Editing 1017: Backward in Time
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| titletext = People tell me I have too much time on my hands, but really the problem is that there's too much time, PERIOD. | | titletext = People tell me I have too much time on my hands, but really the problem is that there's too much time, PERIOD. | ||
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+ | {{incomplete|Created by a AN EXTREME ATHLETE - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} | ||
Clicking the image at xkcd.com links to [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0Ak43bGxHGI1adDMtOHVWVXZrYzhKd2VtbFJJMmJPTEE&single=true&gid=1&output=html this spreadsheet], which [[Randall]] used to calculate the times and dates for the comic. It also has a lot of other percentages and dates, so take a look if you are interested. | Clicking the image at xkcd.com links to [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0Ak43bGxHGI1adDMtOHVWVXZrYzhKd2VtbFJJMmJPTEE&single=true&gid=1&output=html this spreadsheet], which [[Randall]] used to calculate the times and dates for the comic. It also has a lot of other percentages and dates, so take a look if you are interested. | ||
==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
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[[Cueball]]/[[Randall]] creates this formula which helps him wait for long stretches of time which goes increasingly faster into the past as more time goes by, which gives him the effect of looking like the time goes by quickly. Which assists in the waiting process. | [[Cueball]]/[[Randall]] creates this formula which helps him wait for long stretches of time which goes increasingly faster into the past as more time goes by, which gives him the effect of looking like the time goes by quickly. Which assists in the waiting process. | ||
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The remaining adjustments are technical. The coefficient in front of p³ adjusts the constant by which the result will be multiplied while adding some constant to p, while it also roughly ensures that p=1 yields the lifetime of the universe. The 3 added to the product in the exponent further adjusts the actual values of the power without touching the slope (the multiplicative constant). In the parentheses, e³ is subtracted to put the time to 0 when p=0. Otherwise the function would start approx. 20 yrs and 1 month ago. For bigger p, this offset does not matter much. Imagine subtracting 20 yrs from the lifetime of the universe! | The remaining adjustments are technical. The coefficient in front of p³ adjusts the constant by which the result will be multiplied while adding some constant to p, while it also roughly ensures that p=1 yields the lifetime of the universe. The 3 added to the product in the exponent further adjusts the actual values of the power without touching the slope (the multiplicative constant). In the parentheses, e³ is subtracted to put the time to 0 when p=0. Otherwise the function would start approx. 20 yrs and 1 month ago. For bigger p, this offset does not matter much. Imagine subtracting 20 yrs from the lifetime of the universe! | ||
− | Finally, the result is subtracted from the current date for aesthetical reasons. The formula could tell you "20 | + | Finally, the result is subtracted from the current date for aesthetical reasons. The formula could tell you "20 yrs ago", or it could read "February 1992". Randall decided the latter would be better. |
There is actually a mathematical error in this comic; the inverse function in grey writing off at the bottom right of the main formula involves a square root, when the actual inverse of Randall's main function would involve a cube root. In addition, this function does not contain the current date, meaning that T, in the inverse, refers to how long ago a point in time was, rather than the point in time itself. When the T in the inverse is 20, it means that the date referenced by T is 20 years ago. | There is actually a mathematical error in this comic; the inverse function in grey writing off at the bottom right of the main formula involves a square root, when the actual inverse of Randall's main function would involve a cube root. In addition, this function does not contain the current date, meaning that T, in the inverse, refers to how long ago a point in time was, rather than the point in time itself. When the T in the inverse is 20, it means that the date referenced by T is 20 years ago. | ||
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| 10% || Sep. 2011 || N/A || This would be around the date of the tenth aniversary of the {{w|9/11 Attacks}}. Randall also got married around this time. | | 10% || Sep. 2011 || N/A || This would be around the date of the tenth aniversary of the {{w|9/11 Attacks}}. Randall also got married around this time. | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | 20% || 2008 || N/A || | + | | 20% || 2008 || N/A || ... |
|- | |- | ||
| 30% || 1997 || N/A || {{w|O.J. Simpson|OJ Simpson}} was found liable for the deaths of {{W|Nicole Brown}} and {{w|Ronald Goldman}}. OJ owed the two families $35.5 million. Princess Diana died. | | 30% || 1997 || N/A || {{w|O.J. Simpson|OJ Simpson}} was found liable for the deaths of {{W|Nicole Brown}} and {{w|Ronald Goldman}}. OJ owed the two families $35.5 million. Princess Diana died. | ||
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| 31.12% || February 1995 || Windows 95 Debuts, OJ Found Not Guilty|| The {{w|Murder trial of O. J. Simpson|OJ Simson trial}} was a famous trial where OJ was tried for the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. DNA evidence almost proved his guilt, however the defense pointed out the evidence wasn't collected correctly and could have been cross contaminated. Because of this, the jury found OJ not guilty of the double murder. | | 31.12% || February 1995 || Windows 95 Debuts, OJ Found Not Guilty|| The {{w|Murder trial of O. J. Simpson|OJ Simson trial}} was a famous trial where OJ was tried for the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. DNA evidence almost proved his guilt, however the defense pointed out the evidence wasn't collected correctly and could have been cross contaminated. Because of this, the jury found OJ not guilty of the double murder. | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | 40% || 1958 || N/A || | + | | 40% || 1958 || N/A || ... |
|- | |- | ||
| 47.91% || 1844 || Rubber Vulcanized, Bicycle Invented, Wrench Patented || ... | | 47.91% || 1844 || Rubber Vulcanized, Bicycle Invented, Wrench Patented || ... | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | 50% || 1776 || N/A || On July 4th, the American colonies {{w|Lee Resolution|declared independence}} from Great Britain. This event started a {{w|American Revolutionary War|7 year war}}, in which, the colonies won their indepence | + | | 50% || 1776 || N/A || On July 4th, the American colonies {{w|Lee Resolution|declared independence}} from Great Britain. This event started a {{w|American Revolutionary War|7 year war}}, in which, the colonies won their indepence. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | 60% || 405 AD || N/A || The {{w|War of Radagaisus}} started. Radagaisus lead a group of about 100,000 men across the Alps into Rome. | + | | 60% || 405 AD || N/A || The {{w|War of Radagaisus}} started. Radagaisus lead a group of about 100,000 men across the Alps into Rome. Six of the nine {{w|Sibylline Books}} were burned. |
|- | |- | ||
| 70% || 22,000 Years Ago || N/A || ... | | 70% || 22,000 Years Ago || N/A || ... |