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Ashamed to mention such elementary stuff. Simple things like Hamiltonian mechanics and the solution of non-linear differential equations (on which most of the literature appears to be in Russian.) When it came to giving our little talks, he wouldn't accept subjects on such a low level, which would merely bore the class.

My talk was one of the more elementary ones- on the solution of a nasty set of nonlinear, second-order differential equations on the digital computer they have here. (I am also taking a course on operating digital computers.) Bartlett insisted that I give most of my attention to the mathematical method used to solve them. The development of this method doesn't involve much advanced math, but it's awfully complicated, and almost all the literature on it is in German.

Since Bartlett was merciless with those who betrayed the slightest lack of understanding of their subjects, I studied it until it came out of my ears. The night before I was to talk, I kept Doris awake muttering equations in my sleep.