Religion and Ethics Forum

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Nearly Sane on February 25, 2018, 09:19:34 PM

Title: How stupid is the internet?
Post by: Nearly Sane on February 25, 2018, 09:19:34 PM
How is this hard?



http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/2dbdaba5-e689-4863-9d82-5aa45ad15068
Title: Re: How stupid is the internet?
Post by: Gordon on February 25, 2018, 09:27:31 PM
It isn't - it is simple arithmetic.

Amazed that anyone would struggle with it.
Title: Re: How stupid is the internet?
Post by: jeremyp on February 25, 2018, 10:36:21 PM
Some people were clearly working on the differences between each pair of transactions i.e.

He pays 60 then gets 70, difference is +10.

Then he pays 80 difference is -10 which cancels out the +10  <<=== This is where it goes wrong

Then he gets 90, difference is +10.

but you can figure out that it is wrong simply by adding up the total amount paid out and the total amount paid in, they are 140 and 160 respectively.
Title: Re: How stupid is the internet?
Post by: Harrowby Hall on February 26, 2018, 09:26:17 AM
In the end, how much money does the man make or lose?

So, does this mean that this relates to a single series of transactions, or are there two separate sets of transactions? My interpretation of "in the end" is that we are dealing with a single series of transactions from a single pot of money. He ends up $10 better off.

Title: Re: How stupid is the internet?
Post by: Walter on February 26, 2018, 09:38:26 AM
It isn't - it is simple arithmetic.

Amazed that anyone would struggle with it.
it appeared on mumsnet forum and caused a fuss . not sure if that is relevant?  :o  ;)
Title: Re: How stupid is the internet?
Post by: Gordon on February 26, 2018, 09:41:03 AM
There are two buying and selling transactions involving the same horse, although the horse aspect is irrelevant: the key point is that each episode of buying and selling (of the same horse) results in a $10 profit - therefore he is $20 better off in the end. 
Title: Re: How stupid is the internet?
Post by: Stranger on February 26, 2018, 09:42:33 AM
In the end, how much money does the man make or lose?

So, does this mean that this relates to a single series of transactions, or are there two separate sets of transactions? My interpretation of "in the end" is that we are dealing with a single series of transactions from a single pot of money. He ends up $10 better off.

No.

He pays out $60 + $80 = $140 and gets back $70 + $90 = $160 and therefore makes $20.

If you consider a 'pot of money', he puts is $60, gets back $70, puts in another $10 for the second purchase, (total $70 in) and gets back $90. $90 - $70 = $20.
Title: Re: How stupid is the internet?
Post by: Rhiannon on February 26, 2018, 11:16:53 AM
Why does this prove the Internet is stupid? I’m confused.
Title: Re: How stupid is the internet?
Post by: Harrowby Hall on February 26, 2018, 11:27:54 AM
He starts with no money.

The horse costs $60. He has a liability of $60.

He sells the horse for $70. He pays off his liability and has a surplus of $10.

He buys the horse now for $80.  He has $70 from the sale but still requires a further $10. This leaves him with a new liability of $10.

He sells the horse for $90. He pays off his liability of $10 and is left with a surplus of $10.
Title: Re: How stupid is the internet?
Post by: Udayana on February 26, 2018, 11:48:39 AM
He starts with no money.

The horse costs $60. He has a liability of $60.

He sells the horse for $70. He pays off his liability and has a surplus of $10.

He buys the horse now for $80.  He has $70 from the sale but still requires a further $10. This leaves him with a new liability of $10.

He sells the horse for $90. He pays off his liability of $10 and is left with a surplus of $10.
Not adding up HH, .. you have paid off $10 too much in the last step.
Title: Re: How stupid is the internet?
Post by: Udayana on February 26, 2018, 11:54:16 AM
Why does this prove the Internet is stupid? I’m confused.
It's like a huge sprawling committee. Impossible to come up with anything that works as everyone keeps throwing in their own misguided opinions or misinformation.
 
Title: Re: How stupid is the internet?
Post by: Stranger on February 26, 2018, 12:08:08 PM
The horse costs $60. He has a liability of $60.

Total: -$60

He sells the horse for $70. He pays off his liability and has a surplus of $10.

Total: +$10

He buys the horse now for $80.  He has $70 from the sale but still requires a further $10. This leaves him with a new liability of $10.

No, as you just said, he already used $60 to pay off his initial liability. He has $10 and he needs another $70.

