From AV's Pool Challenge thread...
Now, I looked at this and thought that the situation wasn't taking into account everything it should have. So I presented an alternative situation...
Let's say someone broke, and then a second person wrote down a statement claiming that he had not broken, but had simply placed the balls in this position. Later, a third person comes in, reads the documentation and concludes that the documentation MUST be right, and anyone who says the balls reached this position as a result of regular play is terribly wrong. The third person refuses to consider any alternative, and claims, "The documentation says it, that settles it!"
Is the third person right?
Take a look at this picture:
Let's say someone set these balls down this way.
Later, someone looking at it says, "Nice break."
Was he wrong?
Let's say someone broke, and then a second person wrote down a statement claiming that he had not broken, but had simply placed the balls in this position. Later, a third person comes in, reads the documentation and concludes that the documentation MUST be right, and anyone who says the balls reached this position as a result of regular play is terribly wrong. The third person refuses to consider any alternative, and claims, "The documentation says it, that settles it!"
Is the third person right?