Vagueness and the Aftermath - A sporadic diary

[Cf]

Actually. If we consider that decks of cards come packaged in a specific order and that a lot of people suck at shuffling then it's nailed on.

But assuming it's truly random... investigating now

[gatso]

Despite that large number I can't help but feel it's a statistacal certainty that at least 2 shuffles ever made have matched.

edit: prob misuse of the term certainty. very very very likely.

yes it's close to a statistical certainty but that's not the question that was asked

question was if we take one specific shuffle what are the odds that that order has been seen before. the odds of this are astronomical which is a long way from the near certainty of the new question you've come up with

[Kev B]

I eat at least 4 chocky bars a day and never put weight on. 

[Marky147]

How can getting fat creep up on you?

Surely you notice when your trousers don't fit you any more?

It never crept up on me, I bought a load of new clothes when I had put some weight on and when they got tight it was a wtf moment. I thought it might be an idea to keep my weight lower as I'm becoming more immobile as time goes on without the extra weight and I didn't really want another wardrobe bill on my c/card 

I eat at least 4 chocky bars a day and never put weight on. 

Haha mbn......

[Laxie]

I eat at least 4 chocky bars a day and never put weight on. 

Harsh rub down Red.  Dunno would I put up with it. 

[RED-DOG]

I eat at least 4 chocky bars a day and never put weight on. 

Harsh rub down Red.  Dunno would I put up with it. 

Meh! He has his afternoon delights, I have mine. (But not four times)

[Cf]

Despite that large number I can't help but feel it's a statistacal certainty that at least 2 shuffles ever made have matched.

edit: prob misuse of the term certainty. very very very likely.

yes it's close to a statistical certainty but that's not the question that was asked

question was if we take one specific shuffle what are the odds that that order has been seen before. the odds of this are astronomical which is a long way from the near certainty of the new question you've come up with

Ah yes. I misread it.

Altho I reckon it's likely if you take the first shuffle of a new deck

[gatso]

Altho I reckon it's likely if you take the first shuffle of a new deck

yeah, should probs attach a proviso that there has to have been a true shuffle. it's 7 riffles isn't it that you need to truly randomise?

[RED-DOG]

I spent an hour or so in Foyles bookshop at St Pancras yesterday. I didn't actually buy any books, I'm too much of a nit, but were I not a nit, I could have easily spent £200.

I do like to have a look what's out there though, so that I can keep my "To acquire" list updated.


One of the books I added was this. Has anyone read it? (Of course I know people have read it, but I mean any of you lot)







I'm fascinated my maths, but I'm crap at it. (Or should that read crap at them)?


I found this review





http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/alexs-adventures-in-numberland-by-alex-bellos-1978224.html

[tikay]

I spent an hour or so in Foyles bookshop at St Pancras yesterday. I didn't actually buy any books, I'm too much of a nit, but were I not a nit, I could have easily spent £200.

I do like to have a look what's out there though, so that I can keep my "To acquire" list updated.


One of the books I added was this. Has anyone read it? (Of course I know people have read it, but I mean any of you lot)







I'm fascinated my maths, but I'm crap at it. (Or should that read crap at them)?


I found this review





http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/alexs-adventures-in-numberland-by-alex-bellos-1978224.html

I never even knew Foyles had a branch in St Pancras, Tom. Worth a visit to "proper" Foyles, in Charing Cross Road if you are down that part of the world. They do splendid Portugese custard tarts in the Cafe there, too.

There are few more satisfying pleasures than a day in a proper book shop, but I find I have to set a limit on how many books I buy, or I end up buying way too many. I doubt I've ever been to Foyles without spending £200, & I try to go there 2 or 3 times every year. Heaven on earth, because after leaving the Shop, I can't wait to start reading the books, I argue with myself which one to start on, & I end up reading all night for weeks on end.

I think my minimum time in Foyles must be about 3 hours, too.

To begin, I select every book I fancy, & hide them in a little corner of the shop, (which has, I think, 6 floors!) in an obscure department, like a squirrel hides nuts, & I keep adding to the stash. Then comes the tough bit, to pare the collection down to a manageable number, say 8 or 10, & then I endlessly dither over what to "dump", & what to buy.

That book looks absolutely superb, by the way. It is not necessary to have a deep understanding of maths, to enjoy well-written books about it.

I've just had a sort of particle physics burst, & read 8 or 9 books on a matter (see that, a "matter"?....) which completely whooshes me, but it's incredibly absorbing to read, try to digest, & to wonder at how clever the people who understand this stuff must be.

[RED-DOG]

I spent an hour or so in Foyles bookshop at St Pancras yesterday. I didn't actually buy any books, I'm too much of a nit, but were I not a nit, I could have easily spent £200.

