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Is Matrix Multiplication Ugly?

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Re: Is Matrix Multiplication Ugly?

#71

Post by srean »

janalsncm wrote: post #18

> But matrix multiplication, to which our civilization is now devoting so many of its marginal resources, has all the elegance of a man hammering a nail into a board. Elegance is a silly critique. Imagine instead we were spending trillions on floral bouquets, calligraphy, and porcelain tea sets. I would argue that would be a bad allocation of resources. What matters to me is whether it solves the problems we have. No…

You mean tech-debt ridden spaghetti code that works now is as good as an elegant correct and an efficient code ?

Re: Is Matrix Multiplication Ugly?

#72

Post by mauvehaus »

hobs wrote: post #17
sfpotter wrote: post #4

I think this sentence: > But matrix multiplication, to which our civilization is now devoting so many of its marginal resources, has all the elegance of a man hammering a nail into a board. is the most interesting one. A man hammering a nail into a board can be both beautiful and elegant! If you've ever seen someone effortlessly hammer nail after nail into wood without having to think hardly at all about what they're…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ruf-cLr2PZ8 I always think of this when thinking about the gracefulness of a hammer.

Upholstery tacks are sold sterilized for people holding them in their mouths. Now I wonder the same about drywall nails!

Thanks for the link; that is absolutely masterful work.

Re: Is Matrix Multiplication Ugly?

#73

Post by mhb »

peterfirefly wrote: post #61

I just finished reading lots of Stephen Witt quotes on goodreads. He comes across as a white Malcolm Gladwell, except that he actually does know what "Igon values" are so I don't know what his excuse is.

> white Malcolm Gladwell

I'm intrigued. How would a white Malcolm Gladwell's quotes differ from the IRL Malcolm Gladwell?

Re: Is Matrix Multiplication Ugly?

#76

Post by petters »

jiggawatts wrote: post #20
johngossman wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you're right that the inelegant part is how AI seems to just consist of endless loops of multiplication. I say this as a graphics programmer who realized years ago that all those beautiful images were just lots of MxNs, and AI takes this to a whole new level. When I was in college they told us most of computing resources were used doing Linear Programming. I wonder when that crossed over to graphics or AI (or…

> When I was in college they told us most of computing resources were used doing Linear Programming. I seriously doubt that was ever true, except perhaps for a very brief time in the 1950s or 60s. Linear programming is an incredibly niche application of computing used so infrequently that I've never seen it utilised anywhere despite being a consultant that has visited hundreds of varied customers including big busine…

I have not only used linear programming in the industry, I have also had to write my own solver because the existing ones (even commercial) were to slow. (This was possible only because I only cares about a very approximate solution)

The triangulations you mention are important in the current group I'm working in.

Re: Is Matrix Multiplication Ugly?

#78

Post by almostgotcaught »

srean wrote: post #67
chris_wot wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That’s the opinion of one person. There are many mathematicians who find beauty in the maths they are studying.

I will emphasize your point more forcefully. All mathematicians I know work on what they work because of the beauty and aesthetics in their field. Much like sex. Sex has reproductive utility but that's not why most people engage in it. Those who do are are missing much. Notion of beauty for a mathematician is quite specialized. It's the difference between spaghetti code that works and an elegant and efficient code th…

> Much like sex.

My guy you know lots of people in here have read Feynman right? You should cite him instead of pretending you were clever enough to come up with the analogy yourself.

Re: Is Matrix Multiplication Ugly?

#79

Post by srean »

almostgotcaught wrote: post #78
srean wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I will emphasize your point more forcefully. All mathematicians I know work on what they work because of the beauty and aesthetics in their field. Much like sex. Sex has reproductive utility but that's not why most people engage in it. Those who do are are missing much. Notion of beauty for a mathematician is quite specialized. It's the difference between spaghetti code that works and an elegant and efficient code th…

> Much like sex. My guy you know lots of people in here have read Feynman right? You should cite him instead of pretending you were clever enough to come up with the analogy yourself.

Quite the contrary. I expect majority of HN readers to know the quote, base 0 if you will, and not harbor thoughts that by having read it they are a part of an exclusive club.

Channeling Good Will Hunting much huh? Most HN'ers would have watched that too.

Re: Is Matrix Multiplication Ugly?

#80

Post by almostgotcaught »

srean wrote: post #79
almostgotcaught wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Much like sex. My guy you know lots of people in here have read Feynman right? You should cite him instead of pretending you were clever enough to come up with the analogy yourself.

Quite the contrary. I expect majority of HN readers to know the quote, base 0 if you will, and not harbor thoughts that by having read it they are a part of an exclusive club. Channeling Good Will Hunting much huh? Most HN'ers would have watched that too.

I have no idea what you're trying to say - it is generally understood everywhere in the world (ie all forms of human culture) that it's pathetic to pass off someone else's insights as your own.
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