Use of astroseismology in this study enabled the astronomers to determine the size of the star with extraordinary precision, which is what enabled the researchers to more accurately determine the size of the planets in this record-breaking discovery.
Not only must you settle on a screen size, you also have touch-enabled machines to consider -- and don't forget those Atom-powered hybrids, which pull double duty as standalone slates and full-fledged laptops.
You can readily see how it would lead him to arrive at the mathematical rules (each spot a different color, a uniform size equal to the space between each spot, etc.), and how the formula enabled him to hire other people to paint them for him.