Experimental Mathematics Website
http://www.experimentalmath.info

<== This is a picture from the interactive geometry package Cinderella showing the behavior of 10,000 starting values in the rectangle [0,1]x[h-1,h+1], where h is the height of the horizontal line, after six iterations of the algorithm which reflects a point x in the sphere then reflects the outcome in the line and then averages the result y with x. It is an accessible prototype for a remarkable image reconstruction algorithm known variously as Douglas-Ratchford, Lion-Mercier, Fienup's method, and "divide-and-concur." Some related graphics can be generated and displayed at these URLs: Expansion Reflection (wait 30-60 seconds to see the display).

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The first [axiom] said that when one wrote to the other (they often preferred to exchange thoughts in writing instead of orally), it was completely indifferent whether what they said was right or wrong. As Hardy put it, otherwise they could not write completely as they pleased, but would have to feel a certain responsibility thereby. The second axiom was to the effect that, when one received a letter from the other, he was under no obligation whatsoever to read it, let alone answer it, because, as they said, it might be that the recipient of the letter would prefer not to work at that particular time, or perhaps that he was just then interested in other problems. ... The third axiom was to the effect that, although it did not really matter if they both thought about the same detail, still, it was preferable that they should not do so. And, finally, the fourth, and perhaps most important axiom, stated that it was quite indifferent if one of them had not contributed the least bit to the contents of a paper under their common name; otherwise there would constantly arise quarrels and difficulties in that now one, and now the other, would oppose being named co-author. -- Harald Bohr, "Hardy and Littlewood's Four Axioms for Collaboration", quoted from the preface of Bella Bollobas' 1988 edition of Littlewood's Miscellany.

The complete list of quotes is available here.

This website is a repository of information on experimental and computer-assisted mathematics. It is operated by David H. Bailey, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (retired), and University of California, Davis (DHB website). Please send any comments or questions for this site to:

Disclaimer and copyright. Material on this site is provided for research purposes only and does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the author's institutions or any other organization. Except where explicitly stated otherwise, all material is copyrighted by David H. Bailey (c) 2024.

Math Scholar blog. The "Math Scholar" blog contains essays, philosophical musings, interesting quotes and exercises, all in the realm of mathematics, computing and modern science. New items are posted on average every two weeks:

Math Drudge blog (older). This blog was co-authored by Bailey and the late Jonathan Borwein, prior to Borwein's death in August 2016.

Jonathan Borwein Memorial site. In the wake of Jonathan Borwein's untimely death in August 2016, this site contains a blog of remembrances of Jon by family, friends and colleagues, together with a compendium of Jon's publications, talks and reviews of his work by others.

Mathematical Investor blog. The Mathematical Investor blog is devoted to financial mathematics and abuses of mathematics in the field:

Additional information, in alphabetical order:

  1. Books. Bailey and Jonathan Borwein (now deceased) have authored numerous books on mathematical and scientific computation. For details on the authors' books on experimental mathematics, see:
  2. Commercial sites. For a list of websites of numerous commercial firms that offer mathematical software and (free) online tools, see the Commercial site page:

  3. Institutional sites. For a list of websites of mathematical societies and journals in the general area of experimental and computational mathematics, see the Institutional site page:
  4. Non-commercial software and tools. For a list of websites of non-commercial organizations that offer mathematical software and (free) online tools, see the Non-commercial site page:
  5. Other sites of interest. For a list of numerous other websites with interesting and useful information relevant to mathematics in general and computational mathematics in particular, see the Other site page:

  6. Software. For some freely downloadable software for experimental math research, see the Software page: