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TotientQuotient

@totientquotient.bsky.social

Survived tripos somehow. All effort, no skill. Still trying to become a mathematician. Probably suffering from some form of the Algernon-Gordon effect. Other profiles: x.com/t0tientqu0tient mathstodon.xyz/@TotientQuotient youtube.com/@totientquotient

422 Followers  |  408 Following  |  344 Posts  |  Joined: 11.11.2024  |  2.1519

Latest posts by totientquotient.bsky.social on Bluesky

Just received an informal offer for a MMath program. Feels so surreal. After over a year of bad news, my hard work is finally bearing fruit. All that awaits is an official offer letter and a visa application (which could still go south btw, fingers crossed) and my life update will be official!

24.10.2025 13:38 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

"Which uni/program?"
Will reveal once everything is 100% confirmed and official.
"Any funding/scholarship?"
Yes - the chair of grad studies said I was offered a full support package! (It's a research-based master's as opposed to a purely taught one, hence why this is possible!)
#MathSky #AcademicSky

24.10.2025 13:39 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Just received an informal offer for a MMath program. Feels so surreal. After over a year of bad news, my hard work is finally bearing fruit. All that awaits is an official offer letter and a visa application (which could still go south btw, fingers crossed) and my life update will be official!

24.10.2025 13:38 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

I gotta solve a Lagrange multiplier problem from hell for a certain lemma in my research... send prayers 😬
#MathSky

10.10.2025 16:16 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

What I appreciate the most about math research is that the only thing you need to care about is the math itself. No need to worry about not enough people responding to your survey, the risk of blowing up a lab, acquiring rare/expensive materials/equipment etc. Just math.
#MathSky

06.10.2025 13:56 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Having learned lots of theory about symmetric functions, it's crazy how Newton's identities and Vieta's formulae (stuff that we learned in high school) are still two of the most important results I'm using in my research despite their simplicity.
#MathSky

06.10.2025 08:34 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Left some Sage code running before going to bed last night only to wake up finding out that the process got killed after just 1 hour πŸ₯²

30.09.2025 08:00 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
to deduce that $\Sigma_{ij}=c^{|j-i|}\;\forall(i,j)\in\{1,2,...,n\}^2$. By some wicked sorcery, it follows that $\Sigma^{-1}$ is the tridiagonal matrix $$\Sigma^{-1}=\begin{pmatrix}s^{-2}&-cs^{-2}&0&0&\hdots&0&0&0\\-cs^{-2}&1+2c^2s^{-2}&-cs^{-2}&0&\hdots&0&0&0\\0&-cs^{-2}&1+2c^2s^{-2}&-cs^{-2}&\hdots&0&0&0\\0&0&-cs^{-2}&1+2c^2s^{-2}&\hdots&0&0&0\\\vdots&\vdots&\vdots&\vdots&\ddots&\vdots&\vdots&\vdots\\0&0&0&0&\hdots&1+2c^2s^{-2}&-cs^{-2}&0\\0&0&0&0&\hdots&-cs^{-2}&1+2c^2s^{-2}&-cs^{-2}\\0&0&0&0&\hdots&0&-cs^{-2}&s^{-2}\end{pmatrix}$$

to deduce that $\Sigma_{ij}=c^{|j-i|}\;\forall(i,j)\in\{1,2,...,n\}^2$. By some wicked sorcery, it follows that $\Sigma^{-1}$ is the tridiagonal matrix $$\Sigma^{-1}=\begin{pmatrix}s^{-2}&-cs^{-2}&0&0&\hdots&0&0&0\\-cs^{-2}&1+2c^2s^{-2}&-cs^{-2}&0&\hdots&0&0&0\\0&-cs^{-2}&1+2c^2s^{-2}&-cs^{-2}&\hdots&0&0&0\\0&0&-cs^{-2}&1+2c^2s^{-2}&\hdots&0&0&0\\\vdots&\vdots&\vdots&\vdots&\ddots&\vdots&\vdots&\vdots\\0&0&0&0&\hdots&1+2c^2s^{-2}&-cs^{-2}&0\\0&0&0&0&\hdots&-cs^{-2}&1+2c^2s^{-2}&-cs^{-2}\\0&0&0&0&\hdots&0&-cs^{-2}&s^{-2}\end{pmatrix}$$

You've heard of "proof by violent assertion" and "proof by authority", now get ready for "proof by wicked sorcery".
(Yes, this was a real excerpt from my submission to an undergrad assignment.)
#MathSky

26.09.2025 15:40 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Hint: hstep htww mp fa ly pinslyrp lyo ehz alhyd le esp pyo (Caesar+11).

26.09.2025 15:27 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
FEN: rnbq1rk1/ppp1bppp/4p3/2np2P1/7P/1P1BP3/PBPP1P2/RN1QK1NR w KQ - 3 8

FEN: rnbq1rk1/ppp1bppp/4p3/2np2P1/7P/1P1BP3/PBPP1P2/RN1QK1NR w KQ - 3 8

Just played my signature tactic once again, resulting in a 97% accuracy win in a 1+0 bullet game.
White to play. Find the top engine line for the next 6 moves (bonus challenge: the 3 moves thereafter) and refute every suboptimal black response.
#chess #chesspunks

26.09.2025 15:26 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Algebraic graph theory is the area of math where you could say stuff like "the core of a core is itself" whilst making perfect sense
#MathSky

26.09.2025 12:50 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Two math professors just invited me to a discord server where they host research collaborations. Chat, is this normal? Is this a sign that I made it?

