Six is such a number: it is the sum of all numbers that divide it except itself. In 2,000 years 12 perfect numbers were found; now a computer has discovered five more
by Constance Reid
THE GREEKS, greatly intrigued by the fact that the number 6 is the sum of all its divisors except itself (1+2 + 3), called it a "perfect" number. They wondered how many other such numbers there were. It was easy enough to ascertain by trial that the second perfect number was 28 (1+2 + 4 + 7+14). The great Euclid was able to prove that in all cases where a number can be factored into the form 2^n-l(2^n—1) and 2^n—1 is a prime number, the number must be the sum of all its divisors except itself.
Straight up, straight down, forwards, backwards, or just hovering— the Piasecki "Work Horse" Helicopter's peculiar flying maneuverability rests in its rotor assemblies. It is these flexible "elbows" that adjust the pitch of the 'copter's great blades. Each unit involves more than 625 separate parts. To machine and assemble them, Piasecki depends on Lycoming for precision production.
Today's quick answer to mathematical problems for engineers and designers is GEDA — the Goodyear Electronic Differential Analyzer. GEDA uses voltages and wave forms to compute in an hour the most complex math problems that would take 500 man-hours or more, using slide rule methods—acts as an "electrical brain" that can solve any problem from trajectories of space rockets to improvement of workflow through factories.
The newest GEDA, Model L3, is smaller, more compact and easier to operate than other electronic computers—occupies no more space than the average desk. After brief instruction, clerical workers are able to operate GEDA.
Yellow uranium ore from the Colorado Plateau is helping to bring atomic wonders to you
Long ago, Indian braves made their war paint from the colorful sandstones of the Colorado Plateau.
THEY USED URANIUM-Their brilliant yellows came from carnotite, the important uranium-bearing mineral. Early in this century, this ore supplied radium for the famous scientists, Marie and Pierre Curie, and later vanadium for special alloys and steels.
Today, this Plateau—stretching over parts of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona —is our chief domestic source of uranium. Here, new communities thrive; jeeps and airplanes replace the burro; Geiger counters supplant the divining rod and miner's hunch.
This machine was also known as the UNIVAC 1103 ANOTHER REMINGTON RAND ELECTRONIC DEVELOPMENT Remington Rand introduces the ERA 1103 general-purpose computer system ADVANCED LOGICAL AND ENGINEERING FEATURES â– ACCOMMODATES WIDE OPTION OP DIRECT INPUT-OUTPUT DEVICES Punched-card equipment Communications circuits Punched-paper and magnetic tapes Process-actuating mechanisms High-speed printers Graphic visual displays â– FLEXIBLE DATA REPRESENTATION […]