I do like to have a look what's out there though, so that I can keep my "To acquire" list updated.


One of the books I added was this. Has anyone read it? (Of course I know people have read it, but I mean any of you lot)







I'm fascinated my maths, but I'm crap at it. (Or should that read crap at them)?


I found this review





http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/alexs-adventures-in-numberland-by-alex-bellos-1978224.html

I never even knew Foyles had a branch in St Pancras, Tom. Worth a visit to "proper" Foyles, in Charing Cross Road if you are down that part of the world. They do splendid Portugese custard tarts in the Cafe there, too.

There are few more satisfying pleasures than a day in a proper book shop, but I find I have to set a limit on how many books I buy, or I end up buying way too many. I doubt I've ever been to Foyles without spending £200, & I try to go there 2 or 3 times every year. Heaven on earth, because after leaving the Shop, I can't wait to start reading the books, I argue with myself which one to start on, & I end up reading all night for weeks on end.

I think my minimum time in Foyles must be about 3 hours, too.

To begin, I select every book I fancy, & hide them in a little corner of the shop, (which has, I think, 6 floors!) in an obscure department, like a squirrel hides nuts, & I keep adding to the stash. Then comes the tough bit, to pare the collection down to a manageable number, say 8 or 10, & then I endlessly dither over what to "dump", & what to buy.

That book looks absolutely superb, by the way. It is not necessary to have a deep understanding of maths, to enjoy well-written books about it.

I've just had a sort of particle physics burst, & read 8 or 9 books on a matter (see that, a "matter"?....) which completely whooshes me, but it's incredibly absorbing to read, try to digest, & to wonder at how clever the people who understand this stuff must be.

I don't want to embarrass you, (Well to be honest I don't mind embarrassing you) but what a well crafted, wonderfully descriptive reply.

So squirrel-like too. I could easily imagine you dashing home with your books, bushy tail waving madly, and getting squashed flat by some spotty kid in a Fiat Punto while crossing the road.

[Laxie]

You were going so well...

I don't want to embarrass you, (Well to be honest I don't mind embarrassing you) but what a well crafted, wonderfully descriptive reply.

And then BAM! 

So squirrel-like too. I could easily imagine you dashing home with your books, bushy tail waving madly, and getting squashed flat by some spotty kid in a Fiat Punto while crossing the road.

 

[RED-DOG]

[tikay]

I spent an hour or so in Foyles bookshop at St Pancras yesterday. I didn't actually buy any books, I'm too much of a nit, but were I not a nit, I could have easily spent £200.

I do like to have a look what's out there though, so that I can keep my "To acquire" list updated.


One of the books I added was this. Has anyone read it? (Of course I know people have read it, but I mean any of you lot)







I'm fascinated my maths, but I'm crap at it. (Or should that read crap at them)?


I found this review





http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/alexs-adventures-in-numberland-by-alex-bellos-1978224.html

I never even knew Foyles had a branch in St Pancras, Tom. Worth a visit to "proper" Foyles, in Charing Cross Road if you are down that part of the world. They do splendid Portugese custard tarts in the Cafe there, too.

There are few more satisfying pleasures than a day in a proper book shop, but I find I have to set a limit on how many books I buy, or I end up buying way too many. I doubt I've ever been to Foyles without spending £200, & I try to go there 2 or 3 times every year. Heaven on earth, because after leaving the Shop, I can't wait to start reading the books, I argue with myself which one to start on, & I end up reading all night for weeks on end.

I think my minimum time in Foyles must be about 3 hours, too.

To begin, I select every book I fancy, & hide them in a little corner of the shop, (which has, I think, 6 floors!) in an obscure department, like a squirrel hides nuts, & I keep adding to the stash. Then comes the tough bit, to pare the collection down to a manageable number, say 8 or 10, & then I endlessly dither over what to "dump", & what to buy.

That book looks absolutely superb, by the way. It is not necessary to have a deep understanding of maths, to enjoy well-written books about it.

I've just had a sort of particle physics burst, & read 8 or 9 books on a matter (see that, a "matter"?....) which completely whooshes me, but it's incredibly absorbing to read, try to digest, & to wonder at how clever the people who understand this stuff must be.

I don't want to embarrass you, (Well to be honest I don't mind embarrassing you) but what a well crafted, wonderfully descriptive reply.

So squirrel-like too. I could easily imagine you dashing home with your books, bushy tail waving madly, and getting squashed flat by some spotty kid in a Fiat Punto while crossing the road.

Damn you, I was CERtaiN you might mention my superb particle physics pun, but I guess it matters not.

[RED-DOG]

Q: What is the definition of a tachyon?
A: It's a gluon that's not completely dry.