this post was submitted on 04 Jan 2026
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Math really is a language.
Cuz i cannot understand a word of that footnote.
It says, 'Better known for other work'. In case you don't know: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Kaczynski#Bombings
That's not the part of the foot note i was referring to.
Then I think you're misusing the word footnote.
Ha! I was. Thank you.
D'oh
But my point about math still stands lol
I think the main reason it's hard to understand is it's missing context that's not important to the joke: whatever
nis in this context...it’s not a language, you can’t translate a book into mathematics
That doesn't prove it isn't a language. Many concepts are untranslatable between languages. Formal languages exist which are only able to express things within their formal domain. Etc!
Modern mathematicians use a common symbolic system to communicate mathematical ideas that is more a language than it is not a language. In fact I think it's entirely a language.
there are a variety of ways to express any mathematical idea… i.e. there are a variety of mathematical languages
usually referred to as different notations.
even when there are language barriers, a good translator can still express an idea in another language… math is not a language, but you do kinda need to learn another language to understand it
What's your point?
Then maybe you were referring to the part above the footnote, which is called the text ☝️🤓
It's not a big deal
That's the whole footnote, though.
Well, of course. If you're not an expert, it's pretty much impossible to understand an out-of-context passage from a more technical or abstract paper.
I understand that there's a two digit solution if a three digit solution exists but not for which problem and why that's relevant or interesting for anything.
Also, I keep confusing the Unabomber with the Killdozer guy...
Knowing which problem isn't necessary to get the awkwardness of citing a serial killer in a math paper.
~~Unibomber killed a bunch of kids in a daycare.~~
You're thinking of Timothy McVeigh / Oklahoma City.
The Unabomber was named for bombing Univertities and Airline execs. 'UnA'
Thanks. I should have checked.
Here's the whole page for a bit more context
Link: https://www.jstor.org/stable/27643011
Absolutely