Difference between revisions of "626: Newton and Leibniz"

Explain xkcd: It's 'cause you're dumb.
Jump to: navigation, search
m (added Category:Math using HotCat)
m ("eight" not "8")
(18 intermediate revisions by 11 users not shown)
Line 8: Line 8:
  
 
==Explanation==
 
==Explanation==
First and foremost {{w|Isaac Newton}} and {{w|Gottfried Leibniz}} both invented {{w|calculus}} independently of each other, as the comic says, about 8 years apart. However, Newton disputed the fact that Leibniz invented calculus independent of him.
+
{{w|Isaac Newton}} and {{w|Gottfried Leibniz}} both developed {{w|calculus}} independently of each other about eight years apart, as it says in the comic. However, although Newton had begun working on calculus before Leibniz, he didn't publish it, and Leibniz was the first to publish it (see the {{w|Leibniz–Newton calculus controversy}}).
  
In calculus a {{w|derivative}} is the result of mathematical differentiation; the instantaneous change of one quantity relative to another; df(x)/dx. Another way to think of the derivative, is a plot of all the slopes of lines tangent to the original equation. However, the literary word derivative means to develop from something older.
+
In calculus a {{w|derivative}} is the result of mathematical differentiation: the instantaneous rate of change of a function relative to its argument, and denoted df(x)/dx. Another way to think of the derivative is as a plot of all the slopes of lines tangent to the graph of a function. However, the literary word [http://www.thefreedictionary.com/derivative derivative means] developed from something older or copied/adapted from others, as Newton claims is the case here.
  
So, the pun is that Newton in the comic is claiming that Leibniz's derivative (meaning: the invention of calculus) is a derivative of (meaning: developed from) his derivative (meaning: calculus).
+
The pun is that Newton is claiming that Leibniz's mathematical derivative is a derivative, or descendant, from his earlier development of this calculus.
  
The comic as a whole is mocking the pattern of corny one-liners that {{w|David Caruso}} often spurts out during the opening scenes of {{w|CSI: Miami}}. The one liner is followed by him dramatically pulling off his sunglasses and then the show breaks into the title sequence which starts with the word "YEEEEAAAAAAAH.This has become a [http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/csi-4-pane-comics popular Internet meme] and was used frequently most recently with {{w|Michael Jackson}}'s death.
+
The comic as a whole is mocking the pattern of corny one-liners that {{w|David Caruso}} often spurts out during the opening scenes of {{w|CSI: Miami}}. The one liner is followed by him dramatically pulling off or [[:Category:Puts on sunglasses |putting on his sunglasses]] and then the show breaks into the title sequence which starts with the word "YEEEEAAAAAAAH" (as noted in the title text). This has become a [http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/csi-4-pane-comics popular Internet meme] and was used frequently with {{w|Michael Jackson}}'s death. The sunglasses joke was also used in the title text of [[977: Map Projections]].
  
 
==Transcript==
 
==Transcript==
:Newton, 1666
+
 
:[Newton with long white hair holds up a sheet of paper.]
+
:[Newton with long white hair, facing right, holds up a sheet of paper, with several lines indicating the writing on it, in one hand and the other hand is also held up. He stands in front of an empty desk. A smaller frame breaking the border at the top of the frame has a caption:]
 +
:Caption: Newton, 1666
 
:Newton: I've invented calculus!
 
:Newton: I've invented calculus!
:Leibniz, 1674
+
 
:[Leibniz with long black hair holds up a sheet of paper.]
+
:[Leibniz with long black hair, facing left, holds up a sheet of paper, with several lines indicating the writing on it, in one hand. He stands in front of a desk with a book and two pieces of paper, one lying below the other paper but up above the book. A smaller frame breaking the border at the top of the frame has a caption:]
 +
:Caption: :Leibniz, 1674
 
:Leibniz: I've invented calculus!
 
:Leibniz: I've invented calculus!
 +
 +
:[Back to a similar image of Newton, but he has now taken his arms down, still holding his paper.]
 
