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Etymology of "root number"

Posted By: Steve Mellen
Date: Friday, 22 July 2011, at 7:17 p.m.

In Response To: Etymology of "root number" (Nack Ballard)

I had always assumed that "root" had some kind of clever mathematical meaning in this context. It never even occurred to me that it might signify nothing more than "rooting" for your opponent to roll a bad number. I love backgammon a little bit less now.

Messages In This Thread

• Etymology of "root number"
  Timothy Chow -- Friday, 22 July 2011, at 3:49 a.m.
  • Etymology of "root number"
    Ray Kershaw -- Friday, 22 July 2011, at 6:02 a.m.
  • Etymology of "root number"
    Nack Ballard -- Friday, 22 July 2011, at 8:03 a.m.
    • Etymology of "root number"
      Timothy Chow -- Friday, 22 July 2011, at 5:42 p.m.
      • Etymology of "root number"
        Nack Ballard -- Friday, 22 July 2011, at 7:09 p.m.
    • Etymology of "root number"
      Steve Mellen -- Friday, 22 July 2011, at 7:17 p.m.
      • Etymology of "root number"
        Nack Ballard -- Saturday, 23 July 2011, at 12:12 a.m.