https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=172.69.50.76&feedformat=atomexplain xkcd - User contributions [en]2024-03-28T20:04:43ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.30.0https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2358:_Gravitational_Wave_Pulsars&diff=1970592358: Gravitational Wave Pulsars2020-09-11T21:11:58Z<p>172.69.50.76: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2358<br />
| date = September 11, 2020<br />
| title = Gravitational Wave Pulsars<br />
| image = gravitational_wave_pulsars.png<br />
| titletext = The most important attributes of a vector in 3-space are {Location, Location, Location}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created WITH EXQUISITE TIMING. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} <br />
<br />
Radio astronomers use pulsars to try to detect gravitational waves. They do this by tracking the rotation of an array of pulsars, super precisely over long periods of time, and fitting for a whole bunch of effects. The process is called "pulsar timing", or just "timing" for short.<br />
<br />
<br />
The title text references a well known real estate saying that the three most important parts are "location, location, location." In 3d space the three coordinates all refer to locations along one axis<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
Ponytail: Ask me what the secret to detecting gravitational waves using pulsars is.<br />
<br />
Cueball: What's the secret to detecting grav--<br />
<br />
Ponytail: '''''Timing!'''''<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category: Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category: Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category: Astronomy]]</div>172.69.50.76https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:2358:_Gravitational_Wave_Pulsars&diff=197058Talk:2358: Gravitational Wave Pulsars2020-09-11T21:10:48Z<p>172.69.50.76: </p>
<hr />
<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~ and don't delete this text. New comments should be added at the bottom.--><br />
<br />
This one isn't very funny..<br />
[[Special:Contributions/162.158.75.190|162.158.75.190]] 19:37, 11 September 2020 (UTC)<br />
::It's not topical either. I sense filler. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.186.100|162.158.186.100]] 19:49, 11 September 2020 (UTC)<br />
::Unless there's a hidden joke that I don't get [[Special:Contributions/172.68.141.176|172.68.141.176]] 20:05, 11 September 2020 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Context is here: https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.04496</div>172.69.50.76https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:2358:_Gravitational_Wave_Pulsars&diff=197057Talk:2358: Gravitational Wave Pulsars2020-09-11T21:10:11Z<p>172.69.50.76: </p>
<hr />
<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~ and don't delete this text. New comments should be added at the bottom.--><br />
<br />
This one isn't very funny..<br />
[[Special:Contributions/162.158.75.190|162.158.75.190]] 19:37, 11 September 2020 (UTC)<br />
::It's not topical either. I sense filler. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.186.100|162.158.186.100]] 19:49, 11 September 2020 (UTC)<br />
::Unless there's a hidden joke that I don't get [[Special:Contributions/172.68.141.176|172.68.141.176]] 20:05, 11 September 2020 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Context is here: https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.04496<br />
<br />
Radio astronomers use pulsars to try to detect gravitational waves. They do this by tracking the rotation of pulsars super precisely over long periods of time, and fitting for a whole bunch of effects. It's called "pulsar timing", or just "timing" for short.</div>172.69.50.76https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2276:_Self-Isolate&diff=1959522276: Self-Isolate2020-08-12T20:13:12Z<p>172.69.50.76: /* Explanation */ Corrected typo</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2276<br />
| date = March 4, 2020<br />
| title = Self-Isolate<br />
| image = self_isolate.png<br />
| titletext = Turns out I've been "practicing social distancing" for years without even realizing it was a thing!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This comic is the second comic in a row in a [[:Category:COVID-19|series of comics]] about the {{w|COVID-19 pandemic|pandemic}} of the {{w|coronavirus disease 2019}}, COVID-19 for short.<br />
<br />
In this comic, [[Cueball]] is watching television and hears a suggestion that people may need to "self-isolate." This refers to the practice of {{w|isolation (health care)|isolating}} infected individuals, to keep the disease from spreading. If the pandemic grows more severe, going out in large crowds could also be discouraged, to avoid being infected by those around you. <br />
<br />
