SciAm.com: Mathematician Channels Aztec Land Surveyor?

[Math Maniac]

Is Scientific American allowing this kind of story nowadays?

The Aztecs had more numbers than we do, or at least symbols denoting numerical concepts. When it came to measuring land—critical for levying the proper tax or tribute—these medieval Mesoamericans used arrows, hearts, hands and other units representing fractions, according to a new study in Science.

To figure this out, mathematician Maria del Carmen Jorge y Jorge of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (U.N.A.M) channeled the mind of an Aztec land surveyor. That meant retraining herself to use a different numerical system and combing through the Codex Vergara, one of two remaining books that record Aztec land surveying.

Read the full story here.

If so, .

 

[Naughtyhippo]

The article reads more like that sentance should be taken as 'mathematician trained herself to think like aztec surveyor to figure out what the symbols represented' rather than 'Abutu says this means 3/4!! So there!!'.

Maybe the author isn't fully up on psychic wooisms?

 

[Hokulele]

I read the article, and it sounds like she really means that she is not only studying, but using their methods.

"I can use my math, my computers and whatever I want," she says. "With this paper, I am only using hand calculations."

 

[Math Maniac]

The article reads more like that sentance should be taken as 'mathematician trained herself to think like aztec surveyor to figure out what the symbols represented' rather than 'Abutu says this means 3/4!! So there!!'.

Maybe the author isn't fully up on psychic wooisms?

I read the article, and it sounds like she really means that she is not only studying, but using their methods.

Mistranslation? I agree with you that it seems not to fit, but I have never read or heard of "channel the mind" in any other context than a phrase used by so-called psychic mediums.

 

[Nancarrow]

Bloody hell, can't anyone use colourful metaphors any more? It's pretty clear to me exactly what the article is trying to say.

I've been spending a few weeks channeling the mind of Euclid. No candles or ouija boards, just a heavily annotated edition of The Elements.

 

[GodMark2]

Mistranslation? I agree with you that it seems not to fit, but I have never read or heard of "channel the mind" in any other context than a phrase used by so-called psychic mediums.

My sister often states "I think I'm channeling our mother" after she needs to discipling one of her children. It's an admission of "Ah, NOW I understand why they did what they did" when you find yourself in similar circumstances. Which also seems to be the case here.

 

[Math Maniac]

I suppose I'm in the minority, then. Whether the metaphor is colorful or transparent, when I read or hear the phrase "channel the mind," I only think of "psychic"-related silliness. For me, at least, that's the bloody truth.