https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=92.41.130.34 2026-07-10T18:03:50Z User contributions MediaWiki 1.30.0 https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1153:_Proof&diff=23804 2012-12-28T05:50:29Z

<p>92.41.130.34: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 1153<br /> | date = December 28, 2012<br /> | title = Proof<br /> | image = proof.png<br /> | titletext = The prosecution calls Gottfried Leibniz.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> One of Zeno's most famous paradoxes has Achilles race a tortotoise. Achilles is so confident of victory that he allows the tortoise a head start. Zeno's paradox is that, no matter how fast he runs, Achilles will never catch the tortoise because by he time Achilles has reached the point where the tortoise was when Achilles started, the tortoise has moved and so Achilles still has a little further to run. This continues ad infinitum and the tortoise wins.<br /> <br /> This paradox is often stated as whereever you are on your journey, you can split the remaining distance in to two halves, so you can never reach your destination because you still have at least one half to go. Thus the laywer can never reach the judge's bench.<br /> <br /> This paradox was solved by integral calculus (Zeno's paradox is taught to UK Physics undergrads), hence the alt-text's mention of Leibniz<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :Zeno: My client couldn't have killed anyone with this arrow, and I can ''prove'' it!<br /> :Judge: I'd like to examine your proof, Zeno. You may approach the bench.<br /> :Zeno: -But never reach it!<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Philosophy]]</div>

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