According to the [https://www.hhs.gov/answers/public-health-and-safety/what-is-the-difference-between-isolation-and-quarantine/index.html HHS], both quarantine and isolation help prevent the spread of infectious diseases, but they are different. Quarantine is for well people who might have been exposed to see if they become sick. Isolation is for sick people to keep them from infecting healthy people. So the suggestion for self-isolation means that sick people should stay away from healthy people.<br />
<br />
Cueball's response to this advice is that he's "been practicing for this moment [his] whole life". xkcd frequently refers to social awkwardness, introversion, and difficulty with interpersonal interactions. Cueball (likely representing [[Randall]] himself) appears to find spending time in public and with large groups trying. It's implied that he prefers to spend time alone (or possibly with small groups of family and close friends) rather than going out. The joke is that this tendency is often seen as unhealthy and alienating, but in the case of a pandemic, actually becomes quite valuable. Cueball seems to take an odd sort of pride in the fact that he's skilled at remaining alone and uninfected, while more social people would be in danger. <br />
<br />
The comic image is a link to [https://web.archive.org/web/20200305015204/https://twitter.com/kakape/status/1235319133585248259 one tweet] in a thread of tweets about COVID-19 by [https://twitter.com/kakape @kakape], a science journalist according to their Twitter bio, which says "Social distancing may mean staying further apart from each other physically in coming weeks. We should compensate by caring even more about each other than usually, because we are, of course, all in this together." ([https://web.archive.org/web/20200305015137/https://twitter.com/kakape/status/1235312559324114951 beginning of thread]). <br />
<br />
In the title text, Cueball continues to be proud of his introversion, claiming that he has been "practicing social distancing" for much of his life.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball sits in an armchair watching television. A zigzag line from the TV indicates that the text is a voice from the TV.]<br />
:Voice from television: Experts are saying people may need to "self-isolate" to combat the virus.<br />
<br />
:[A slim beat panel with Cueball sitting silent in the armchair.]<br />
<br />
:[Zoomed in on Cueball in the armchair. A starburst on the right border indicates the voice from an off-panel person.]<br />
:Cueball: ... I've been practicing for this moment my whole life.<br />
:Off-panel voice: I don't think that's&mdash;<br />
:Cueball: ''Quick, make plans and watch how fast I cancel!''<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Social interactions]]<br />
<br />
[[Category:COVID-19]]</div>172.69.50.76https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2279:_Symptoms&diff=1959442279: Symptoms2020-08-12T20:08:15Z<p>172.69.50.76: /* Explanation */ Corrected small typo "the a" -> "a"</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2279<br />
| date = March 11, 2020<br />
| title = Symptoms<br />
| image = symptoms.png<br />
| titletext = This medicine says it may cause lightheadedness, dry mouth, and blurred vision, but my head feels incredibly heavy, water is pouring from my mouth, and I can see individual hummingbird wingbeats, so I think I'm fine.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This comic is the fifth comic in a row in a [[:Category:COVID-19|series of comics]] about the {{w|COVID-19 pandemic|pandemic}} of the {{w|coronavirus disease 2019}}, COVID-19 for short.<br />
<br />
The comic states that the symptoms of a disease are {{w|shortness of breath}}, {{w|fever}}, {{w|fatigue}} and {{w|dry cough}}. These are the top 3 and 5th most {{w|Coronavirus_disease_2019#Signs_and_symptoms|common symptoms}} reported for COVID-19. This is thus the fifth comic in a row about this disease, released on the day that the {{w|World Health Organization}} declared the COVID-19 outbreak a {{w|pandemic}}.<br />
<br />
Looking these symptoms up on his phone, [[Cueball]] reads them to [[Megan]] who expresses relief. The experiences of hers she claims as normal are so extremely opposite to the symptoms of the disease, that getting it might even be a boon rather than a harm. If a person has powerful lungs, shortness of breath wouldn't be very noticeable. She references icy skin, normally not a fever symptom, although heavy sweating caused by fever can lower temperature. She describes having frenzied energy, the opposite of fatigue.<br />
<br />
The last symptom is an "incredibly wet cough", and although that is the opposite of a dry cough, it still sounds quite bad. The description she gives opposes COVID-19, but may be indicative of something else.<br />
<br />
The focus on how symptoms play out differently for people with different normal experiences distantly touches on, but deftly evades, the harsh reality that people who, unlike the comic's characters, already have severe respiratory issues, may die in large quantities unless our response to the virus improves. This is because the impact of a disease relates to how bad its symptoms are for the carriers.<br />
