[quote=“Chris”][quote=“AAF”][quote=“Chris”]一 squared = 口
Pythagoras’ theorem:
乂 squared + 丫 squared = 乙 squared[/quote]
Enter the bopomofo.[/quote]
Ah, but it’s not bopomofo!!
乂 is not ㄨ.
丫 is not ㄚ.
[/quote]
So, what do those Chinese words mean?
[quote=“Chris”]一 squared = 口
Pythagoras’ theorem:
乂 squared + 丫 squared = 乙 squared[/quote]
乂 is yi4, the etymon of 刈 yi4, to cut, mow. I presume it’s a phonetic loan here for 一.
丫 is ya1, something branching.
乙 is yi3, 2nd of the ten Stems, ergo 2.
One squared plus 丫 squared = 4.
Ergo 丫 is the square root of three!
Did I get it right? *
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ok, here’s a quiz:
How many days are there in 句 + 一 ?
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*I know, I know, X Y and Z (乙)
[quote=“Dragonbones”]Ok, here’s a quiz:
How many days are there in 句 + 一 ?[/quote]
10!
句 + 一 = 旬 (xun2, a period of 10 days)