The coaxial cable - how cable TV operators use the Laplacian operator

Abstract

This article illustrates the interplay between topology and analysis in the context of an everyday example. We describe how topology governs the trans- mission of TV signals through a cable. This example helps us to understand some of the mathematical ideas contained in an earlier article by V Pati in Resonance. A number of steps are left as exercises so that the reader can actively participate in the exposition.