16% of threads on the first page are silly threads about percents

[[serious]]

Since the thread title has numbers, it must be important an relevant.

 

[Nithavela]

No no, you are wrong. It is not important, because it does not mention an opinion. After all, this here is the opinion-forum, and the only thing important is how many people believe any given thing.

 

[[serious]]

No no, you are wrong. It is not important, because it does not mention an opinion. After all, this here is the opinion-forum, and the only thing important is how many people believe any given thing.

 

[Resha Caner]

5 out of every 4 people don't understand statistics.

 

[bhsmte]

5 out of every 4 people don't understand statistics.

And 3 out of 4 will twist them to their liking.

 

[Mr Clean]

Lambda-CDM!!!!

I just wanted to do it before Michael had the chance.

Boy did that feel great....

 

[AV1611VET]

5 out of every 4 people don't understand statistics.

I know one poster here who can't understand how 2 + 2 can equal 5 in the Bible.

 

[Strathos]

I know one poster here who can't understand how 2 + 2 can equal 5 in the Bible.

I'm pretty sure you're the only one with that odd interpretation actually.

 

[Resha Caner]

This is an old one, but I still like it:

a = b
a^2 = ab
a^2 + a^2 = ab + a^2
2a^2 = a^2 + ab
2a^2 - 2ab = a^2 + ab - 2ab
2a^2 - 2ab = a^2 - ab
2(a^2 - ab) = 1(a^2 - ab)
2 = 1

Find the error.

 

[AV1611VET]

I'm pretty sure you're the only one with that odd interpretation actually.

Ya ... we have a habit of calling that "basic doctrine."

 

[AV1611VET]

This is an old one, but I still like it:

a = b
a^2 = ab
a^2 + a^2 = ab + a^2
2a^2 = a^2 + ab
2a^2 - 2ab = a^2 + ab - 2ab
2a^2 - 2ab = a^2 - ab
2(a^2 - ab) = 1(a^2 - ab)
2 = 1

Find the error.

Why don't you just say:

2(50-50)=1(50-50)
2=1

... and be done with it?

 

[freezerman2000]

Why don't you just say:

2(50-50)=1(50-50)
2=1

... and be done with it?

And take the challenge away from folks?Why do that?

 

[Radagast]

16% of threads on the first page are silly threads about percents

Is that including this one?

If so, bonus points for being self-referential.

 

[Strathos]

Every other Christian in the thread about that said that passage had nothing to do with math.

 

[[serious]]

I know one poster here who can't understand how 2 + 2 can equal 5 in the Bible.

Atheist math is the devil!

 

[Resha Caner]

Why don't you just say:

2(50-50)=1(50-50)
2=1

... and be done with it?

How one approaches such issues is revealing.

 

[Resha Caner]

Another one I like is Gabriel's trumpet:

Gabriel's Horn - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[AV1611VET]

How one approaches such issues is revealing.

This:

This is an old one, but I still like it:

a = b
a^2 = ab
a^2 + a^2 = ab + a^2
2a^2 = a^2 + ab
2a^2 - 2ab = a^2 + ab - 2ab
2a^2 - 2ab = a^2 - ab
2(a^2 - ab) = 1(a^2 - ab)
2 = 1

Find the error.

... is the equivalent of a Rube Goldberg machine.

Albeit I do see the shock value in it, as one would instinctively drop down to see the conclusion (2 = 1) and think, "Huh, what?"

 

[Resha Caner]

This:
... is the equivalent of a Rube Goldberg machine.

It might appear that way to those who've never had to use algebra extensively. I've solved many an equation in my day - most of them more intensive than the one shown here.

The purpose of algebra is not to make unnecessary work (as much as high school students may think that). Rather, it is to provide a standard, quantitative, rigorous process for problem solving. For those of us who have seen people fail time and again by short-cutting the process and using gut feel, there are several lessons to be learned from this little exercise.

One lesson you might be alluding to with your comment is that when the math becomes complex, one can lose the forest for the trees. Intuition, though not an infallible test, is a good guide - a good source for skepticism. If the result doesn't make sense, checking and re-checking is necessary to find out the "why" for the result. However, if the "why" remains true to algebra, then the result must be accepted - intuitive or not (hence the Gabriel's trumpet example).

Like I said, that's one lesson. There are others.

I could infer that you spotted an error in the problem, but you've not explicitly articulated it (nor has anyone else). I thought this one was pretty well known, but maybe I'm wrong. So what do you think is the error?

 

[AV1611VET]

I could infer that you spotted an error in the problem, but you've not explicitly articulated it (nor has anyone else). I thought this one was pretty well known, but maybe I'm wrong. So what do you think is the error?

I don't think it's an error, so much as I think it's an optical illusion.

The premises set up a smoke screen.

I have made up one that I think is along the same lines, that goes like this:

Farmer Brown has ten cows.

He sells some of them.

Now he has twelve.

How many cows did Farmer Brown sell?