<br />
Megan's optimistic reaction is ironic, considering these could be symptoms of a whole host of medical situations, including any kind of flu.<br />
<br />
The title text expands on this joke. Cueball reads up on the side effects from some medicine. Here again they don't have the common side effects of the medicine but the exact opposite, so they think they must be fine, even though those "anti-symptoms" are themselves cause for concern.<br />
<br />
It also reflects on the whole concept of symptom/side effect warnings themselves as often people have no good frame of reference for when a particular symptom is actually abnormal. It is often easy for one to believe they match some or all of a list of symptoms because for someone to be absolutely sure they do not have a specific symptom, they would need an almost comic level of "normality".<br />
<br />
The medicine is supposed to make the user:<br />
#{{w|Lightheaded}}, but Megan's head feels heavy.<br />
#Have a {{w|dry mouth}}, but water is pouring out of Megan's mouth.<br />
#Have {{w|blurred vision}}, but Megan sees so clearly that she can spot individual {{w|hummingbird}} wingbeats.<br />
<br />
Having a heavy head, is not a good sign, even though the opposite is also not good. Dry mouth can be annoying but her condition sounds dangerous. And although blurred vision is a bad thing, it is impossible for a human eye to follow the 12-80 beats a second of a hummingbird; this suggests that Megan might be hallucinating, which is arguably even worse.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball and Megan stand facing each other, with Cueball looking down at his smartphone held up in one hand.]<br />
:Cueball: It says here common symptoms include shortness of breath, fever, fatigue, and a dry cough.<br />
:Megan: That's reassuring to me, a person with powerful lungs, icy skin, frenzied energy, and an '''''incredibly''''' wet cough.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:COVID-19]]</div>172.69.50.76https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2342:_Exposure_Notification&diff=1955982342: Exposure Notification2020-08-06T09:00:23Z<p>172.69.50.76: /* Explanation */ Corrected it's to it's. ~~~~</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2342<br />
| date = August 5, 2020<br />
| title = Exposure Notification<br />
| image = exposure_notification.png<br />
| titletext = I don't see why everyone is so hungry for BAD news, but fine, I'll give in to feedback and add a dark mode.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT THAT RECENTLY HAD CLOSE CONTACT WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS NOT TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
<br />
During the coronavirus pandemic, several apps were developed to implement {{w|digital contact tracing}} by using one's location along with the location of others, or locationless device proximity detection, to notify someone if they had been potentially exposed to COVID-19. This normally only works in retrospect, as infected people are isolated, and the contacts notified after the positive test result. In this comic, a different type of app has been developed. Instead of notifying someone if they have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, the app produces notifications if they have been exposed to someone who has '''not''' tested positive. This is much less useful because it is not possible to tell whether anyone has actually been near anyone who was infected, but rather annoys the user with excessive notifications. Also, being exposed to someone who has not tested positive is not good news, because it is still possible that the person might have COVID-19; it is simply less bad than being exposed to someone who has tested positive, but still worse than not being exposed to anyone. Socially and psychologically, people being close to each other normally is a positive behavior; it would be a sad sign of our times, if you needed an app to tell you, whether you did right in social interactions and compliment you.<br />
[[File:GNOME Shell, GNOME Clocks, Evince, gThumb, GNOME Files at version 3.30 (2018-09) in Dark theme.png|thumb|right|The GNOME desktop environment in dark mode]]<br />
<br />
{{w|Light-on-dark color scheme| Dark mode}} is a common feature in apps which allows users the options to have a darker user interface. The title text, however, refers to dark mode not in the sense of the color scheme but rather that receiving notifications bearing the bad news that you have been exposed to COVID-19 is "dark." Because nobody likes his current app, Randall decides to give in and create a dark mode, which would make his app much more desirable for users. This may be a jab at StackOverflow recently adding a highly requested dark theme soon after alienating a large part of its core user base.<br />
<br />
