The easy/silly quiz thread

[MikeG]

Ah but you've implied the proof by induction (or is it contradiction) that there are no uninteresting numbers. If n is the smallest uninteristing number it is therefore immediatly interesting. Thus the 2nd smallest then becomes the smallest uninteresting number - and so on.

Yet again, therefore, the answer is not n, it is n+1, of which there are an infinite number.

 

[jefmcg]

Yet again, therefore, the answer is not n, it is n+1, of which there are an infinite number.

But only a countably infinite number.

 

[Tim Hall]

But only a countably infinite number.

Just imagine how big the bike rack is at Hibbert's Hotel.

 

[MikeG]

Just imagine how big the bike rack is at Hibbert's Hotel.

Infinitely.

 

[srw]

What's the smallest uninteresting natural number?

3 isn't very interesting. Zero is interesting because it's the identity for addition and destroys numbers using multiplication. One is interesting because it's the identity for multiplication and the generating number for all the rest. Two is quite interesting (but only quite interesting) because it's the basis for parity, which is a reasonably interesting concept. By the time you've got to three, everything gets a bit samey and proper mathematicians have lost interest.

 

[srw]

Just imagine how big the bike rack is at Hibbert's Hotel.

Hilbert. You've got a zero too many in that name.

 

[Tim Hall]

Hilbert. You've got a zero too many in that name.

Dang. Need to clean my glasses and use a bigger screen.

 

[Profpointy]

@jefmcg asserted that all primes are interesting, but as any physicist can tell you all odd numbers are prime.

1 is (I suppose) prime, 3's prime, 5's prime, 7's prime, 9 - we'll put that down as experimental error, 11's prime, 13's prime; well, what more do you want ?

 

[Tim Hall]

@jefmcg asserted that all primes are interesting, but as any physicist can tell you all odd numbers are prime.

1 is (I suppose) prime, 3's prime, 5's prime, 7's prime, 9 - we'll put that down as experimental error, 11's prime, 13's prime; well, what more do you want ?

Time for some xkcd:

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Is it someone's turn or can I jump in with a question?

 

[Tim Hall]

Is it someone's turn or can I jump in with a question?

I think you'd better.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

What links Albert Einstein, Copernicus, Alfred Nobel, Marie & Pierre Curie, and Adam Rutherford?

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

What links Albert Einstein, Copernicus, Alfred Nobel, Marie & Pierre Curie, and Adam Rutherford?

Do they all like Donner kebabs?

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Do they all like Donner kebabs?

All but Nobel, so good attempt but not right.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

What links Albert Einstein, Copernicus, Alfred Nobel, Marie & Pierre Curie, and Adam Rutherford?

They all have elements in the periodic table named after them?