The Penguin Dictionary of Curious and Interesting Numbers lists 39 as the first non-interesting number:
“39 appears to be the first uninteresting number, which of course makes it an especially interesting number, because it is the smallest number to have the property of being uninteresting. It is therefore also the first number to be simultaneously interesting and uninteresting.”
The first integer not listed in the Dictionary is 43, so 43 is presumably the first uninteresting number that is not also interesting.
“Proof: Assume the contrary; i.e., the set of interesting programs is non-empty. Arrange them (or it) in order of interest (note that all sets can be well-ordered, so do it properly). The minimal element is the least interesting program, the obvious dullness of which provides the contradictory denouement we so devoutly seek.”
Hmm…Some people find numbers interesting. Consider the story about Ramanujan and the cab number. I don’t believe the premise implies that all people are interested in “interesting” numbers. More to the point it doesn’t say so.
That was evil. The proof is of course fallacious. The evil part is that it blurs the distinction—which everyone should be aware of—between a set and its elements. The elements are interesting even if the set is not.
Zykoic 6 months ago
Occam’s lesser known corollary.
Ida No 6 months ago
It’s true. No one cares about 42, 51, 69 or 1000000000000066600000000000001.
Qiset 6 months ago
Not necessarily true. Suppose S was the set of all known sexy women. Knowing about it would be very interesting.
lopaka 6 months ago
Q. E. D.
rmercer Premium Member 6 months ago
Don’t quit your day job…
catchup 6 months ago
Someone has been reading up on his Bertrand Russell
cor_en_fa 6 months ago
OF COURSE no numbers are interesting. Ah, but the infinite ways they can interact…
James Redekop Premium Member 6 months ago
The Penguin Dictionary of Curious and Interesting Numbers lists 39 as the first non-interesting number:
“39 appears to be the first uninteresting number, which of course makes it an especially interesting number, because it is the smallest number to have the property of being uninteresting. It is therefore also the first number to be simultaneously interesting and uninteresting.”
The first integer not listed in the Dictionary is 43, so 43 is presumably the first uninteresting number that is not also interesting.
Happy Tinkerbelle Premium Member 6 months ago
Love love love the therefore sign!!!!
FireAnt_Hater 6 months ago
LOL everyone (after a few years) knows about sex. Does that make sex non-interesting?
prrdh 6 months ago
“Theorem: All programs are dull.
“Proof: Assume the contrary; i.e., the set of interesting programs is non-empty. Arrange them (or it) in order of interest (note that all sets can be well-ordered, so do it properly). The minimal element is the least interesting program, the obvious dullness of which provides the contradictory denouement we so devoutly seek.”
Stan Kelly-Bootle, The Computer Contradictionary
freshmeet2030 6 months ago
I think this is proof not all comics are funny
willie_mctell 6 months ago
Hmm…Some people find numbers interesting. Consider the story about Ramanujan and the cab number. I don’t believe the premise implies that all people are interested in “interesting” numbers. More to the point it doesn’t say so.
mbrilliant Premium Member 6 months ago
That was evil. The proof is of course fallacious. The evil part is that it blurs the distinction—which everyone should be aware of—between a set and its elements. The elements are interesting even if the set is not.
T... 6 months ago
Scrabble is the word game, numbers are the math game – all games…
Stephen Gilberg 6 months ago
I prefer the proof that pi equals four.
c001 6 months ago
Ex falso quodlibet