[IEE EC3 News] EC3 Lecture reminder - "Dividing by Zero - How and Why!" - 27 January 2011

[Bill Pechey]

Dear Colleague,

You are being sent this reminder message because either you gave your
email address at one of our previous lectures or you signed up on the
web site associated with this email list:

http://lists.ourshack.com/mailman/listinfo/iee-ec3-news

I have appended the details of our next lecture and hope to see you there.

Details of our other lectures may be found at:

http://www.theiet.org/local/uk/thames/ec3/ec3-events.cfm

You can download a poster at:

http://www.theiet.org/local/uk/thames/berks/ec3jan2011.pdf

Best wishes,

Bill Pechey
IET Thames Valley Specialised Section

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Dividing by Zero – How and Why!

James Anderson, University of Reading

Thursday 27 January 2011 19.00 for 19.30

Palmer Building, University of Reading RG6 6UR

The mathematical trick that gave the world square roots of negative
numbers works again t give us division by zero. The new arithmetic
contains all of ordinary, real, arithmetic and consistent with it. And
it has practical advantages.

• It removes the weird number from two’s complement arithmetic,
thereby removing a very dangerous bug from computer hardware.

• It removes all redundant states from IEEE floating-point arithmetic,
thereby doubling the arithmetical range of real numbers represented by
the floating-point bits.

• It makes floating-point hardware simpler, smaller, more reliable,
 and cheaper.

• It simplifies the programming of safety critical systems that use
floating-point arithmetic.

• The new arithmetic is so simple that it can be learned by twelve
year old children, but is s powerful that it can compute Newtonian
properties at a singularity – calling into question need for cosmic
censors in physical theories.

Come along to the talk, bring your pocket calculator, and learn how to
divide by zero.

This event is free of charge and open to all, with refreshments at
19.00.

Contact: Dr Richard Mitchell  rjmitchell at theiet.org

For directions please visit http://www.reading.ac.uk/about/find/about-findindex.aspx