M19.pdf

M500 is a student-operated newsletter for Open University mathematics students and staff, aiming to alleviate academic isolation by providing a forum for discussion of mathematical interests. The newsletter includes articles, solutions, and critiques, with the views and abilities expressed being those of the authors, not the editor or Open University.

The issue discusses special points in curves, including isolated points, branch points, and cusps, with examples such as Neil's parabola and the conchoid of Nicomedes. It also touches on points of stopping, where a curve ends, and provides references for further study.

Additionally, the issue includes an article arguing that commercial computing is not mathematics, and that the confusion between the two fields started in the 1960s. The author suggests that degrees in computer science are often misunderstood as teaching commercial programming, when in fact they focus on using computers as a tool for mathematicians.

The issue also includes an obituary for George Dingley, a mathematical amateur and correspondent who shared his interests and humor with others, and a note about donations to Cancer Research in his name.