Randall has published similar "useless useful apps" in [[937: TornadoGuard]] (a tornado-alert app that has lots of great features, except it doesn't actually alert the user about tornadoes) and [[2236|2236: Is it Christmas?]] (a web page that correctly identifies most days as "not Christmas", but then fails to identify Christmas Day as Christmas, for a >99% "accuracy").<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball standing, holding out his chiming smartphone to review alerts it has received.]<br />
<br />
:Alert 1:43 PM<br />
:'''Good news:''' You recently had close contact with someone who has not tested positive for COVID.<br />
:Alert 1:38 PM<br />
:'''Good news:''' You recently had close contact with someone who has not tested positive for COVID.<br />
:Alert 1:36 PM<br />
:'''Good news:''' You recently had close contact with someone who has not tested positive for COVID.<br />
:Alert 1:31 PM<br />
:'''Good news:''' You recently had close contact with someone who has not tested positive for COVID.<br />
:[Caption below the panel:]<br />
:No one likes my new COVID exposure notification app.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:COVID-19]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Smartphones]]</div>172.69.50.76https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:2322:_ISO_Paper_Size_Golden_Spiral&diff=193710Talk:2322: ISO Paper Size Golden Spiral2020-06-21T17:51:34Z<p>172.69.50.76: </p>
<hr />
<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~ and don't delete this text. New comments should be added at the bottom.--><br />
It annoys me that the hover text says 11/8.5 = pi/4, when 8.5/11≈0.77272727272 and pi/4≈0.78539816339. Claiming 8.5/11 equals pi/4 would be a much more beleiveable lie. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.79.37|162.158.79.37]] 15:29, 19 June 2020 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The explanation says that the A series "side lengths shrink by a factor of the square root of two" but that's not true. The width of A(n+1) is half the length of A(n) as depicted. The sqrt(2) ratio referenced is between the length and width of any one piece of paper.[[Special:Contributions/172.69.62.124|172.69.62.124]] 15:35, 19 June 2020 (UTC)<br />
:The side lengths do shrink by a factor of sqrt(2): the width of A(n) is sqrt(2) times the width of A(n+1), the length of A(n) is sqrt(2) times the length of A(n+1). Your statement that "the width of A(n+1) is half the length of A(n)" is also true, but it does not contradict that each step in the A-series shrinks the sides by a factor of sqrt(2). [[User:Zmatt|Zmatt]] ([[User talk:Zmatt|talk]]) 16:09, 19 June 2020 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Fixed it [[Special:Contributions/162.158.74.61|162.158.74.61]] 15:43, 19 June 2020 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Hi ! How come 11/8.5 = Pi/4 ? First one is more thant 1, second one is less than one... Although Pi/4 and 8.5/11 (or the reverse) are pretty similar, as usual in "let's annoy mathematicians" Randall's style...<br />
<br />
https://xkcd.com/spiral/ --[[Special:Contributions/188.114.103.233|188.114.103.233]] 17:22, 19 June 2020 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I understand why it annoys mathematicians (it's not the golden ratio), but why does it annoy graphics designers? Please add explanation!<br />
::I suspect that what would annoy many (if not most) graphic designers (especially Americans) is the claim that the ISO standard for paper sizes (which is very rarely used in the US) is inherently and objectively beautiful, along with the implication that everyone should switch to using the international standard. <br />
::More scientifically-minded designers would be just as annoyed as (most) mathematicians are by the persistent myth that there is something inherently beautiful about the "golden ratio" in the first place, but unfortunately they are probably not in the majority.[[Special:Contributions/172.69.50.76|172.69.50.76]] 17:50, 21 June 2020 (UTC)<br />
<br />
It should be noted that the logarithmic spiral this comic implies it is would actually go outside the bounds of the paper. The leftmost point of the spiral would be about 6.4mm to the left of the left edge of the A1 sheet. [[User:Zmatt|Zmatt]] ([[User talk:Zmatt|talk]]) 18:39, 19 June 2020 (UTC)<br />
:This drawing (as opposed to the singular mathematical formula behind the idealised spiral for the partitioning used) basically takes a simple quarter-oval across each distinct sheet size (with, as essentially mentioned elsewhere, the root(2) ratio between sides) alternating x/y and y/x as major and minor axes respectively. Even if it is not obviously discontinuous (x and y inflection transitions occur subtly) any derivative of the curve (as polar, say) would show jumps in gradient at each stage - probably an inclined-stepped/saw-toothy pattern whereas the true logarithmic line would demonstrate itself as a continuous function at any such level of derivation. The true spiral line followed from origin outwards would ''almost'' (not quite, because of the polar gradient) hit the 'outer edge' first in line with the ultimately recursive centre-point then withdraw again to hit the next transition slightly 'inward' of the next level out. The Golden Spiral approximation uses squares for each quarter, which therefore does not switch major and minor axes, but still changes the curve <!