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Three students were asked to evaluation the hypothesis "All odd numbers > 1 are prime." The math major replied "3 is prime. 5 is prime. 7 is prime. 9 is ... NO
by CurtMonash 14y ago
Three students were asked to evaluation the hypothesis "All odd numbers > 1 are prime."
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. ;)
- tosseraccount 14y agoYou just described Bioinformatics! sigh We got all 3.
- webwarrior 14y agoDidn't get the "engineering major" part. Why he thought that 9 is prime?
- Xurinos 14y agoI 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.
- dbaupp 14y agoI think it might just be implying that engineering students aren't very good at mathematics.
- tel 14y agoBecause he doesn't understand what "evaluate the hypothesis" means.
- ufo 14y agoThe version I saw of this joke also had a version for the biology major: 3 is prime, 4 is prime, 5 is prime... :)