Notation

4 cards. Each one is a 40-second story with a five-minute read behind it.

1. Why engineers prefer powers of one thousand over scientific notationWhile scientists use standard scientific notation to keep coefficients between one and ten, engineers use a different rule. By ensuring exponents are always divisible by three, th…
2. The secret math behind your favorite tabletop RPG dice rollsRolling a d20 is more than just luck; it is a standardized language of probability. From the Gaussian curves of multiple dice to complex algebraic modifiers, this notation allows …
3. From Shakespearean prose to coordinates: the evolution of chess notationEarly chess records read like literature, using lengthy narratives to describe every move. Today, a single character can convey a complex maneuver. Discover how the language of th…
4. Do-re-mi comes from a medieval hymn to John the Baptist.Around a thousand years ago, an Italian monk called Guido of Arezzo was tired of singers spending years memorising chant. He helped develop the musical staff and taught with sylla…

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