A little maths teaser

[MossCommuter]

2xPi

 

[Gary E]

I refer the honourable gentleman to the following post and subsequent replies.
Now we know where their questions come from ;-)

In fact the answer you'll have is slightly wrong on 2 counts:
1) the distance depends on the shape of the body - you reasonably assume the rope traces a circle round the earth for the purposes of the question but in reality, the peaks and dips in the earth invalidate this and the formula used - you need to know the exact description of the earth's surface where the rope lies
2) there is a small amount of curvature that even under the assumption that the earth is round, the distance between the two ends is just slightly less

There's always one!

 

[Archie_tect]

How would we know that the 2 ends we were measuring were part of the same rope... it could be 2 bits that end just over the horizon... I blame the Italians.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I refer the honourable gentleman to the following post and subsequent replies.
Now we know where their questions come from ;-)

In fact the answer you'll have is slightly wrong on 2 counts:
1) the distance depends on the shape of the body - you reasonably assume the rope traces a circle round the earth for the purposes of the question but in reality, the peaks and dips in the earth invalidate this and the formula used - you need to know the exact description of the earth's surface where the rope lies
2) there is a small amount of curvature that even under the assumption that the earth is round, the distance between the two ends is just slightly less

I got called smartypants for raising your 2nd point. Just warning you like

 

[DiddlyDodds]

I need to get out more, just reading the question made me think Why

 

[thom]

I got called smartypants for raising your 2nd point. Just warning you like

It's the fault of University Challenge for a mis-specified question.
The common element with Newsnight is Paxman of course - off with his head!

 

[DiddlyDodds]

What happens when you go over water (the sea for instance) the rope weighing more then the water it displaces (Archimedes dont you know) will sink so therefore the rope needs lifting the depth of the sea before you can lift it a metre of the surface ..

 

[marinyork]

As hinted at in a more general case, even discounting other differences in shape, planets tend to be slightly oblate around the equator. In other planet's cases this can be fairly significant.

Also as direction wasn't clearly specified you could have various solutions (think of various cylinders surrounding the earth that you slide the rope up and down).

 

[rich p]

I refer the honourable gentleman to the following post and subsequent replies.
Now we know where their questions come from ;-)

In fact the answer you'll have is slightly wrong on 2 counts:
1) the distance depends on the shape of the body - you reasonably assume the rope traces a circle round the earth for the purposes of the question but in reality, the peaks and dips in the earth invalidate this and the formula used - you need to know the exact description of the earth's surface where the rope lies
2) there is a small amount of curvature that even under the assumption that the earth is round, the distance between the two ends is just slightly less

Do you have jurisdiction to post this sensible load of tripe Thom?

 

[deanE]

Never mind the question, the idea of creating text that is the same colour as the background is brilliant. I can email folk and add a hidden postscript that says what I really think of them.
No peeping!

 

[Thomk]

My favourite at the moment:

Chap takes the cellophane off a new pack of playing cards and thoroughly shuffles them. He then turns over the first card which is red and asks “what are the odds that the next card is also red”? The next card is indeed red and he asks again “what are the odds that the next card is also red”? He repeats this until remarkably he has turned over 6 red cards. When he asks the question again “what are the odds that the next (7th) card is also red” what is your answer ?

 

[thom]

Do you have jurisdiction to post this sensible load of tripe Thom?

Unfortunately it's about all I'm qualified to do - 8 years of Math studies brought me to this point.
I was still reeling from failing to model @Noodley's falling leaves properly. When this question came along I guess I thought it was a chance for redemption or something. It just all came out.
I see now my fundamental error: I forgot this was the cafe. It's all downhill for me now.

 

[Maz]

My favourite at the moment:

Chap takes the cellophane off a new pack of playing cards and thoroughly shuffles them. He then turns over the first card which is red and asks “what are the odds that the next card is also red”? The next card is indeed red and he asks again “what are the odds that the next card is also red”? He repeats this until remarkably he has turned over 6 red cards. When he asks the question again “what are the odds that the next (7th) card is also red” what is your answer ?

Is there a joker in the pack?

 

[rich p]

Unfortunately it's about all I'm qualified to do - 8 years of Math studies brought me to this point.
I was still reeling from failing to model @Noodley's falling leaves properly. When this question came along I guess I thought it was a chance for redemption or something. It just all came out.
I see now my fundamental error: I forgot this was the cafe. It's all downhill for me now.

Your main job is to research Armstrong stories Thom, I just can't work out who pays you to do it

 

[Thomk]

Is there a joker in the pack?

No