We’re launching Lyria 3.5 in Google Flow Music, with advances across musicality, lyrics, vocals, and creative control
deepmind.google·6d ago
AI Engineering
Hacker News·Jun 19·5 min read
Zenzizenzizenzic
TL;DR
Historically, there was no concise way to denote higher powers of numbers beyond squares and cubes. Robert Recorde introduced the term zenzizenzizenzic to represent the eighth power of a number in his 1557 work.
✦ Why It Matters
Engineers and researchers can appreciate the historical context of mathematical notation, enhancing their understanding of current practices.
Key Takeaways
- Explore historical mathematical terms for better context.
- Recognize the evolution of notation in mathematics.
- Understand the significance of powers in calculations.
- Appreciate linguistic uniqueness in mathematical language.
Full Summary
In the 16th century, mathematicians struggled to express powers of numbers beyond the second and third. Robert Recorde proposed a series of terms, including zenzizenzizenzic, to denote higher powers, specifically the eighth power, which is the square of the square of the square of a number.
This term derives from the German word zenzic, meaning 'squared', and reflects a time when mathematical notation was primarily verbal. Recorde also introduced zenzic for squares and cubic for cubes, while sursolid referred to powers raised to prime numbers greater than three.
Although these terms are now considered curiosities, they illustrate the historical context of mathematical notation. The Oxford English Dictionary notes the rarity of zenzizenzizenzic, emphasizing its linguistic uniqueness.
Understanding these historical terms can provide insights into the development of modern mathematical notation.