Comments on: The next three mental_floss shirts are…

By: Phill (again)

Phill (again) — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 02:44:00 +0000

I believe that I am correct. For example, if you have:
x^2 – 2x – 3 =0
then the quadratic equation on the shirt gives you:
(x – 3)*(x + 1) = 0
but if you find the derivative then you will get:
2x – 2
Thus, the quadratic formula is not used to derive equations.

By: Sam

Sam — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 04:39:00 +0000

Nope, Phil. Adam had it right, the verb form of finding the “derivative” of an equation is actually “to differentiate”. To derive something is to mathematically prove it. For example, the above equation is the end result of the derivation of the quadratic formula.

By: Phill

Phill — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 23:08:00 +0000

Using the equation on the math shirt will get the factors (i.e. the same equation, just simplified into a form for finding intercepts), not the derivative (i.e. an new equation meant for finding slope, minimum/maximum values, direction and points of infleciton). The true definition of the derivative is “A measurement of how the function changes when the input changes,” which basically means the slope of a function. So both are used to find a functions meaning, but they are completely different concepts.

By: Karen

Karen — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 15:06:00 +0000

Is there a contest for the family with the most shirts? So far my 11 year old has 3, my husband has 4 and I bought 2 for Christmas presents.

And if they came in v-neck sizes for fat moms, I’d buy a few more.

By: Adam

Adam — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:39:00 +0000

Allyson, the math one IS mathematically correct… You can derive things without taking the derivative. Deriving something only implies finding its meaning. You are mistaking the word “derive” for “differentiate.”

By: Lu

Lu — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:56:00 +0000

It always amuses me that no matter how smart they are, people still act like two year olds towards each other. Come on guys, let’s be nice.

By: Kate

Kate — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:35:00 +0000

Wow Allyson…

Are you THAT anally retentive? Its a T-Shirt, not a textbook… sorry.

By: Julie

Julie — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 18:08:00 +0000

I am thinking that these mistakes you’re writing about is the point of NOT deriving drunk!

By: Ophelia

Ophelia — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 17:57:00 +0000

Personally, I think all of the errors in the mathematical equation make it all the more humerous. It’s telling you not to derive drunk, guys… having the mistakes makes it perfect!

By: Jeff

Jeff — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 17:42:00 +0000

As long as someone else has noted a problem with the “derive drunk” design, I’ll also point out that “x=” should not be above the horizontal line — it should be to the left of the line. As shown, it doesn’t make sense.