-- (stepped, but 'flat' treads between the abrupt risers) --> and thus has the same not-quite-Golden nature. Although it's hard to describe, as you can see from my poor attempt that's probably inadvertently fallen foul of more specialised Pure Mathematics terminology due to the Pedant's Curse... ;) [[Special:Contributions/162.158.155.240|162.158.155.240]] 22:23, 19 June 2020 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Mathematicians get annoyed by the claim that the golden ratio is everywhere. I love Disney's "Donald in Mathmagic Land" but they make some outrageous claims about the golden ratio's place in art and architecture. BTW, the ISO system of paper sizes is awesome! You can photocopy two A4 pages side-by-side, reduced to fit exactly on a single A4 page.<br />
:Also they get pi wrong. --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.79.209|162.158.79.209]] 22:18, 20 June 2020 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Isn't grade closer to degrees than to radians? [[User:Djbrasier|Djbrasier]] ([[User talk:Djbrasier|talk]]) 15:03, 20 June 2020 (UTC)<br />
:It's two different things. The "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grade_(slope) grade]" of a slope is just the rise divided by the run, commonly expressed as a precentage. It is not an angle measure but the tangent of an angle measure. It is commonly used in North America for surveying and engineering purposes. "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gradian Gradian]" is a badly named angle measurement that, worse, is often referred to informally as "grade" from "centigrade".It is an angle measure, though a useless one: ten-ninths of the measure in degrees. The gradian is commonly used for surveying and engineering in some parts of Europe. The text in the current explanation confuses them, which is common due to the bad naming of the second measure. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.187.197|162.158.187.197]] 16:45, 20 June 2020 (UTC)<br />
<br />
A friend of mine, attempting to do graphic design, once created an approximate golden spiral using the boxes diagram with quarter circles. He then laboriously produced a logo by making copies of the spiral and using pieces of it for each curve. I then informed him that all the curves in his image were just circular segments. [[Special:Contributions/172.69.69.44|172.69.69.44]] 16:36, 20 June 2020 (UTC)</div>172.69.50.76https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:2322:_ISO_Paper_Size_Golden_Spiral&diff=193709Talk:2322: ISO Paper Size Golden Spiral2020-06-21T17:50:50Z<p>172.69.50.76: </p>
<hr />
<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~ and don't delete this text. New comments should be added at the bottom.--><br />
It annoys me that the hover text says 11/8.5 = pi/4, when 8.5/11≈0.77272727272 and pi/4≈0.78539816339. Claiming 8.5/11 equals pi/4 would be a much more beleiveable lie. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.79.37|162.158.79.37]] 15:29, 19 June 2020 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The explanation says that the A series "side lengths shrink by a factor of the square root of two" but that's not true. The width of A(n+1) is half the length of A(n) as depicted. The sqrt(2) ratio referenced is between the length and width of any one piece of paper.[[Special:Contributions/172.69.62.124|172.69.62.124]] 15:35, 19 June 2020 (UTC)<br />
:The side lengths do shrink by a factor of sqrt(2): the width of A(n) is sqrt(2) times the width of A(n+1), the length of A(n) is sqrt(2) times the length of A(n+1). Your statement that "the width of A(n+1) is half the length of A(n)" is also true, but it does not contradict that each step in the A-series shrinks the sides by a factor of sqrt(2). [[User:Zmatt|Zmatt]] ([[User talk:Zmatt|talk]]) 16:09, 19 June 2020 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Fixed it [[Special:Contributions/162.158.74.61|162.158.74.61]] 15:43, 19 June 2020 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Hi ! How come 11/8.5 = Pi/4 ? First one is more thant 1, second one is less than one... Although Pi/4 and 8.5/11 (or the reverse) are pretty similar, as usual in "let's annoy mathematicians" Randall's style...<br />
<br />
https://xkcd.com/spiral/ --[[Special:Contributions/188.114.103.233|188.114.103.233]] 17:22, 19 June 2020 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I understand why it annoys mathematicians (it's not the golden ratio), but why does it annoy graphics designers? Please add explanation!<br />
:I suspect that what would annoy many (if not most) graphic designers (especially Americans) is the claim that the ISO standard for paper sizes (which is very rarely used in the US) is inherently and objectively beautiful, along with the implication that everyone should switch to using the international standard. <br />
