The top symbol, Σ (uppercase Sigma), is used in math to denote a sum of a list of values. There is clear separation between the values in the list: two adjacent items in the list have no item in between them.
The bottom symbol, ∫ (long s), denotes an integral, which is kind of a sum over a continuous function. Any two different points of the function, no matter how close they are to each other, will have infinitely many points in between them.
For pedants: the function values don’t have to be continuous, but the range of x over which the integral runs does have to be continuous. I regret nothing.
You can integrate over arbitrary domains, not even the range needs to be continuous. You often see integrals not written as \int_a^b, but instead as \int_C where C is just a set
Oh cool, thanks. So is this like an anti-aliasing joke or something? Like “if you discretize a small number of pixels, Rick Astley will appear pixelated, but if you interpolate between them, the image will appear clearer?”
Oh that makes sense. It’s hard to get straight what the interpretation should be though because of course the higher-res image is also discrete, just more pixels.
And like… Also why Rick Astley? I’m okay with “why not?” as the explanation there, but I feel like I’m missing something else there too.
But honestly at this point we’re reading too much into it.
Yes yes overanalyzing math memes is how I’m compensating for a poor high school experience.
The top symbol, Σ (uppercase Sigma), is used in math to denote a sum of a list of values. There is clear separation between the values in the list: two adjacent items in the list have no item in between them.
The bottom symbol, ∫ (long s), denotes an integral, which is kind of a sum over a continuous function. Any two different points of the function, no matter how close they are to each other, will have infinitely many points in between them.
For pedants: the function values don’t have to be continuous, but the range of x over which the integral runs does have to be continuous. I regret nothing.
You can integrate over arbitrary domains, not even the range needs to be continuous. You often see integrals not written as \int_a^b, but instead as \int_C where C is just a set
I still regret nothing.
Oh cool, thanks. So is this like an anti-aliasing joke or something? Like “if you discretize a small number of pixels, Rick Astley will appear pixelated, but if you interpolate between them, the image will appear clearer?”
Not quite, I think it means the source material is continuous instead of discrete. No interpolation.
But honestly at this point we’re reading too much into it.
Oh that makes sense. It’s hard to get straight what the interpretation should be though because of course the higher-res image is also discrete, just more pixels.
And like… Also why Rick Astley? I’m okay with “why not?” as the explanation there, but I feel like I’m missing something else there too.
Yes yes overanalyzing math memes is how I’m compensating for a poor high school experience.