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Roger Hui: In the year 2033 Earth was discovered by Survey Fleet MCXII of the Galactic Empire. The Emperor ordered Earth to send a representative to the court,
by avmich 7y ago
Roger Hui: In the year 2033 Earth was discovered by Survey Fleet MCXII of the Galactic Empire. The Emperor ordered Earth to send a representative to the court, with strict instructions to “bring something beautiful”.
Emperor:
What beautiful things does Earth have?
Earth Representative:
Your excellency, our mathematician Euler proved in our year 1737 that +/(1+⍳∞)-s ←→ ×/÷1-(⍭⍳∞)-s
Emperor:
What is the ⍭ symbol?
Earth Rep.:
⍭i is the i-th prime.
Emperor:
And what is ∞? Does it do anything useful?
Earth Rep.:
It denotes infinity, your excellency.
Emperor:
(ponders equation for a minute or two) Respect!
Emperor:
Neat notation you have there. Tell me more.
Earth Rep.:
Your excellency, it’s called APL. It was invented by the Canadian Kenneth E. Iverson …