The Penguin Dictionary of Curious and Interesting Numbers lists 39 as the first non-interesting number:
“39 appears to be the first uninteresting number, which of course makes it an especially interesting number, because it is the smallest number to have the property of being uninteresting. It is therefore also the first number to be simultaneously interesting and uninteresting.”
The first integer not listed in the Dictionary is 43, so 43 is presumably the first uninteresting number that is not also interesting.
“Proof: Assume the contrary; i.e., the set of interesting programs is non-empty. Arrange them (or it) in order of interest (note that all sets can be well-ordered, so do it properly). The minimal element is the least interesting program, the obvious dullness of which provides the contradictory denouement we so devoutly seek.”
Hmm…Some people find numbers interesting. Consider the story about Ramanujan and the cab number. I don’t believe the premise implies that all people are interested in “interesting” numbers. More to the point it doesn’t say so.
That was evil. The proof is of course fallacious. The evil part is that it blurs the distinction—which everyone should be aware of—between a set and its elements. The elements are interesting even if the set is not.
Zykoic over 1 year ago
Occam’s lesser known corollary.
Ida No over 1 year ago
It’s true. No one cares about 42, 51, 69 or 1000000000000066600000000000001.
Qiset over 1 year ago
Not necessarily true. Suppose S was the set of all known sexy women. Knowing about it would be very interesting.
lopaka over 1 year ago
Q. E. D.
rmercer Premium Member over 1 year ago
Don’t quit your day job…
catchup over 1 year ago
Someone has been reading up on his Bertrand Russell
cor_en_fa over 1 year ago
OF COURSE no numbers are interesting. Ah, but the infinite ways they can interact…
James Redekop Premium Member over 1 year ago
The Penguin Dictionary of Curious and Interesting Numbers lists 39 as the first non-interesting number:
“39 appears to be the first uninteresting number, which of course makes it an especially interesting number, because it is the smallest number to have the property of being uninteresting. It is therefore also the first number to be simultaneously interesting and uninteresting.”
The first integer not listed in the Dictionary is 43, so 43 is presumably the first uninteresting number that is not also interesting.
Happy Tinkerbelle Premium Member over 1 year ago
Love love love the therefore sign!!!!
FireAnt_Hater over 1 year ago
LOL everyone (after a few years) knows about sex. Does that make sex non-interesting?
prrdh over 1 year ago
“Theorem: All programs are dull.
“Proof: Assume the contrary; i.e., the set of interesting programs is non-empty. Arrange them (or it) in order of interest (note that all sets can be well-ordered, so do it properly). The minimal element is the least interesting program, the obvious dullness of which provides the contradictory denouement we so devoutly seek.”
Stan Kelly-Bootle, The Computer Contradictionary
freshmeet2030 over 1 year ago
I think this is proof not all comics are funny
willie_mctell over 1 year ago
Hmm…Some people find numbers interesting. Consider the story about Ramanujan and the cab number. I don’t believe the premise implies that all people are interested in “interesting” numbers. More to the point it doesn’t say so.
mbrilliant Premium Member over 1 year ago
That was evil. The proof is of course fallacious. The evil part is that it blurs the distinction—which everyone should be aware of—between a set and its elements. The elements are interesting even if the set is not.
T... over 1 year ago
Scrabble is the word game, numbers are the math game – all games…
Stephen Gilberg over 1 year ago
I prefer the proof that pi equals four.
c001 over 1 year ago
Ex falso quodlibet