More scientifically-minded designers would be just as annoyed as (most) mathematicians are by the persistent myth that there is something inherently beautiful about the "golden ratio" in the first place, but unfortunately they are probably not in the majority.[[Special:Contributions/172.69.50.76|172.69.50.76]] 17:50, 21 June 2020 (UTC)<br />
<br />
It should be noted that the logarithmic spiral this comic implies it is would actually go outside the bounds of the paper. The leftmost point of the spiral would be about 6.4mm to the left of the left edge of the A1 sheet. [[User:Zmatt|Zmatt]] ([[User talk:Zmatt|talk]]) 18:39, 19 June 2020 (UTC)<br />
:This drawing (as opposed to the singular mathematical formula behind the idealised spiral for the partitioning used) basically takes a simple quarter-oval across each distinct sheet size (with, as essentially mentioned elsewhere, the root(2) ratio between sides) alternating x/y and y/x as major and minor axes respectively. Even if it is not obviously discontinuous (x and y inflection transitions occur subtly) any derivative of the curve (as polar, say) would show jumps in gradient at each stage - probably an inclined-stepped/saw-toothy pattern whereas the true logarithmic line would demonstrate itself as a continuous function at any such level of derivation. The true spiral line followed from origin outwards would ''almost'' (not quite, because of the polar gradient) hit the 'outer edge' first in line with the ultimately recursive centre-point then withdraw again to hit the next transition slightly 'inward' of the next level out. The Golden Spiral approximation uses squares for each quarter, which therefore does not switch major and minor axes, but still changes the curve <!-- (stepped, but 'flat' treads between the abrupt risers) --> and thus has the same not-quite-Golden nature. Although it's hard to describe, as you can see from my poor attempt that's probably inadvertently fallen foul of more specialised Pure Mathematics terminology due to the Pedant's Curse... ;) [[Special:Contributions/162.158.155.240|162.158.155.240]] 22:23, 19 June 2020 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Mathematicians get annoyed by the claim that the golden ratio is everywhere. I love Disney's "Donald in Mathmagic Land" but they make some outrageous claims about the golden ratio's place in art and architecture. BTW, the ISO system of paper sizes is awesome! You can photocopy two A4 pages side-by-side, reduced to fit exactly on a single A4 page.<br />
:Also they get pi wrong. --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.79.209|162.158.79.209]] 22:18, 20 June 2020 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Isn't grade closer to degrees than to radians? [[User:Djbrasier|Djbrasier]] ([[User talk:Djbrasier|talk]]) 15:03, 20 June 2020 (UTC)<br />
:It's two different things. The "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grade_(slope) grade]" of a slope is just the rise divided by the run, commonly expressed as a precentage. It is not an angle measure but the tangent of an angle measure. It is commonly used in North America for surveying and engineering purposes. "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gradian Gradian]" is a badly named angle measurement that, worse, is often referred to informally as "grade" from "centigrade".It is an angle measure, though a useless one: ten-ninths of the measure in degrees. The gradian is commonly used for surveying and engineering in some parts of Europe. The text in the current explanation confuses them, which is common due to the bad naming of the second measure. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.187.197|162.158.187.197]] 16:45, 20 June 2020 (UTC)<br />
<br />
A friend of mine, attempting to do graphic design, once created an approximate golden spiral using the boxes diagram with quarter circles. He then laboriously produced a logo by making copies of the spiral and using pieces of it for each curve. I then informed him that all the curves in his image were just circular segments. [[Special:Contributions/172.69.69.44|172.69.69.44]] 16:36, 20 June 2020 (UTC)</div>172.69.50.76https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:2322:_ISO_Paper_Size_Golden_Spiral&diff=193708Talk:2322: ISO Paper Size Golden Spiral2020-06-21T17:50:19Z<p>172.69.50.76: </p>
<hr />
<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~ and don't delete this text. New comments should be added at the bottom.--><br />
It annoys me that the hover text says 11/8.5 = pi/4, when 8.5/11≈0.77272727272 and pi/4≈0.78539816339. Claiming 8.5/11 equals pi/4 would be a much more beleiveable lie. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.79.37|162.158.79.37]] 15:29, 19 June 2020 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The explanation says that the A series "side lengths shrink by a factor of the square root of two" but that's not true. The width of A(n+1) is half the length of A(n) as depicted. The sqrt(2) ratio referenced is between the length and width of any one piece of paper.[[Special:Contributions/172.69.62.124|172.69.62.124]] 15:35, 19 June 2020 (UTC)<br />