:Newton: Really? Sounds a little bit...
 
:Newton: Really? Sounds a little bit...
:[Newton puts on a pair of sunglasses.]
 
:Newton: ...''Derivative.''
 
  
{{comic discussion}}  
+
:[Zoom in on Newton as he puts on a pair of sunglasses in a panel without a frame. The table is not included.]
[[Category:Puts on sunglasses]]
+
 
 +
:[Newton now with sunglasses on, again in front of the table.]
 +
:Newton: ... '''''Derivative.'''''
 +
 
 +
{{comic discussion}}
 +
 
 
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]]
 
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]]
 
[[Category:Math]]
 
[[Category:Math]]
 +
[[Category:Puts on sunglasses]]
 +
[[Category:Puns]]

Revision as of 13:20, 7 June 2016

Newton and Leibniz
YEEEEEEAAAAAAHHHHHH!
Title text: YEEEEEEAAAAAAHHHHHH!

Explanation

Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz both developed calculus independently of each other about eight years apart, as it says in the comic. However, although Newton had begun working on calculus before Leibniz, he didn't publish it, and Leibniz was the first to publish it (see the Leibniz–Newton calculus controversy).

In calculus a derivative is the result of mathematical differentiation: the instantaneous rate of change of a function relative to its argument, and denoted df(x)/dx. Another way to think of the derivative is as a plot of all the slopes of lines tangent to the graph of a function. However, the literary word derivative means developed from something older or copied/adapted from others, as Newton claims is the case here.

The pun is that Newton is claiming that Leibniz's mathematical derivative is a derivative, or descendant, from his earlier development of this calculus.

The comic as a whole is mocking the pattern of corny one-liners that David Caruso often spurts out during the opening scenes of CSI: Miami. The one liner is followed by him dramatically pulling off or putting on his sunglasses and then the show breaks into the title sequence which starts with the word "YEEEEAAAAAAAH" (as noted in the title text). This has become a popular Internet meme and was used frequently with Michael Jackson's death. The sunglasses joke was also used in the title text of 977: Map Projections.

Transcript

[Newton with long white hair, facing right, holds up a sheet of paper, with several lines indicating the writing on it, in one hand and the other hand is also held up. He stands in front of an empty desk. A smaller frame breaking the border at the top of the frame has a caption:]
Caption: Newton, 1666
Newton: I've invented calculus!
[Leibniz with long black hair, facing left, holds up a sheet of paper, with several lines indicating the writing on it, in one hand. He stands in front of a desk with a book and two pieces of paper, one lying below the other paper but up above the book. A smaller frame breaking the border at the top of the frame has a caption:]
Caption: :Leibniz, 1674
Leibniz: I've invented calculus!
[Back to a similar image of Newton, but he has now taken his arms down, still holding his paper.]
Newton: Really? Sounds a little bit...
[Zoom in on Newton as he puts on a pair of sunglasses in a panel without a frame. The table is not included.]
[Newton now with sunglasses on, again in front of the table.]
Newton: ... Derivative.


comment.png add a comment! ⋅ comment.png add a topic (use sparingly)! ⋅ Icons-mini-action refresh blue.gif refresh comments!

Discussion

Is the "break-out sunglasses" a theme on xkcd now?--Classhole 02:38, 24 January 2013 (UTC)

"dramatically pulling off his sunglasses" ?? I'm fairly certain I've never seen the show much less one of these bits, but I thought I understood him to typically be putting on his sunglasses (?) -- Brettpeirce (talk) 14:48, 27 February 2014 (UTC)

The introduction to a glossy Hollywoodland whodunnit is Derivatives? With a take on glasses?
I really need to get a TV and catch up on all the wonderful stuff I have been missing out on.
Does it go into any details about how the two protagonists solved their issues?
I'd really like to see a study on the state of mind that gave the world fluxions and a computer close up of the journey from "fluxions to calculus notation" in 8 years.

I used Google News BEFORE it was clickbait (talk) 00:58, 29 January 2015 (UTC)