Total: -$70

He sells the horse for $90. He pays off his liability of $10 and is left with a surplus of $10.

No. He uses $70 to pay his liability and is left with $20.
Title: Re: How stupid is the internet?
Post by: Gordon on February 26, 2018, 12:11:57 PM
He starts with no money.

The horse costs $60. He has a liability of $60.

He sells the horse for $70. He pays off his liability and has a surplus of $10.

He buys the horse now for $80.  He has $70 from the sale but still requires a further $10. This leaves him with a new liability of $10.

He sells the horse for $90. He pays off his liability of $10 and is left with a surplus of $10.

Nope.

1. He buys the horse for $60: so he is - $60.

2. He then sells for $70: so he is now +$10.

3. He then buys back for $80: so his net position is now -$70.

4. Finally, he sells for $90: so he ends up with a profit of $20.

Taken over the transactions he outlays $140 (60 + 80) and gets back $160 (70 + 90).
Title: Re: How stupid is the internet?
Post by: Rhiannon on February 26, 2018, 12:30:29 PM
He starts with no money.

The horse costs $60. He has a liability of $60.

He sells the horse for $70. He pays off his liability and has a surplus of $10.

He buys the horse now for $80.  He has $70 from the sale but still requires a further $10. This leaves him with a new liability of $10.

He sells the horse for $90. He pays off his liability of $10 and is left with a surplus of $10.

Where in the question does it say that he gets into debt to make the second transaction? Or that he had no money to start with?

ETA this is the mistake my 16 yr old made. My 14 year old saw them as two separate transactions and arrived at the 20$ answer.
Title: Re: How stupid is the internet?
Post by: Walt Zingmatilder on February 26, 2018, 12:31:14 PM
You idiots it's an alien plot to put a brain eating meme in your brains!!!
Title: Re: How stupid is the internet?
Post by: Rhiannon on February 26, 2018, 12:34:37 PM
It's like a huge sprawling committee. Impossible to come up with anything that works as everyone keeps throwing in their own misguided opinions or misinformation.

Hello Udayana, good to see you.  :)
Title: Re: How stupid is the internet?
Post by: Stranger on February 26, 2018, 12:56:36 PM
Where in the question does it say that he gets into debt to make the second transaction? Or that he had no money to start with?

It doesn't actually make any difference - whatever way you look at it, he ends up $20 better off than he started.
Title: Re: How stupid is the internet?
Post by: Udayana on February 26, 2018, 01:03:19 PM
Hello Udayana, good to see you.  :)

:) .. just popped in .. been busy studying "group theory" .. which has been rather time consuming...
Title: Re: How stupid is the internet?
Post by: Steve H on February 26, 2018, 01:45:21 PM
$20. I thought "Dim Sum" was a style of Chinese cooking.
Title: Re: How stupid is the internet?
Post by: Rhiannon on February 26, 2018, 01:52:39 PM
It doesn't actually make any difference - whatever way you look at it, he ends up $20 better off than he started.

But it makes a difference to HH.
Title: Re: How stupid is the internet?
Post by: Walter on February 26, 2018, 01:59:43 PM
But it makes a difference to HH.
in todays modern world , the answers to a maths problem is what you want it to be . It's how it makes you feel that's important.  8)
Title: Re: How stupid is the internet?
Post by: Udayana on February 26, 2018, 02:32:31 PM
in todays modern world , the answers to a maths problem is what you want it to be . It's how it makes you feel that's important.  8)

lol ...only if Dame Slap has set the questions :)

Title: Re: How stupid is the internet?
Post by: Stranger on February 26, 2018, 02:38:45 PM
.. been busy studying "group theory" .. which has been rather time consuming...

...but rather beautiful (IMO).
Title: Re: How stupid is the internet?
Post by: Harrowby Hall on February 26, 2018, 05:52:01 PM
But it makes a difference to HH.

I was trying to follow the flow of cash - nothing to do with getting into debt. Think of it as money going between your wallet and that of your husband.

Anyway, I'm sure that the accountancy profession is relieved that it will not receive a takeover bid from me.
Title: Re: How stupid is the internet?
Post by: Udayana on March 14, 2018, 03:18:10 PM
...but rather beautiful (IMO).