:The side lengths do shrink by a factor of sqrt(2): the width of A(n) is sqrt(2) times the width of A(n+1), the length of A(n) is sqrt(2) times the length of A(n+1). Your statement that "the width of A(n+1) is half the length of A(n)" is also true, but it does not contradict that each step in the A-series shrinks the sides by a factor of sqrt(2). [[User:Zmatt|Zmatt]] ([[User talk:Zmatt|talk]]) 16:09, 19 June 2020 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Fixed it [[Special:Contributions/162.158.74.61|162.158.74.61]] 15:43, 19 June 2020 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Hi ! How come 11/8.5 = Pi/4 ? First one is more thant 1, second one is less than one... Although Pi/4 and 8.5/11 (or the reverse) are pretty similar, as usual in "let's annoy mathematicians" Randall's style...<br />
<br />
https://xkcd.com/spiral/ --[[Special:Contributions/188.114.103.233|188.114.103.233]] 17:22, 19 June 2020 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I understand why it annoys mathematicians (it's not the golden ratio), but why does it annoy graphics designers? Please add explanation!<br />
:I suspect that what would annoy many (if not most) graphic designers (especially Americans) is the claim that the ISO standard for paper sizes (which is very rarely used in the US) is inherently and objectively beautiful, along with the implication that everyone should switch to using the international standard. <br />
More scientifically-minded designers would be just as annoyed as (most) mathematicians are by the persistent myth that there is something inherently beautiful about the "golden ratio" in the first place, but unfortunately they are probably not in the majority.<br />
<br />
It should be noted that the logarithmic spiral this comic implies it is would actually go outside the bounds of the paper. The leftmost point of the spiral would be about 6.4mm to the left of the left edge of the A1 sheet. [[User:Zmatt|Zmatt]] ([[User talk:Zmatt|talk]]) 18:39, 19 June 2020 (UTC)<br />
:This drawing (as opposed to the singular mathematical formula behind the idealised spiral for the partitioning used) basically takes a simple quarter-oval across each distinct sheet size (with, as essentially mentioned elsewhere, the root(2) ratio between sides) alternating x/y and y/x as major and minor axes respectively. Even if it is not obviously discontinuous (x and y inflection transitions occur subtly) any derivative of the curve (as polar, say) would show jumps in gradient at each stage - probably an inclined-stepped/saw-toothy pattern whereas the true logarithmic line would demonstrate itself as a continuous function at any such level of derivation. The true spiral line followed from origin outwards would ''almost'' (not quite, because of the polar gradient) hit the 'outer edge' first in line with the ultimately recursive centre-point then withdraw again to hit the next transition slightly 'inward' of the next level out. The Golden Spiral approximation uses squares for each quarter, which therefore does not switch major and minor axes, but still changes the curve <!-- (stepped, but 'flat' treads between the abrupt risers) --> and thus has the same not-quite-Golden nature. Although it's hard to describe, as you can see from my poor attempt that's probably inadvertently fallen foul of more specialised Pure Mathematics terminology due to the Pedant's Curse... ;) [[Special:Contributions/162.158.155.240|162.158.155.240]] 22:23, 19 June 2020 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Mathematicians get annoyed by the claim that the golden ratio is everywhere. I love Disney's "Donald in Mathmagic Land" but they make some outrageous claims about the golden ratio's place in art and architecture. BTW, the ISO system of paper sizes is awesome! You can photocopy two A4 pages side-by-side, reduced to fit exactly on a single A4 page.<br />
:Also they get pi wrong. --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.79.209|162.158.79.209]] 22:18, 20 June 2020 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Isn't grade closer to degrees than to radians? [[User:Djbrasier|Djbrasier]] ([[User talk:Djbrasier|talk]]) 15:03, 20 June 2020 (UTC)<br />
:It's two different things. The "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grade_(slope) grade]" of a slope is just the rise divided by the run, commonly expressed as a precentage. It is not an angle measure but the tangent of an angle measure. It is commonly used in North America for surveying and engineering purposes. "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gradian Gradian]" is a badly named angle measurement that, worse, is often referred to informally as "grade" from "centigrade".It is an angle measure, though a useless one: ten-ninths of the measure in degrees. The gradian is commonly used for surveying and engineering in some parts of Europe. The text in the current explanation confuses them, which is common due to the bad naming of the second measure. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.187.197|162.158.187.197]] 16:45, 20 June 2020 (UTC)<br />
