Re:“I don't know the numbers”: a math puzzle
by Layke1123 on Sunday May 08, 2022 @11:47PM
(#31310393)
No, what I think he is highlighting is how people not interested in math approach a problem like this. I asked my girl friend this question on the way home from our Mother's Day dinner, and she had a very similar statement. It says something about how mathematicians could improve on their analogies, not whether he is interested in solving a math problem. I found it insightful even if it was not directly tied to the "correct" speech on Hacker News.
[ Parent
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One's disinterest or inability to do math has no bearing on the quality of a math problem.
Re:“I don't know the numbers”: a math puzzle
by Layke1123 on Monday May 09, 2022 @09:03AM
(#31313520)
That's not what this is about though. It's about sparking interest in math, and many on here are showing exactly why math people can me off putting for non math people.
Re:“I don't know the numbers”: a math puzzle
by hamburglar on Tuesday May 10, 2022 @12:47AM
(#31323561)
It doesn’t really have anything to do with math. It’s problem solving. I’m pretty sure the legendary farmer who had to get his fox and chicken across the river never actually existed, but the point of the problem is to be a framework for using your brain, not an actual attempt to help a farmer with a real dilemma.
Maybe someone doesn’t enjoy these types of problems, but objecting based on the obviously-contrived premise not being realistic just makes them look dumb.
Re:“I don't know the numbers”: a math puzzle
by thewakalix on Monday May 09, 2022 @03:16AM
(#31311482)
They're the same picture.