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Lab scientist reflects on the primacy of the coming year 2011

L ab computational scientist Krishnan Balasubramanian, or "Balu" to his friends and colleagues, marvels at the beauty of the prime number 2011. He notes there has not been a prime number year since 2003 and that there will not be another until 2017.

Balasubramanian has been at the Lab since 2000 pursuing his interest in such areas as computational chemistry and biology, chemical and biological applications of computer science, graph theory and combinatorics (a branch of mathematics concerning the study of finite or countable discrete structures). He was featured in a July 2006 edition of Newsline for computational research he conducted into properties of the spice pigment curcumin that could help prevent and even treat Alzheimer's.  

In anticipation of the coming year, Balu offers the following reflection on 2011 and "the prospects the new year offers for rejoicing peace, tranquility and prosperity."

The background photograph taken by Balasubramanian is of Shoshone Waterfalls, Idaho.


By Krishnan Balasubramanian


Two-Thousand Eleven -- A year of prime,

Eight years after 2003 -- A prime after prime,

As we transcend time after time,

To welcome 2011, rhyme after rhyme.

Two-Thousand Eleven-A perfect sum of squares,

For 2011 = 1^2 + 19^2 + 25^2 + 32^2 = 29^2 + 25^2 +17^2 +16^2 = 33^2 + 29^2 +9^2  = 41x7^2 + 2*1^2 =44^2 + 8^2 +3^2 +2 *1^2 =  30^2+24^2+21^2+9^2+3^2+2^2 = 33^2 + 26^2 +13^2 +8^2 + 3^2 +2^2 =33^2 + 23^2+19^2+2*4^2  = 31^2 +25^2 +15^2 + 14^2 + 2^2

2011 -- A perfect year to soar lofty and higher.

Two-Thousand Eleven-A perfect sum of cubes,

For  2011 = 12^3 +6^3 +4^3 +3*1^3 =10^3 + 10^3 +2^3 +3*1^3 = 4x1^3+3^3+5^3+7^3+8^3
= 2*1^3+24^3+6^3+9^3+10^3=2* 1^3+3^3+2x4^3+5^3+12^3=2*1^3+2x5^3+3x7^3+9^3= 11^3 + 8^3 +5^3 + 3^3 + 2^3 + 2^3 = 12^3 + 6^3 + 4^3 + 3*1^3 = 11^3 + 8^3 +5^3 +3^3 +2*2^3=12^3 +6^3 +4^3 +3*1^3 =10^3 + 10^3 +2^3 +3*1^3=4^3+6^3+9^3+10^3 + 2*1^3=3* 1^3+3^3+2x4^3+5^3+12^3=3*1^3+2x5^3+3x7^3+9^3

2011 -- A perfect year to experience harmonic vibes.

Two-Thousand Eleven-A perfect expression of one-to-nine,

For  2011 = 1 - (2 * 3) + ((4 * 567 * 8) / 9),

2011 -- A perfect year of shine, divine.

Two-Thousand Eleven- A prime capsule of time-haven,

For the next prime year is twenty-seventeen,

Welcome 2011 with peace, harmony, green,

Exuberance, enchantment, effervescence, and gleam.

Two-Thousand Eleven is here and near,

Hail 2011, tranquil, ebullient, scintillating, New Year.

( pdf )
Jan. 6, 2011

Contact

Krishnan Balasubramanian
[email protected]

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