Question

Check out this poem written by Lewis Carroll:

I often wondered when I cursed,
Often feared where I would be—
Wondered where she’d yield her love
When I yield, so will she,
I would her will be pitied!
Cursed be love! She pitied me…

Can anyone figure out the mathematical significance of this poem?

Answer 1

Looks related to matrices. It can be transposed I think.

Answer 2

repeated yield transferring?

Answer 3

Yep, if you put every word into a matrix you have a 6x6 matrix that's equal to its own transpose lol.

Answer 4

\[P=P^T\] lol

Answer 5

two of my guesses. But this is an interesting question

Answer 6

Lewis Carroll loved matrices. He invented his own method for finding determinants. Sadly, he wrote his method in a little book that people ignored for hundreds of years.

Answer 7

Thankfully it was re-discovered by those who cared.

Answer 8

I bet u got this poem by looking up "Charles Dodgson" from the earlier Hero's reply on condensation method xD

Answer 9

lol

Answer 10

I ended up searching for how to find determinants of symmetric matrices, thinking there would be some fancy special way of doing it, but found this instead.

Answer 11

it's familiar with Lewis Carroll to write square poems lol
anyway i liked the literary meaning after it the nonsense of
wanting someone and not want him at the same time , i just
love Lewis Carroll :3