This has made it to HN at least a few times. Maybe it should be part of math curriculum in schools so we wouldn't keep having this conversation.

There is also a reference to this method on page 61 of SICP (footnote 40 of exercise 1.18).

http://mitpress.mit.edu/sicp/full-text/book/book-Z-H-11.html...

One of my professors (I'm a French comp. sci student) taught us this as an intro on how we could build an Arithmetic Logic Unit (as part of a hardware architecture course).

Thanks. The OP article is awful. Have the decency to put in a graphic if you are going to describe a math algorithm involving stones in holes.

Oh. the OP ''article'' is AWFUL? have the DECENCY?

First of all it isn't an article it's a transcription. If you can't picture simple math operations with stones and holes then something might be wrong with you.

It's not apparent from OP's web-page that the content is taken from a series of radio monologues, and it's true that sometimes adding a small infographic can help perception and understanding many fold.

Maybe try to keep personal invective out of the discussion, it's not nice.

yea sorry. the way he addressed to OP seemed a bit too harsh to me. did he expect OP to modify the University of Houston webpage to add a graphic? Come on.

Also ''No. 504''. Sounds like a series of something? by John H. Lienhard Click here for audio of Episode 504.

That definitely gives away the fact that it's a radio program.