I can't get NeilB to okay or deny this posting, but neither can I resist: While investigating the nagging problem of evaluating the nested radical constant In[62]:= Fold[Sqrt[#1 + #2] &, 0, Reverse[Range[7]]] Out[62]= Sqrt[1 + Sqrt[2 + Sqrt[3 + Sqrt[4 + Sqrt[5 + Sqrt[6 + Sqrt[7 + ...]]]]]]] sometimes given the name of our old pal (Videryutupronownstice) Vijayaraghavan, NeilB searched OEIS and found, among other things, this goodie: Puzzle: Evaluate In[68]:= Fold[Sqrt[#1 + #2] &, 0, Reverse[x*4^Range[0, 5]]] Out[68]= Sqrt[x + Sqrt[4 x + Sqrt[16 x + Sqrt[64 x + Sqrt[256 x + Sqrt[...]]]]]] Is this well known? If not, it might make a nice math contest problem. --rwg Neil's search also turned up more of those "bizarre algebraic trivia". Correction to earlier request: Subj:[math-fun] can someONE with access to The Symmetries of Things [...] Chit-chat: Someone thought http://gosper.org/IMG_0146.JPG was looking downhill. It's actually steeply up (13%? Steeper than an Aerobie glideslope, anyway). Around the next bend it's steep enough to have run the giant slinky a few steps. The grassy bank on the right is too steep for my hiking boots in the dry season. You can see the tree on top seems to be leaning back. The weed-whacking braceros must use some sort of cleats. --rwg