From the Empirical Archives: Discontinuity by Mike Berger

PHOTO: Boris Lechaftois

Discontinuity

Mike Berger

Originally published in the October 2012 issue of Empirical

Linear models simply don’t apply.

The variables are too many and the

processes too complex. The function

has a serious discontinuity. As it

is ramping up, at a critical point,

it bifurcates. This jump renders the

function discrete.

In the laboratory this jump to a

discontinuous function occurs when

the medium changes states. The

search for a strange attractor was

in vain. To make things worse, the

function was dampened by the

addition of an organic compound.

At this point solving the equation

became intractable. Further iterations

would become nondescript.

When the esoteric math fails, we

must use the backup plan; the Italian

method. Throw one against the wall,

if it sticks, the noodles are done.

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