, Bo-Bave, Banana-Fana Fo-Fave....[/small]

Phil Hegedusich
Senior Programmer/Analyst
IIMAK

http://www.iimak.com

-----------
Pity the insomniac dyslexic agnostic. He stays up all night, wondering if there really is a dog.

 

[ESquared]

Ok, that sounded really bad. What I mean is that I don't think there is a method for turning a name into an equation that is more than a party trick. Entertaining, probably, interesting as a party trick, yes, but probably not exciting in a real-world mathematical sense, like something that a math professor would get excited about.

Of course, I could be wrong. kjv1611 will let us know.

 

[pinkgecko]

That's an easy equation. Given e from

http://www.mu.org/~doug/exp/100000.html,

e[sup]2[/sup]= approximately 7.389056099

[blue]If you're not part of the solution, there's good money to be made in prolonging the problem.[/blue]

 

[SQLSister]

Hey I can create letters with fractal math in my fractal art program; So a name would be possible to express with very complex math and many interations.

"NOTHING is more important in a database than integrity." ESquared

 

[kjv1611]

Well, I got to talk with the math wiz last night, and didn't get a whole lot out of him on the topic. I suppose it would've taken too long to go into as much depth as I thought I wanted.

Basically, the method he used came from some ancient Egyptian stuff. From what he said, it came from a lot of study around the Egyptian Hieroglyphics.

I am positive that it wasn't just "a party trick" as would be a first guess with most people. This man doesn't brag about what he knows to everybody, but I have had the privilege at times to find out just how much he does know.

I have no doubt that his method is some ancient form of numerology apparently from Egyptian culture.

Basically when I tried to dig more out of him (he was actually discussing other matters, so I didn't want to press him - I knew his time in the area was short anyhow), he just kind of chuckled and told me: "I like to think a little bit."

So if I can find enough time - fat chance there, most likely - I want to try and see if I can find enough information that I can at least get somewhat close to the full "how." But if not, life goes on. I won't fret over it, as I've got many more things to pursue in life: and I imagine this would not be near the top of importance.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[gbaughma]

We used to make a joke about my uncle, who has his Doctorate in mathematics.

"You could say hello to him, and he could give you a formula for what you just said."

We knew it was a joke, just because the guy lives and thinks mathematics.

I guess what it boils down to is that just about *anything* can be represented mathematically. A car, for example, is stored mathematically in AutoCad. I guess the question would be "Why would you do this?" or "What is the benefit of doing this?"



Just my 2¢
-Cole's Law: Shredded cabbage

--Greg

http://parallel.tzo.com