5 ms·

I'd say, hey, how do you calculate (1-h)^k? First take the natural log: ln((1-h)^k) = k ln(1-h) = -kh. And then exponentiate back up: e^(-kh). (For small v

I'd say, hey, how do you calculate (1-h)^k? First take the natural log: ln((1-h)^k) = k ln(1-h) = -kh. And then exponentiate back up: e^(-kh). (For small values of h, ln(1-h) = -h by linear approximation.) (Edit: Wiped out looong comment.)

StavrosK 10y ago
I think by "intuition" the GP meant "for the non-mathematicians" :P
- pc86 10y ago
  It's always amusing when someone asks for a layman/non-math/intuitive reason why something works out and HN responds with a 3-paragraph long proof that seems to always require university-level math. And it seems those comments almost invariably start with "Oh, you just..."
  - sokoloff 10y ago
    Reminds me of my favorite "HN isn't the normal world" exchange: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35079 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35079
    - pc86 10y ago
      In a sibling thread on that page: cperciva 3548 days ago [-] That is my startup idea. I don't want to take this thread even more off-topic (if that's even possible), but please feel free to contact me at the address in that first post to explain why you think it is a bad idea. dhouston 3548 days ago [-] we're in a similar space -- http://www.getdropbox.com (and part of the yc summer 07 program) basically, sync and backup done right (but for windows and os x). i had the same frustrations as you with existing solutions. let me know if it's something you're interested in, or if you want to chat about it sometime. drew (at getdropbox.com)
  - TeMPOraL 10y ago
    'pedrosorio gave a nice one upthread[0]. Ultimately, it's hard to give a math-free explanation for something that comes out straight from math. If you break down an explanation into small enough steps, they should be comprehensible for anyone even if they have to take some steps on faith. -- [0] - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14040434 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14040434
    - StavrosK 10y ago
      He did, yes, I was just amused by the GP's answer!

StavrosK 10y ago

I think by "intuition" the GP meant "for the non-mathematicians" :P

pc86 10y ago
It's always amusing when someone asks for a layman/non-math/intuitive reason why something works out and HN responds with a 3-paragraph long proof that seems to always require university-level math. And it seems those comments almost invariably start with "Oh, you just..."
- sokoloff 10y ago
  Reminds me of my favorite "HN isn't the normal world" exchange: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35079 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35079
  - pc86 10y ago
    In a sibling thread on that page: cperciva 3548 days ago [-] That is my startup idea. I don't want to take this thread even more off-topic (if that's even possible), but please feel free to contact me at the address in that first post to explain why you think it is a bad idea. dhouston 3548 days ago [-] we're in a similar space -- http://www.getdropbox.com (and part of the yc summer 07 program) basically, sync and backup done right (but for windows and os x). i had the same frustrations as you with existing solutions. let me know if it's something you're interested in, or if you want to chat about it sometime. drew (at getdropbox.com)
- TeMPOraL 10y ago
  'pedrosorio gave a nice one upthread[0]. Ultimately, it's hard to give a math-free explanation for something that comes out straight from math. If you break down an explanation into small enough steps, they should be comprehensible for anyone even if they have to take some steps on faith. -- [0] - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14040434 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14040434
  - StavrosK 10y ago
    He did, yes, I was just amused by the GP's answer!