Apparently, but tbh. at the moment I can't see the wood for the trees.
Title: Re: How stupid is the internet?
Post by: floo on March 14, 2018, 03:36:39 PM
How is this hard?



http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/2dbdaba5-e689-4863-9d82-5aa45ad15068

I wouldn't have a clue how to work that out.
Title: Re: How stupid is the internet?
Post by: jeremyp on March 14, 2018, 06:24:54 PM
Why does this prove the Internet is stupid? I’m confused.

It proves that some people who use the Internet are stupid because they get confused by such a simple question.

It's not exactly an Earth shattering revelation though. The other day I saw a video on Facebook taken by somebody inside a car that was being pursued by the police. Turns out he had posted it to his own genuine Facebook page. That is stupid in epic proportions.
Title: Re: How stupid is the internet?
Post by: jeremyp on March 14, 2018, 06:27:38 PM
He starts with no money.

The horse costs $60. He has a liability of $60.

He sells the horse for $70. He pays off his liability and has a surplus of $10.

He buys the horse now for $80.  He has $70 from the sale but still requires a further $10. This leaves him with a new liability of $10.
What? He has $10 so the acquisition leaves him with a liability of $80 - $10 = $70

Quote
He sells the horse for $90. He pays off his liability of $10 and is left with a surplus of $10.
No, he pats of his liability of $70 leaving him with $20.
Title: Re: How stupid is the internet?
Post by: floo on March 15, 2018, 08:26:24 AM
It proves that some people who use the Internet are stupid because they get confused by such a simple question.

It's not exactly an Earth shattering revelation though. The other day I saw a video on Facebook taken by somebody inside a car that was being pursued by the police. Turns out he had posted it to his own genuine Facebook page. That is stupid in epic proportions.

Or it might go to prove that some people like myself, suffer from severe dyscalculia.
Title: Re: How stupid is the internet?
Post by: Udayana on March 15, 2018, 10:08:51 AM
It proves that some people who use the Internet are stupid because they get confused by such a simple question.

It's not exactly an Earth shattering revelation though. The other day I saw a video on Facebook taken by somebody inside a car that was being pursued by the police. Turns out he had posted it to his own genuine Facebook page. That is stupid in epic proportions.

Doesn't really follow: Plenty of intelligent and clever people can get confused or make make mistakes and post stupid ideas and comments or lies on the web. But, istm, traditional media would filter these out, whereas the internet not only spreads them faster, but actually amplifies them ... items promulgated on the basis of "click-ability" rather than valid content.
Title: Re: How stupid is the internet?
Post by: Maeght on March 15, 2018, 01:13:10 PM
Simple maths.
Title: Re: How stupid is the internet?
Post by: floo on March 15, 2018, 03:22:18 PM
Simple maths.

I can just about manage 1+1=2, after that I am stuffed without my calculator. I have to hope I am given the correct change if it is in different coins, because it would take me forever to work it out. Thank goodness for debit cards. Sadly one of my grandsons and my granddaughter have my affliction, :( but they are not as bad as me, and tutoring is helping them.
Title: Re: How stupid is the internet?
Post by: jeremyp on March 15, 2018, 05:39:35 PM
Doesn't really follow: Plenty of intelligent and clever people can get confused or make make mistakes and post stupid ideas and comments or lies on the web. But, istm, traditional media would filter these out, whereas the internet not only spreads them faster, but actually amplifies them ... items promulgated on the basis of "click-ability" rather than valid content.

Yes. Perhaps my reply was a bit too subtle.With or without this story, it is an incontrovertible fact that my statement "there are stupid people on the Internet" is true. The story doesn't tell us anything we didn't already know.
Title: Re: How stupid is the internet?
Post by: jeremyp on March 15, 2018, 05:41:55 PM
I can just about manage 1+1=2, after that I am stuffed without my calculator. I have to hope I am given the correct change if it is in different coins, because it would take me forever to work it out. Thank goodness for debit cards. Sadly one of my grandsons and my granddaughter have my affliction, :( but they are not as bad as me, and tutoring is helping them.

I would argue that there are two levels to this. The first is doing the actual calculations which some people like yourself have problems with and there is seeing how to solve the problem i.e. add up the income, then add up the expenses and the profit (or loss) is the difference between the two.
Title: Re: How stupid is the internet?
Post by: floo on March 15, 2018, 06:51:38 PM
I would argue that there are two levels to this. The first is doing the actual calculations which some people like yourself have problems with and there is seeing how to solve the problem i.e. add up the income, then add up the expenses and the profit (or loss) is the difference between the two.

Anything to do with numbers is a problem for me.