Me, Science and Crap!!

One of my hobbies is to collect various types of caps and hats. I haven't exactly counted the number of caps in my collection, probably I have around 50 caps. Cowboy hats, Afghani Topi, summer caps, beach caps, Australian cap, Namaz caps, winter caps, flat caps, etc include some of the names that I can recollect as of now. Caps/Hats have a great history behind them and from time immemorial, Humans have considered wearing caps as respect and dignity. You can distinguish civilizations just by the type of caps they wore.

Caps reflect different features of personality of a person. Like wearing a English hat often displays the trait of mystery solving, wearing a Cowboy Hat shows the trait of adventures and so on. Wearing cap in certain religions is preferred, especially Muslims and Jews wear caps during their prayers.

Someday, I will post some of my pictures with different caps, for now, above are two pictures. I purchased this hat long back at Delhi.

Abu: Stop laughing. It isn’t funny.

Newton: Isn’t it?

Abu: When did you arrive?

Newton: Just when you were banging your head to the desk!

Abu: Abstract Algebra sucks!

Newton: Wow… what a remark! Till yesterday, you were calling Abstract algebra as one of the most interesting branches of mathematics.

Abu: Even now I say, it’s one of the most interesting branches of mathematics.

Newton: Then, what’s your problem?

Abu: Well, what can I say … I get a feeling that I have lost my creativity and interest!

Newton: There are times in the life of a scientist where you get that feeling … a good scientist always overcomes that feeling by hard determination and dedication.

Abu: Yeah, I know about that.

Newton: What’s up with this so called abstract algebra?

Abu: Have to say, it’s very difficult to understand it without the help of any teacher. My big problem is with notations, they are so damn confusing.

Newton: I kind of figured that out looking at your facial expression. It was so funny.

Abu: Ah… it wasn’t funny. Mathematics isn’t an easy subject contrary to my earlier opinion.

Newton: Alright. I am serious now.

Abu: Sometimes the theory appears fascinating and at times it just gets over my head. I don’t know how to react to it.

Newton: Get over your head… interesting! I would be glad to help you.

Abu: Stop kidding. This is above your standard.

Newton: Above my standard? Are you kidding?

Abu: Ok. I am sorry, let’s discuss Abstract algebra. What do you say?

Newton: Hmm… Ok fine, but on one condition…

Abu: Common, I am already fed up with all your conditions.

Newton: Then go ahead, understand the abstract algebra all yourself. It’s your head and your desk, bang it until it breaks!

Abu: You will never change… old man. Ok, tell me what’s your condition?

Newton: Hey, who is an old man?

Abu: You want me to call a 365 year old as Young dude?

Newton: You are forgetting that 100 years ago another friend of mine discovered something called “relativity”

Abu: Now, don’t mess my life further with your friend’s views about age. Just for your information, had he been here, he would have agreed to call you an “old man”.

Newton: Ok. Tell me this, how old is old and how young is young?

Abu: I am not listening.

Newton: When your so called “astronomy” calls a 15 billion year old universe as young, why can’t you call a 365 year old as young?

Abu: You and your logics…

Newton: My logics have made me what I am today young man!

Abu: You are wasting my time. I have better things to do than proving that you are a young man!

Newton: Ok then, I am leaving.

Abu: That’s so mean of you. You are supposed to give me company on understanding this Abstract algebra.

Newton: But for that you have agree to my condition.

Abu: You won’t change. Tell me what’s that condition?

Newton: The condition is simple; you have to repeat “Leibnitz didn’t discover calculus” hundred times.

Abu: No way!

Newton: As you wish. I am leaving then.

Abu: Common, this is so wrong. You have so many discoveries to your credit. How many more do you want?

Newton: Many more… countless to be precise.

Abu: Look, I am not going to agree to that condition.

Newton: I was just kidding. You have become so damn boring… you can’t even appreciate a joke.

Abu: Was that a joke? You are nuts.

Newton: Yes, it was a joke and you are cranky.

Abu: Ok. Without further wasting time, let’s understand Abstract algebra.

Newton: Go for it.

Abu: One of the most important concepts of Abstract algebra is Group theory. Vaguely it’s about a group of numbers can that satisfy certain axioms.

Newton: Before I actually make an attempt to understand this rather absurd and childish group theory, may I know why are you learning it?

Abu: Well, I really don’t think it’s absurd or childish but rather very thought provoking. I guess you are aware of my Calpanic number theory… so now I want to represent Calpanic numbers in terms of Abstract algebra. I have questions like, whether Calpanic numbers fit into group theory or not, can I bring out some additional properties of Calpanic numbers using group theory, etc.

Newton: Sounds good. You will also get acceptance from mathematical community if you can represent Calpanic numbers using group theory.

Abu: Exactly.

Abu: So, focusing the attention on Group theory, there are four axioms to be satisfied by the set of numbers in order to be called as “Group”.

Newton: Isn’t just being a set of numbers enough to qualify to be called as Group of numbers?

