From: Csaba Henk <csaba@..._for_avoiding_spam.org>
Date: 2005-04-11T10:44:38+09:00
Subject: Re: Translating A Pattern of Data Into Equation, and ultimately code

On 2005-04-10, Zach Dennis <zdennis@mktec.com> wrote:
> I have the following table of data, and I am looking to create an 
> equation to recreate the table. If anyone finds this sort of thing fun, 
> or has a online resource or a good book that helps explaining these 
> types of math concepts, please take a stab at it or post any info that 
> might aide me in my discovery! I've been trying the past several hours 
> and this sort of thing isn't my strong suit...and i'm stuck!
>
> I am first looking to understand how-to make the pattern of data into a 
> actual math equation...then from there I'd like to write ruby code for 
> the equation.
>
> Here is the sample data in a table:
> 	- rows represent a different character (as labeled)
> 	- columns represent the position of the character
> 	  (examples represent data in decimal notation, not octal/hex)
> 		example: "aaaa" would become 000 003 002 005
> 		example: "zach" would become 027 003 000 012
>
> 	1	2	3	4	5	6    (etc......)
> ----------------------------------------------------
> a 1   |	0	3	2	5	4	7
> b 2   |	3	0	1	6	7	4
> c 3   |	2	1	0	7	6	5

OK I see how you turn "zach" into 027 003 000 012.

But not more. Is this table filled with random/real-life data or is
there some rule I don't get? What is it exactly that you want an
equation for?

Do you really want an equation or just an expression?

FYI, "x**2 + 2" is an expression, "x**2 + 2 = 13" is an equation (ie.,
equations are predicative, like "I go fishing tomorrow", expressions are
descriptive, like "the picture on the wall".

Csaba