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A mathematician, a physicist, an engineer, and a computer scientists are all asked to test the hypothesis that all odd numbers greater than 2 are prime. (Apolog
by _kst_ 6y ago
A mathematician, a physicist, an engineer, and a computer scientists are all asked to test the hypothesis that all odd numbers greater than 2 are prime. (Apologies in advance to engineers.)
The mathematician: 3 is prime, 5 is prime, 7 is prime, 9 is composite. The hypothesis is false.
The physicist: 3 is prime, 5 is prime, 7 is prime, 9 is composite, hmm, 11 is prime, 13 is prime, 15 is composite, 17 is prime, 19 is prime. The hypothesis is true within the margin of error.
The engineer: 3 is prime, 5 is prime, 7 is prime, 9 is prime, 11 is prime, 13 is prime, 15 is prime, ...
The computer scientist: 3 is prime, 5 is prime, 5 is prime, 5 is prime, 5 is prime, 5 is prime, ...
- erik_seaberg 6y agoI heard a version that went Mathematician: “3 is prime, 5 is prime, 7 is prime, therefore by induction we know all odd numbers are prime.” Physicist: “3 is prime, 5 is prime, 7 is prime, 9 must be experimental error.” Computer scientist: “3 is prime, 5 is prime, 7 is prime, 9 is prime …”