Abu: Don’t take the literal meaning of “Group”, it’s a name of branch of mathematics. If the set of numbers or group of numbers satisfy these axioms then they qualify for Group theory.

Newton: Ok.

Abu: … there are two types of groups. Additive and Multiplicative groups… the axioms vary with the type of the group.

Newton: Obviously!

Abu: Hmm... The first axiom deals with closure property of the group. For an additive group, addition of any two elements in the group should result in another element of the group.

Newton: …and for multiplicative group, multiplication of any two elements should result in other element of the group. That’s very easy, what did you find so complicated in it?

Abu: That’s called over-excitement. Watch on, the complications do start after we are done with axioms.

Newton: I don’t think so, anyhow, lets continue to next axiom.

Abu: By the way, if you give a deeper thought, closure axiom is very interesting. Say a set of prime numbers doesn’t form group because upon addition it doesn’t result into a prime numbers and so on…

Newton: yeah, I got that. That’s very trivial.

Abu: Coming to the second axiom, it is about the age old concept of associatively. Something like, for any three elements in the group, you can perform addition or multiplication depending on the type of group by first combining the first two elements or last two elements. Either way the result should be same.

Newton: Yes, it’s an age of concept. For a, b, c belonging to the group, start bracket a plus b close bracket plus c equals to a plus start bracket b plus c bracket close.

Abu: Exactly.

Newton: I got one doubt.

Abu: Shoot!

Newton: Are the elements in the group are only numbers or they can be other entities?

Abu: Good question. The elements in the group can be other entities as well. Consider a set of cards, even that can form a group. It need not be just numbers.

Newton: That makes it a bit interesting. I am already trying to visualize the adhoc possibilities.

Abu: Keep those within you until we finish the axioms.

Newton: Alright.

Abu: Just wanted to remind some importance of associative property.

Newton: Oh! Common, are you teaching me? I know that associative property doesn’t hold good for subtraction or division.

Abu: Bingo! So, the next axiom is quite different from the above two. It says, there should be a Identity element in the group such that when it is added or multiplied depending on the type of group to another element of the group then it should result in same element.

Newton: Hmm… so you mean for an additive group of real numbers, zero is the Identity as zero plus any other number equals to the number itself.

Abu: Exactly. And for multiplicative group of real numbers, one is the identity.

Newton: That means, if there is additive group consisting of numbers, then it should have zero. And if it’s a multiplicative group then it should have 1.

Abu: You can consider it that way, but I can’t say for sure.

Newton: You are so dumb.

Abu: Look, this is mathematics, it’s not our territory. I am just being cautious before coming to any conclusion.

Newton: Ok. But still you are dumb.

Abu: Good for you to consider it that way else you would …

Newton: Next axiom please…

Abu: So the final axiom is that… for every element in the group, there should be an inverse of that particular number such that addition or multiplication of that number with its inverse should result in identity element.

Newton: That’s the masterstroke. That really excites me to study this so called Group theory.

Abu: This axiom will eliminate lot of our guesses about set of numbers that can be Groups.

Newton: Yeah… also reminds me of Complex numbers.

Abu: You know about complex numbers?

Newton: Common, In fact I had a discussion with Euler recently, we discussed about new applications that can come up using complex numbers.

Abu: You met Euler?

Newton: Yeah… You want me to bring him along here sometime?

Abu: That would be great.

Newton: I will talk to Euler about this. Let’s see if he has some free time.

Abu: Cool. You know, I have observed an interesting thing about existence of inverse element in the group.

Newton: What’s that?

Abu: If the states of the real time system do not form a Group, then the system is not time reversible.

Newton: Interesting observation. You have any examples of it?

Abu: Consider the values of gravity that a system can take, it can only take positive values.

Newton: And you say, since it takes only positive numbers and positive numbers do not form a group, hence a gravitational system is not time reversible. Wow!

Abu: Woo hoo..!! I think I have touched something new. But I need to verify that this has not been discovered before.

Newton: Yes, you might have touched something new, but do verify about it.

Abu: So, that’s about the axioms of Groups. By these axioms, we can formulate a group.

Newton: I guess there must be lot of other properties of groups such multiplying two groups, etc.

Abu: yeah and those are the big headache.

Newton: Common, lets discuss even those. No doubt group theory is one of the outstanding works done by mathematicians.

Abu: Yes, that’s the reason I was so excited about it yesterday.

Newton: So, aware of any more properties of groups?

Abu: There is a special case of groups called commutative groups or abelian groups. As per it, if the elements in the groups satisfy a plus b equals b plus a or a multiplied by b equals b multiplied by a, then it is an abelian or commutative group.

Newton: So our dear Abelian makes an entry here. Do you know, the ‘a’ in “abelian” is written in small letters even though it’s a name?

Abu: Yes, it’s considered as honor by mathematicians.

Newton: you seem to know a lot of things now-a-days.

Abu: I am no more the kid you once considered.

Newton: For me you are always a kid who bangs the head on the desk when he doesn’t understand mathematics.

