Cheese in Pittsburgh: A Short Story on Combinatorial Mathematics

Introduction

I recently visited my hometown of Pittsburgh on business and this time around the trip seemed a bit different. All I could think about was cheese! The many smells of the local mom-and-pop restaurants, the smiling faces of my fellow natives, and my favorite, a chance to hang out with Cheese, a little league slugger in the Negro League Classic Baseball Tournament. But wait, we will get to that Cheese in a minute. If you have ever had the pleasure to visit Pittsburgh, it is a city like none other, and I am not saying this because it is where I am from! It reminds me of Cape Cod where the small guy is somehow finding a way to win in the marketplace of the global economy, full of large retail chains with what appears like unlimited supply chains. No, Pittsburgh is still finding a way to be a major metropolitan city and make room for family businesses that have had their doors open for generations, making room for new small money to enter the market as well.

Peppi’s Old Tyme Sandwich Shoppe

My first stop was Peppi’s right next to Manchester, on the lower Northside. They use real cheese and fresh bread that reminds me of the pleasant scents from childhood when manufacturing and distribution centers would load bread trucks early in the morning near my local neighborhood. Not only is the cheese fantastic, they also use quality meat, that tastes like it came local butchers; who ultimately get their meat from free range animals on local farms. And to top it off the people are truly amazing, always welcoming you with a warm smile and authentic customer service while hurriedly making sandwiches for the locals. Now, make sure you tip the staff and they will gladly ring the bell for the number of singles you place in the jar!

Gus & Yiayia’s

After my belly was full I had to stop by Allegheny Park and grab a snack! I stopped by my favorite Italian icy cart, Gus & Yiayia’s. This local store is mobile and was founded almost 90 years ago. Gus & Yiayia’s started in 1934 by Gus’ mother and father. In 1951, Gus took over the business and has been serving sweet treats ever since. They use real shaved ice with all kinds of savory flavors. And you must get some popcorn to complement the sweetness as the smooth buttery popcorn makes for a complete experience where you can sit down and watch the birds and passerby's during a quiet time in the park.

University of Pittsburgh - The Future Lives at Pitt

As an alum and faithful donor of one of the greatest institutions I know, the University of Pittsburgh , or Pitt prepared me for the workforce and life, in general, for that matter. At a young age excuses were no place for a gritty and hardworking city like Pittsburgh including its universities and colleges. Pitt is full of alumni who dedicated their lives to learning and making a difference in the world at large. While on campus you can really appreciate the architecture and rich history of the school by just looking up and around at the buildings. Like the Cathedral of Learning which was built over 100 years ago it still stands tall and erected, announcing the university's presence from miles away. This is very typical of Pittsburgh architecture, as massive monuments were built during the various Industrial Revolutions.

Carmi Soul Food

After a nap and getting some more work done I finished my day at Carmi's Soul Food?restaurant on the 'Saaaaaaith Saiiide", or Southside of Pittsburgh for city immigrants. You are greeted with healthy economically priced portions, bright smiles, and an opportunity to sing off the food with karaoke and a full bar in their upstairs lounge. Yes, those are cheesy grits and they were amazing!

Cheese and Mathematics

For my last day in the city before heading to the Pittsburgh International Airport (PIA) I stopped by and watched the inaugural 12U Little League Negro League Classic. You will not be disappointed as you will get a chance to watch some of the best baseball players in the city pitch and slug it out on the baseball diamond for a family hearted event. The games were played at the Josh Gibson Field in the Hill District. While I was there, I got a chance to meet a humble and quiet player, who by his disposition you would not really notice how much of a wonderful person he is until after speaking with him. Cheese is what his baseball mates and coaches call him due to his amazing personality, excellent leadership, and smile that lights up the room. After his team beat their first opponent with a commanding 6-0 victory I sat down with Cheese to hear more about the game. I was a bit stunned at how competitive the tournament was. In the same inning, Cheese scored a run and threw from third base to his first baseman where a galloping hitter was only to be met with a glove, tagging him out just as quickly! Watching the quiet intellect, I snapped a picture unbeknownst to him, as he picked up my Bitcoin Standard book and turned each page in a swan-like motion digesting the material.

As we conversed we had the following dialogue:

Larry: How many teams are in the league?

Cheese: I believe there are six teams?

Larry: How many times do you have to play each team?

Cheese: I believe we have to play each team once. And the teams that wins the most games ultimately will advance to the championship to win it all!

Larry: Then how many games will be played in the tournament in total, assuming all of the teams played each other once for the regular season of the tournament?

Cheese: Dunno?

Larry: Cheese, I dunno either. But, this problem sounds familiar. Let me get back with you with an answer...

Well, Cheese I did find the answer! I spent a day working on a solution. You can read it at my github on my quick study of dynamic programming and combinatoric mathematics using combinations . I even went the extra mile for you bud and solved the permutation problem as well, assuming the order of playing teams does not matter. Meaning, these scenarios cover the use cases if each little league baseball team played each other twice. This one is for you Cheese! And to the rest of you readers I would love to hear your feedback and tell me if you learned anything after reading my post and taking a gander at my github.

If you are feeling froggy please jump and take the quiz to see what you learned and give feedback to continue to improve on this content. Know your MATH!