https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=Pmbpantherexplain xkcd - User contributions [en]2026-06-17T21:23:28ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.30.0https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2520:_Symbols&diff=2184142520: Symbols2021-09-24T20:26:54Z<p>Pmbpanther: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2520<br />
| date = September 24, 2021<br />
| title = Symbols<br />
| image = symbols.png<br />
| titletext = "röntgen" and "rem" are 20th-century physics terms that mean "no trespassing."<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by an internet argument - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
This comic discusses different symbols found in equations, and humorously comments on their implications.<br />
*d/dx: An undergrad is working very hard<br />
d/dx is the symbol for a single-variable {{w|Derivative|derivative}}. This is a mathematical operation that, while difficult, is well within the reach of an undergraduate student, particularly in science. Thus, an equation with this operation would be one that would cause an undergraduate student to work very hard.<br />
<br />
*d/dx: An undergrad is working very hard<br />
d/dx is the symbol for a single-variable {{w|Derivative|derivative}} taken with respect to x. This is a mathematical operation that, while difficult, is well within the reach of an undergraduate student, particularly in science. Thus, an equation with this operation would be one that would cause an undergraduate student to work very hard.<br />
<br />
*∂/∂x: A grad student is working very hard<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
<br />
;d/dx<br />
:an undergrad is working very hard<br />
;∂/∂x<br />
:a grad student is working very hard<br />
;ħ<br />
:oh wow, this is apparently a quantum thing<br />
;R<sub>e</sub><br />
:someone needs to do a lot of tedious numerical work; hopefully it's not you<br />
;(T<sub>a</sub><sup>4</sup> - T<sub>b</sub><sup>4</sup>)<br />
:you are at risk of skin burns<br />
;N<sub>A</sub><br />
:you are probably about to make an incredibly dangerous arithmetic error<br />
;µm<br />
:careful, that equipment is expensive<br />
;mK<br />
:careful, that equipment is <i>very</i> expensive<br />
;nm<br />
:don't shine that in your eye<br />
;eV<br />
:<i>definitely</i> don't shine that in your eye<br />
;mSv<br />
:you are about to get into an internet argument<br />
;mg/kg<br />
:go wash your hands<br />
;µg/kg<br />
:go get in the chemical shower<br />
;π or τ<br />
:whatever answer you get will be wrong by a factor of exactly two<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>Pmbpantherhttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2520:_Symbols&diff=2184132520: Symbols2021-09-24T20:23:20Z<p>Pmbpanther: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2520<br />
| date = September 24, 2021<br />
| title = Symbols<br />
| image = symbols.png<br />
| titletext = "röntgen" and "rem" are 20th-century physics terms that mean "no trespassing."<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by an internet argument - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
This comic discusses different symbols found in equations, and humorously comments on their implications.<br />
*d/dx: An undergrad is working very hard<br />
d/dx is the symbol for a single-variable {{w|Derivative|derivative}}. This is a mathematical operation that, while difficult, is well within the reach of an undergraduate student, particularly in science. Thus, an equation with this operation would be one that would cause an undergraduate student to work very hard.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
<br />
;d/dx<br />
:an undergrad is working very hard<br />
;∂/∂x<br />
:a grad student is working very hard<br />
;ħ<br />
:oh wow, this is apparently a quantum thing<br />
;R<sub>e</sub><br />
:someone needs to do a lot of tedious numerical work; hopefully it's not you<br />
;(T<sub>a</sub><sup>4</sup> - T<sub>b</sub><sup>4</sup>)<br />
:you are at risk of skin burns<br />
;N<sub>A</sub><br />
:you are probably about to make an incredibly dangerous arithmetic error<br />
;µm<br />
:careful, that equipment is expensive<br />
;mK<br />
:careful, that equipment is <i>very</i> expensive<br />
;nm<br />
:don't shine that in your eye<br />
;eV<br />
:<i>definitely</i> don't shine that in your eye<br />
;mSv<br />
:you are about to get into an internet argument<br />
;mg/kg<br />
:go wash your hands<br />
;µg/kg<br />
:go get in the chemical shower<br />
;π or τ<br />
:whatever answer you get will be wrong by a factor of exactly two<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>Pmbpantherhttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2520:_Symbols&diff=2184122520: Symbols2021-09-24T20:21:47Z<p>Pmbpanther: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2520<br />
| date = September 24, 2021<br />
| title = Symbols<br />
| image = symbols.png<br />
| titletext = "röntgen" and "rem" are 20th-century physics terms that mean "no trespassing."<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by an internet argument - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
This comic discusses different symbols found in equations, and humorously comments on their implications.<br />
*d/dx: An undergrad is working very hard<br />
d/dx is the symbol for a single-variable derivative. This is a mathematical operation that, while difficult, is well within the reach of an undergraduate student, particularly in science. Thus, an equation with this operation would be one that would cause an undergraduate student to work very hard.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
<br />
;d/dx<br />
:an undergrad is working very hard<br />
;∂/∂x<br />
:a grad student is working very hard<br />
;ħ<br />
:oh wow, this is apparently a quantum thing<br />
;R<sub>e</sub><br />
:someone needs to do a lot of tedious numerical work; hopefully it's not you<br />
;(T<sub>a</sub><sup>4</sup> - T<sub>b</sub><sup>4</sup>)<br />
:you are at risk of skin burns<br />
;N<sub>A</sub><br />
:you are probably about to make an incredibly dangerous arithmetic error<br />
;µm<br />
:careful, that equipment is expensive<br />
;mK<br />
:careful, that equipment is <i>very</i> expensive<br />
;nm<br />
:don't shine that in your eye<br />
;eV<br />
:<i>definitely</i> don't shine that in your eye<br />
;mSv<br />
:you are about to get into an internet argument<br />
;mg/kg<br />
:go wash your hands<br />
;µg/kg<br />
:go get in the chemical shower<br />
;π or τ<br />
:whatever answer you get will be wrong by a factor of exactly two<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>Pmbpanther