Woo hoo! Feels great to write this post. I communicated with the Universities Publishers last week for my upcoming book UNSEEN COSMOS. I haven't yet finished the book, it will take another 4 to 5 months for it to get ready. I wanted to write something arrogant, daring and yet very scientific, perhaps analogous to the way I am. UNSEEN COSMOS can be called as the next version of COSMOS REDEFINED. I can't say much about it because this time it won't be a free e-book but a book that you people have to purchase in order to read. Also, the responsibility on me is high to provide  you something worth for your money.

Last week, I had to travel to Delhi for my US VISA interview. All has gone fine and I am yet to receive my Passport back from them. InshaAllah, if everything goes according to the plan, I would be heading to US on August 9th. 

At Delhi Airport, I met the legendary Hockey player Dhanraj Pilley. Spending time at Delhi Airport has always been a pleasure. This is the third time when my flight got delayed at Delhi Airport. With beautiful air hostess moving around and luckily I had some hot girls sitting next to me in the waiting area, how can I complain about the delay in flight? Though for the first few minutes it was suffocating to just remain silent, nonetheless, I was successful in starting the conversation with the hot girls next to me. The group of girls belonged to Mumbai and they were on a visit to Delhi for some fashion event. Wow! How lucky was I! It was later I found that models are so damn dumb. They don't even have a email ID. I wonder why only Hyderabad flights get delayed but not Mumbai. So, the Mumbai models left me alone at the Delhi airport. I should have taken some snaps with them, don't you think so? Anyhow, how does it matter!

My next big priorities are scheduling time for GYM everyday, I feel a thick piece of fat has started accumulating over my stomach, to be honest, I think it has already accumulated to a large extent. Oh my God! My six pack dream appears to be at a very large distance. Common Abu...hit back!

Alright folks, I need to end this crap here. Oops! I forgot to say you something. I have started a new MSDN blog called http://blogs.msdn.com/perfdude. It would contain some good posts on web performance improvement techniques. Keep you eyes on blog when you are free.

It's 1 AM Sunday morning now. Having wasted more than 12 valuable hours on Saturday which I intended to spend on something productive. Down with the confidence, no new ideas striking and in an environment which doesn't inspire me, I fear of losing my inner strength. I want to concentrate, avoid wastage of time, work on new ideas, implement something productive, do group breaking research and having said all that, I am here wasting some of the precious time of my life. Saturday and Sunday are two days where I get lots of free time and I have chalk out a plan to make the best use of this time.

I really need to stop blowing the trumpet that I can be a scientist in near future. I don't have that determination nor the dedication to be one. It's really painful to see myself this way. From last one year, I have messed up my life. I need to get back tot he basics and start accumulating the scattered ideas.

Instead of further wasting my time, let me think of a time table that I can follow. Considering that my whole day goes before these scary computers, I atleast need 10 hours of sleep to relax my eyes, 8 hours of office work, 2 hours in traveling, 2 hours in my regular activities such as combing, eating, etc... how much do I have left with ? A mere 2 hours! That's the main problem with life. I am just left with 2 hours a day to do research and I expect to be a scientist!

There are few things that I have decided to cut it down. Now-a-days, I am spending too much of time on chatting, got to reduce that. I need to think of alternate solutions for 2 hours being spend on traveling. Fascination towards Orkut, Facebook, etc have resulted in lot of wastage of time, I am planning to minimize my time being spend on Social networking. Let's see whether I can help myself or not.

If you are reading this, please do pray for me. Incase, you are wondering why have I added the a photo of mine to this post, the reason is I have installed Windows Live Writer and I trying out different cool tricks provided by it.                    

Client side performance of your website plays the crucial role in determining the overall performance of your website. Typically, 80% of the performance problems for a website occurs at Client side. Developers build web applications keeping the functionality in mind. But the real time scenario is much more than just the functionality of the website. There are various factors such as page load time, network delay, client side scripting, rendering, data transfer, etc can effect the end user experience.

Above is the presentation by Steve Sounders that I found on Youtube. Steve has done some phenomenal work in improving the performance of Yahoo Websites. Some of his performance tips can be found at http://developer.yahoo.com/performance/

Eureka! Eureka!

…was just playing around with prime numbers and look what I have found. I have no idea whether this type of definition for prime numbers already exists in number theory. And I have never seen any algorithm used in computer science to detect prime number using this technique.

Theorem             Suppose P is an odd number represented by 2n+1. Then P is prime iff there exist no x, y Î Z⁺ such that n equals 2xy+x+y.

The proof is pretty simple, just couple of lines.  

My big question is, does this new definition has any significance ? And does this  theorem/def. already exists ?

Some comments I have received about this new theorem from my friends

If we try to see the relation among n, x and y.  n=(1+2x)(1+2y). Also note that x,y>0 and are integers. This only makes the given theorem equivalent to “A odd number P is prime iff it can’t be expressed as product of two odd numbers greater than 1”. This gives no extra information and can be derived from the definition of a prime number. What do you say?

Probably, I was over excited about this one as it turns out to be just a very simple thing. But somehow it still attracts me. 2xy + x + y, this equation has something in it. I really need to spend sometime on this.