I was just looking at a mathematical topic (Fermat's Little Theorem, which was mentioned in one of [Vernon]'s posts) in Wikipedia.

I'm not a mathematician, to my eternal regret. I could follow the arguments, but had to stop time and time again to track down the meaning of the more esoteric symbols.

Because the symbols seem to be rendered as graphics, there's no easy way to copy-and-paste them into a Google search; I also don't know what the symbols are actually called, if they have names at all. (The Greek ones, like capital Sigma, are OK.)

Most of them are perfectly simple, if you know the shorthand (like "is a member of" or "is a subset of" etc), and there are plenty of sites out there that list and define mathematical symbols (though some are context/topic- dependent).

But wouldn't it be helpful if mathematical formulae had mouseover-pop-up-things that gave a brief definition of the symbol, in that particular context?
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Sep 04 2011

Björn Borg http://en.wikipedia...iki/Bj%C3%B6rn_Borg
Old skool Borg. [AntiQuark, Sep 05 2011]

Not quite what you want, but still cute. http://detexify.kir...s.org/classify.html
[mouseposture, Sep 05 2011]

All very well in its way, but you do realise the possible consequences ? Eventually, this could result in the <shudder> common people reading mathematical works, and where would that lead ? Why, you'll be suggesting that the Bible be translated into English, and that women be taught to read and write next ...
-- 8th of 7, Sep 04 2011


I think the term for a juvenile borg is 'elver'.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Sep 04 2011


On second thoughts, it might be 'borg'.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Sep 04 2011


borglets.
-- methinksnot, Sep 05 2011


Whatever it is they are called, most importantly they can be destroyed when their organic components are liquified and their spinal columns are ruptured.
-- rcarty, Sep 05 2011


It is only fair to point out that the same process works equally well on humans…

Sp. "Borg"
-- 8th of 7, Sep 05 2011


In Spanish: "borguitos"
-- methinksnot, Sep 05 2011


Try wolfram.com, or wolframalpha.com. Usually the mouseover will give you more clues.
-- 4whom, Sep 05 2011


I want to give this another (+), it's just not fair.

I love the hyperlink aspect of wikipedia that lets a person wade into uncharted territory without being completely lost. To have the math symbols hyperlink as well would be great.

I thought it was bamborgnos in Spanish.
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Sep 05 2011


Thanks, [4whom]. It's still a bit abbreviated (mostly one-word substitutions of symbols), but closer to what I had in mind.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Sep 05 2011


And thanks [mouseposture] - nice site!
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Sep 05 2011



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