(no subject)
In Mario Livio's book, The Golden Ratio he makes a comment that Martin Ohm (Georg Simon Ohm's lesser known brother) may have coined the term "Golden Section" for the number phi, despite the fact that it's generally believed to have been far earlier than that. He mentions that in German, "Golden Section" is actually "Goldene Schnitt."
Which sounds so much like the Golden Snitch that I can't help but wonder if it isn't just another layer. The Golden Ration is found in nature so often (and pretty much everything else) that it would be appropriate to name a mechanical replica of an endangered bird species something similar. In fact, it's rather elegant and I think it must have been in Rowling's head somewhere. Has she said anything about this? Does anyone know?
Maybe I'm reaching too far.
That being said, I really love this book so far. And I'm incredibly proud of myself for taking the written definition of phi and coming up with the number all on my own. While it's pretty basic algebra (with the quadratic formula) and all, I'm still glad my brain can think like that on some levels. Also, the Quadratic Formula always makes me think of Mr. Higgins who called it the Midnight Formula because we should know it so well he could come to our houses at midnight, wake us up, and we should be able to say it. Mr. Higgins, of course, is also the teacher who did a cartwheel on the first day of class and said when he couldn't do that anymore, he'd have to stop teaching.
He was so great.
Which sounds so much like the Golden Snitch that I can't help but wonder if it isn't just another layer. The Golden Ration is found in nature so often (and pretty much everything else) that it would be appropriate to name a mechanical replica of an endangered bird species something similar. In fact, it's rather elegant and I think it must have been in Rowling's head somewhere. Has she said anything about this? Does anyone know?
Maybe I'm reaching too far.
That being said, I really love this book so far. And I'm incredibly proud of myself for taking the written definition of phi and coming up with the number all on my own. While it's pretty basic algebra (with the quadratic formula) and all, I'm still glad my brain can think like that on some levels. Also, the Quadratic Formula always makes me think of Mr. Higgins who called it the Midnight Formula because we should know it so well he could come to our houses at midnight, wake us up, and we should be able to say it. Mr. Higgins, of course, is also the teacher who did a cartwheel on the first day of class and said when he couldn't do that anymore, he'd have to stop teaching.
He was so great.