<br />
A friend of mine, attempting to do graphic design, once created an approximate golden spiral using the boxes diagram with quarter circles. He then laboriously produced a logo by making copies of the spiral and using pieces of it for each curve. I then informed him that all the curves in his image were just circular segments. [[Special:Contributions/172.69.69.44|172.69.69.44]] 16:36, 20 June 2020 (UTC)</div>172.69.50.76https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2298:_Coronavirus_Genome&diff=1911852298: Coronavirus Genome2020-04-24T22:36:20Z<p>172.69.50.76: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2298<br />
| date = April 24, 2020<br />
| title = Coronavirus Genome<br />
| image = coronavirus_genome.png<br />
| titletext = Spellcheck has been great, but whoever figures out how to get grammar check to work is guaranteed a Nobel.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by SPELLCHECK. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>172.69.50.76https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:915:_Connoisseur&diff=190207Talk:915: Connoisseur2020-04-08T00:37:47Z<p>172.69.50.76: Should change a poor wording</p>
<hr />
<div>Well he's right about fonts. I am hooked on Operator Mono, which costs like $200-300 if you purchase it legitimately 😗 ... --[[Special:Contributions/172.69.22.110|172.69.22.110]] 08:51, 3 December 2018 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Let's face it: every wine connoisseur is an alcoholic. You have to drink a lot of wine over a long period of time to begin distinguishing all wine-types, flavors etc. Rule of nature. No discussion.{{unsigned ip|162.158.83.144}}<br />
::I hope you were drunk at least when you said this 🍻 --[[Special:Contributions/172.69.22.110|172.69.22.110]] 08:51, 3 December 2018 (UTC)<br />
<br />
This is one of those xkcd comics that I'm just constantly linking back to as an image retort. I love Randall. '''[[User:Davidy22|<u>{{Color|#707|David}}<font color=#070 size=3>y</font></u><font color=#508 size=4>²²</font>]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 01:28, 17 April 2013 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I expanded the explanation and removed the incomplete tag. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.53.117|173.245.53.117]] 14:47, 5 December 2013 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The current incomplete tag asks why voice 1 calls Joe Biden "the man" and voice 2 calls him J.B. As far as I can see, there is no deeper/cryptic meaning to the choice of these words, other than possible space saving. Both 'J.B.' and 'the man' are shorter than 'Joe Biden'. I personally don't believe that this requires any further explanation, but I will leave the incomplete tag for now. If there are no updates to the page or additional discussion here, I will remove the incomplete tag in due course. --[[User:Pudder|Pudder]] ([[User talk:Pudder|talk]]) 13:06, 30 July 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:The stars are named Joe Biden, though. Hmmmm... [[User:RedHatGuy68|RedHatGuy68]] ([[User talk:RedHatGuy68|talk]]) 05:20, 23 January 2016 (UTC)<br />
<br />
This could be another 242 reference; the explanation to [[903: Extended Mind]] describes Randall's use of 242 as an old inside joke, ãnd 242 also appears in [[688: Self-Description]]. [[User:Pelosujamo|Pelosujamo]] ([[User talk:Pelosujamo|talk]]) 20:07, 5 February 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
How can it be a reference to 1051 if it came before 1051[[Special:Contributions/162.158.63.106|162.158.63.106]]<br />
<br />
:I don't see how there is a reference between these to comics anyway. especially regarding canadian surealist porn. Closest thing in there is Autoerotic Asphyxiation... I'm gonna delete that there is this reference [[User:Lupo|Lupo]] ([[User talk:Lupo|talk]]) 18:48, 4 January 2018 (UTC)<br />
::Upon looking at it again to reread it, I notice, that the reference is not in the comic, but the explanation, as canadian surrealist porn is not a wikipedia link, but 3 of them for canada, surrealism and porn, which is basically the title text from 1051. Gonna delete it anyway, as it has no relevance. [[User:Lupo|Lupo]] ([[User talk:Lupo|talk]]) 18:50, 4 January 2018 (UTC)<br />
<br />
All of us are connoisseurs of Randall Monroe eating a sandwich while drawing more comics.<br />
<br />
canadian surrealist porn ughghghghg https://xkcd.com/1051/ title text<br />
<br />
Should change "a statement most wine enthusiasts passionately agree with" to "an opinion held by stereotypical wine snobs" because most wine enthusiasts know you can find joy in the right $20 bottle.[[Special:Contributions/172.69.50.76|172.69.50.76]] 00:37, 8 April 2020 (UTC)</div>172.69.50.76