Re: There’s more to mathematics than rigour and proofs
by tosseraccount on Sunday November 11, 2012 @09:47AM
(#4769582)
You just described Bioinformatics! sigh We got all 3.
Re: There’s more to mathematics than rigour and proofs
by ufo on Sunday November 11, 2012 @07:52PM
(#4771155)
The version I saw of this joke also had a version for the biology major:
3 is prime, 4 is prime, 5 is prime... :)
Re: There’s more to mathematics than rigour and proofs
by webwarrior on Sunday November 11, 2012 @10:41AM
(#4769704)
Didn't get the "engineering major" part. Why he thought that 9 is prime?
Re: There’s more to mathematics than rigour and proofs
by Xurinos on Sunday November 11, 2012 @11:27AM
(#4769816)
I didn't get it either, but my guess: The engineering student took a literal view. You told him to evaluate the statement; you gave him a rule. If you say all odd numbers greater than 1 are prime, then so be it.
The math major replied "3 is prime. 5 is prime. 7 is prime. 9 is ... NOT prime. The hypothesis is false."
The chemistry major replied "3 is prime. 5 is prime. 7 is prime. 9 is ... NOT prime. 11 is prime. 13 is prime ... The hypothesis is looking good, within experimental error."
The engineering major replied "3 is prime. 5 is prime. 7 is prime. 9 is prime. 11 is prime ..."
That's one way to cope when you're overmatched by rigor. ;)