26.09.2025 11:09 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Anyone know if a quasipolynomial-time algorithm for finding the endomorphism monoid End(G) of a graph G exists? I know that Babai's graph isomorphism paper gives a qp-time algo for finding Aut(G), but I'm specifically interested in graph endomorphisms that aren't automorphisms.
#MathSky

25.09.2025 07:10 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Thanks for the interest; unfortunately I don't feel comfortable doxxing myself at this point in time. Maybe in the future I'll work up the courage to reveal my identity, but until then, I would prefer it if people on bluesky and twitter who don't already know me irl to only know me by my pseudonym.

25.09.2025 06:01 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Subject: [Q1 Journal | IF 2.5] Limited-Time APC Voucher for Selected Authors in Pure & Applied Mathematics

Sender: gary@universalwiser.com

Dear Prof. Dr.,


We are pleased to introduce Contemporary Mathematics, a peer-reviewed, Q1 journal with an Impact Factor of 2.5, publishing cutting-edge research across all areas of mathematics. The journal is indexed in ESCI (Web of Science), Scopus, and other major databases. You can learn more about the journal here:

https://ojs.wiserpub.com/index.php/CM/


As part of our commitment to supporting high-quality mathematical research, we are delighted to offer you a limited-time APC voucher. This invitation is extended to a select group of authors recognized for their contributions in areas such as pure and applied mathematics.

We warmly invite you to submit your next manuscript during the promotional period to enjoy both an APC discount and priority processing from review to publication.

Subject: [Q1 Journal | IF 2.5] Limited-Time APC Voucher for Selected Authors in Pure & Applied Mathematics Sender: gary@universalwiser.com Dear Prof. Dr., We are pleased to introduce Contemporary Mathematics, a peer-reviewed, Q1 journal with an Impact Factor of 2.5, publishing cutting-edge research across all areas of mathematics. The journal is indexed in ESCI (Web of Science), Scopus, and other major databases. You can learn more about the journal here: https://ojs.wiserpub.com/index.php/CM/ As part of our commitment to supporting high-quality mathematical research, we are delighted to offer you a limited-time APC voucher. This invitation is extended to a select group of authors recognized for their contributions in areas such as pure and applied mathematics. We warmly invite you to submit your next manuscript during the promotional period to enjoy both an APC discount and priority processing from review to publication.

Just published my first paper on arXiv and I'm already getting spam emails from predatory journals. "Dear Prof. Dr." when I'm neither a professor nor a PhD, lmao I can't 🀣🀣🀣

#AcademicSky #MathSky

23.09.2025 08:35 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0
graph isomorphism

Sorry - didn't know this happens with alt text (I'll make a note to not do this from now on)! Here's a clickable link:
github.ericmickelsen.com/graf/isomorp...

23.09.2025 08:34 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
https://github.ericmickelsen.com/graf/isomorphism.html

https://github.ericmickelsen.com/graf/isomorphism.html

is this a good score for the graph isomorphism game (link in alt text)

23.09.2025 07:45 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

Nevermind it's working now

22.09.2025 12:24 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Is arXiv down or am I the only one who can't login right now?

22.09.2025 10:23 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Disquastung

15.09.2025 14:40 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
https://www.chess.com/events/2025-fide-grand-swiss-open/11/Bluebaum_Matthias-Firouzja_Alireza

https://www.chess.com/events/2025-fide-grand-swiss-open/11/Bluebaum_Matthias-Firouzja_Alireza

Nevermind, it's not over yet. Apparently the only move here is to sacrifice the knight and push a6, after which the best follow-up is to ignore the knight and play Ra4... And all of that just got played!

15.09.2025 12:48 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
https://www.chess.com/events/2025-fide-grand-swiss-open/11/Bluebaum_Matthias-Firouzja_Alireza

https://www.chess.com/events/2025-fide-grand-swiss-open/11/Bluebaum_Matthias-Firouzja_Alireza

Ok ngl this looks over for Alireza. I don't see how black can keep pieces on the board without self-destructing. It looks like a dead draw, but then again what do I know about chess.

15.09.2025 12:23 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
https://www.chess.com/events/2025-fide-grand-swiss-open/11/Erigaisi_Arjun-Keymer_Vincent

https://www.chess.com/events/2025-fide-grand-swiss-open/11/Erigaisi_Arjun-Keymer_Vincent

Arjun with the exchange sac πŸ”₯🍿

#chess #chesspunks

15.09.2025 12:02 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

The final round of the Grand Swiss #chess tournament is always an insane game-theoretic battle. I remember Nakamura offering a draw to Arjun literally seconds after Giri beat Esipenko in 2023... this is so scuffed but it makes for a great viewing experience
#chesspunks

15.09.2025 11:20 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

that I'm not an outcast or a crank.
Maybe I'll finally get into grad school with this kind of research experience under my belt. I really hope so - it's everything I've worked for since I was a child.
(4/4)

#MathSky #AcademicSky

14.09.2025 21:09 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

input, and/or support from trained mathematicians (and besides, arXiv rejected it). Although I still regard that paper as my biggest accomplishment, my current paper means a lot more to me personally, because it shows that I'm finally being accepted by others as legitimate,
(3/4)

14.09.2025 21:09 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

This isn't my first time publishing, as I've tried doing so last year after discovering a result and writing up the proof and literature review all by myself. But that wasn't "proper" research since it was done in the absence of any collaboration, supervision, guidance,
(2/4)

14.09.2025 21:09 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

I'm about to publish my first coauthored paper soon. I only contributed 3-4 pages out of ~20, but it still feels surreal. Just a year ago I didn't think any mathematician would've seen something in me to give me this opportunity, especially considering my undergrad grades.
(1/4)

14.09.2025 21:09 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 5    πŸ“Œ 0

this might be my new worst skeet

13.09.2025 17:12 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

guys literally only want one thing (to overfull her hbox with a shape that's 26.85894pt too wide) and it's fucking disgusting

#MathSky

13.09.2025 17:12 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

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