403: Convincing Pickup Line
m (→Explanation) |
|||
| Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
A {{w|graph (mathematics)|graph}} is a mathematical object consisting of '''nodes''' connected by lines called '''edges'''. The nodes could represent for example people, and the edges could represent a connection from having slept together. Now, Megan has such a graph. Arguably, a {{w|symmetric graph|graph that is symmetric}} is nicer than a regular one, why Megan suggests that they should sleep together. | A {{w|graph (mathematics)|graph}} is a mathematical object consisting of '''nodes''' connected by lines called '''edges'''. The nodes could represent for example people, and the edges could represent a connection from having slept together. Now, Megan has such a graph. Arguably, a {{w|symmetric graph|graph that is symmetric}} is nicer than a regular one, why Megan suggests that they should sleep together. | ||
| − | The title text is a small-world joke on the concept of {{w|Erdős number}}. {{w|Paul Erdős}} was a Hungarian mathematician renowned for his eccentricity and productivity. He holds the world record for the number of published math papers, as well as for the number of collaborative papers. A persons Erdős number is the "collaborative distance" between the person and Erdős. Paul Erdős's Erdős number is 0 by definition. All his 511 collaborators have the Erdős number 1. If you have written a paper with someone who's written a paper with someone who's written a paper with Paul Erdős your Erdős number is 3. If you know a mathematician or are a mathematician you can calculate your Erdős number [http://www.ams.org/mathscinet/collaborationDistance.html here]. | + | The title text is a small-world joke on the concept of {{w|Erdős number}}. {{w|Paul Erdős}} was a Hungarian mathematician renowned for his eccentricity and productivity. He holds the world record for the number of published math papers, as well as for the number of collaborative papers. A persons Erdős number is the "collaborative distance" between the person and Erdős. Paul Erdős's Erdős number is 0 by definition. All his 511 collaborators have the Erdős number 1. If you have written a paper with someone who's written a paper with someone who's written a paper with Paul Erdős your Erdős number is 3. If you know a mathematician or are a mathematician you can calculate his/her/your Erdős number [http://www.ams.org/mathscinet/collaborationDistance.html here]. |
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
Latest revision as of 21:35, 17 February 2013
| Convincing Pickup Line |
 Title text: Check it out; I've had sex with someone who's had sex with someone who's written a paper with Paul Erdős! |
[edit] Explanation
A graph is a mathematical object consisting of nodes connected by lines called edges. The nodes could represent for example people, and the edges could represent a connection from having slept together. Now, Megan has such a graph. Arguably, a graph that is symmetric is nicer than a regular one, why Megan suggests that they should sleep together.
The title text is a small-world joke on the concept of Erdős number. Paul Erdős was a Hungarian mathematician renowned for his eccentricity and productivity. He holds the world record for the number of published math papers, as well as for the number of collaborative papers. A persons Erdős number is the "collaborative distance" between the person and Erdős. Paul Erdős's Erdős number is 0 by definition. All his 511 collaborators have the Erdős number 1. If you have written a paper with someone who's written a paper with someone who's written a paper with Paul Erdős your Erdős number is 3. If you know a mathematician or are a mathematician you can calculate his/her/your Erdős number here.
[edit] Transcript
- [Cueball and Megan sit at a small table in a cafe. Megan holds up a graph.]
- Megan: We're a terrible match. But if we sleep together, it'll make the local hookup network a symmetric graph.
- Cueball: I can't argue with that.
add a comment!