Chapter 5: An unhelpful computer.

Dax sat across the desk from Sisko, her eyes squinting in puzzlement. "Vuldt's Equation? I've never heard of it. I've heard of Vuldt's Theory, though. Is the 'Vuldt' in 'Vuldt's Equation' spelled, V-U-L-D-T?"

"Yes, it is."

"Then my guess," Dax drawled, "is that Vuldt's Equation is a mathematical expression of all or part of Vuldt's Theory."

"Okay; so what is Vuldt's Theory?"

"I don't know much about it, sorry. I know it's a model that relates spacetime, dimension and physical factors. Supposedly the theory encompasses most other physical models being used today."

"So... Vuldt's Theory is a synthesis of principles of physics that are already well-understood?"

Dax shook her head. "I think I'm the wrong person to ask. Miles almost certainly knows more about it than I do. Have you tried getting help from the computer?"

"Yes, I did," Sisko grinned. "But I didn't get very far. The topic is apparently a very, very advanced subject. I found nearly all of the information going over my head."

"Mind if I try?"

"Go ahead."

Dax sat up straight. "Computer: What is Vuldt's Equation?"

The computer responded promptly: "Vuldt's Equation is a proposed mathematical model of the physical behavior of all articles and phenomena in the universe that are tangible or that have tangible effects, in relation to known or defined arguments, which may be arbitrarily selected."

Dax looked at Sisko. Sisko shrugged.

"Computer," Dax continued, "what is the relationship between Vuldt's Equation and Vuldt's Theory?"

"Vuldt's Equation is a mathematical representation of comprehensive multiple parametric principles of Vuldt's Theory; and in particular, those parametric principles that pertain to Vuldt's set of cosmological postulates and the interactions among them."

Sisko grinned again. "Are you any more informed than you were before?"

Dax was not amused, but she did see one silver lining. "It turns out that I guessed right when I said that Vuldt's Equation is a mathematical expression of Vuldt's Theory. Computer: use the wall display to show Vuldt's Equation."

On the wall appeared five sets of incomprehensible mathematical symbols.

The computer explained: "Vuldt's Equation is typically expressed in one of the five forms you see here. All five forms are mathematically equivalent, though some forms are more useful for some purposes than others."

"Computer: is any of these forms of the equation regarded as generally more useful or more popular, or more commonly cited?"

Four versions of the equation vanished from the display, and one version was enlarged to fill the display. The computer narrated: "The form of Vuldt's Equation seen here is the most commonly used form of the equation."

Sisko and Dax looked at the display, then at each other, then at the display again.

"Dax, can you make head or tail of this? I see the equal sign in the middle, but beyond that, I don't know what I'm looking at."

"I'm not sure either, Benjamin. I don't recognize most of these mathematical symbols. Computer: What do the left-hand side and the right-hand side of the equation represent?

"The left-hand side of the equation includes the most commonly used or measured or controlled arguments, as expressed in Pontus form, with an expression for the proper frame. The right-hand side of the equation includes the factors for which measurement or control or both poses the most practical difficulties; and a constant."

Sisko chuckled. "It's all gibberish to me. Here, let me ask one of the questions I put to the computer earlier; you may be surprised by the answer. Computer: What level of education would be necessary in order to understand Vuldt's Equation?"

"The principles expressed in the full forms of Vuldt's Equation typically require advanced study in Mathematics, Classical Physics, Relativity, Principles of Measurement, Advanced Statistics, System Modelling, Instrumentation, Sub-Dimensional Physics, Pan-Dimensional Physics, Quantum Physics, and Theoretical Physics, as well as various supportive Sciences. In the present available educational systems and academies, such studies typically take eight to ten years."

Sisko looked at Dax. Dax's eyes were wide. Sisko then asked the computer, "Computer: How many people are there who understand Vuldt's Equation?"

"Data insufficient. At a recent meeting of Theoretical Physicists at the Daystrom Institute, however, Doctor Graw Armcoll opined that there are probably no more than fifty individuals in the known galaxy that can discuss Vuldt's Equation intelligently."

Sisko and Dax sat silent for a moment. Then Sisko spoke. "And I was hoping to get a rudimentary grasp of the subject within the space of a week."