Mathematics desk
< May 29	<< Apr \| May \| Jun >>	May 31 >

Welcome to the Wikipedia Mathematics Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

May 30

Math joke, riddle, or puzzle

I am trying to recall a specific math joke, riddle, or puzzle. It was basically a "play on words", if I remember correctly. The punch line (or, rather, the humor) was based on the reader needing to understand the binary number system, which uses just two values (0 and 1). I believe that it was just one simple sentence, such as might appear on a T-shirt or a bumper sticker or such. The saying was something like this: "There are only two kinds of people in this world; those who understand binary and those who don't." (or something like that). But, within that sentence, there was some play on words; I believe the sentence used some binary value of 0 or 1 or some combination to provide the joke/humor. Or perhaps it was something along these lines: "There are only 10 kinds of people in this world; those who understand binary and those who don't." Does this ring a bell with anyone? Does anyone recall the specific statement? Thanks. Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 05:13, 30 May 2014 (UTC)[reply]

See Mathematical joke#Jokes with numeral bases. —Quondum 05:27, 30 May 2014 (UTC)[reply]

That's it! Thanks! I guess my memory was pretty good, after all. I got the quote exactly correct. Thanks. Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 15:47, 31 May 2014 (UTC)[reply]

There are only three kinds of people in this world; those who can count and those who can't. Bo Jacoby (talk) 12:11, 1 June 2014 (UTC).[reply]

Good one! Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 14:56, 1 June 2014 (UTC)[reply]

base eight math

In an episode of Stargate SG1 Jack O'Neill has his brain made smarter by aliens. During this time he starts doing "base eight math". While I know that "base eight math" is a real thing used in computers, is it something a smart person would use to write out math equations on a blackboard? SupremeThor (talk) 21:11, 30 May 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Algebra is the same in any base, of course, except for the different representation of numerical constants. Arithmetic can be done in any base, and the reason that nearly everyone finds base ten easier is that they have had lots of practice in that base. Someone who has been taught in base eight from an early age would be just as competent in that base, and might struggle with base ten if they had not practised decimal arithmetic. Perhaps the writers of Stargate just wanted to indicate that Jack's brain had been "taken over"? Using base eight is no indication of "smartness". Dbfirs 06:17, 31 May 2014 (UTC)[reply]

But being able to instantly switch over and do math in different bases in your head is a sign of intelligence.

Now for my favorite base 8 joke: "Why do computer programmers confuse Halloween with Christmas ? ... Because OCT31 = DEC25." StuRat (talk) 06:29, 31 May 2014 (UTC)[reply]