Editing 1571: Car Model Names

Jump to: navigation, search

Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.

The edit can be undone. Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then save the changes below to finish undoing the edit.
Latest revision Your text
Line 7: Line 7:
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
==Explanation==
+
==Explanation==
 +
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page.}}
 +
 
In English, letters like X and Z are rarely used in the common vernacular. Marketers have found that names with these infrequently-appearing letters sell more products.
 
In English, letters like X and Z are rarely used in the common vernacular. Marketers have found that names with these infrequently-appearing letters sell more products.
  
−
;Scores
+
===Scores===
 +
Scores for letters and numbers are presumably taken from their frequency in car models. Randall must have used a car-name database to create the scores. Arbitrarily Randall used positive and negative numbers: if a letter is very common in car models (as X) he calls it carlike. If a letter is very uncommon in car models (as O) he calls it English-like. With this nomenclature the most English-like letter is Y, but actually Y is the least carlike letter. The most common letter in ordinary English is E.
  
−
There are two explanations for scores. Both of them share the fact that [[Randall]] must have used a car-name database to calculate letter frequency in car models.
+
;Numerical order of scores
 +
X: 126,
 +
Z: 83,
 +
5: 74,
 +
J: 64,
 +
0: 60,
 +
3: 55,
 +
4: 35,
 +
V: 41,
 +
Q: 40,
 +
K: 32,
 +
C: 27,
 +
G: 27,
 +
M: 19,
 +
S: 15,
 +
L: 12,
 +
R: 8,
 +
2: 6,
 +
6: 6,
 +
F: 5,
 +
B: -5,
 +
A: -14,
 +
T: -18,
 +
W: -20,
 +
D: -21,
 +
I: -21,
 +
P: -27,
 +
9: -37,
 +
H: -44,
 +
E: -45,
 +
N: -46,
 +
7: -58,
 +
8: -67,
 +
U: -68,
 +
1: -74,
 +
O: -80,
 +
Y: -90,
  
−
There are 19 positive scores and 17 negative scores, which is interpreted differently in each explanation.
+
There are 19 positive scores and 17 negative scores.
  
−
;Score(x) = Frequency_in_cars(x) - Frequency_in_English(x)
+
===Algorithm for the index===
−
This formula generates a positive number if a letter is more common in car models than in typical English (as X) which Randall then calls carlike. The formula generates a negative number if a letter's relative frequency in car models is lower than in typical English (as O) and Randall calls it English-like (more suitable for readable text). The letters F and B, with scores of 5 and -5, respectively, are about as common in English as in car models. With this nomenclature, the most English-like letter is Y because, while not the most common English letter, it is apparently extremely rare in car models. The most common letter in ordinary English is E, which is (presumably) fairly common in car models.
 
−
 
 
−
;Score(x) = Frequency_in_cars(x)
 
−
It seems that Randall arbitrarily used positive and negative numbers: if a letter is very common in car models (as X) he calls it carlike. If a letter is very uncommon in car models (as O) he calls it English-like. With this nomenclature the most English-like letter is Y, but actually Y is the least carlike letter. The most common letter in ordinary English is E. Y on the other hand is just in the middle (place 13), which can't be called English-like.
 
−
 
 
−
;Algorithm for the index
 
 
Randall devised an index for car models which is the score average divided by 10.
 
Randall devised an index for car models which is the score average divided by 10.
  
Line 28: Line 61:
 
We take 2Chainz and add the scores of its different numbers and letters: 6 +27 -44 -14 -21 -46 +83 = -9
 
We take 2Chainz and add the scores of its different numbers and letters: 6 +27 -44 -14 -21 -46 +83 = -9
  
−
The average is -9/7 ≈ -1.29. Then we divide that by 10 and we get -0.129 or -0.13.
+
Average is -9/7 = -1.29 and divided by 10 it's -0.129 or -0.13.
  
−
;Names to avoid
+
===Names to avoid===
−
*Honda '''2Chainz''' - {{w|2 Chainz}} is an American rapper
+
*Honda 2Chainz - {{w|2 Chainz}} is an American rapper
−
*Mitsubishi '''Fhqwhgads''' - A reference to a running joke on {{w|Homestar Runner}}.
+
*Mitsubishi Fhqwhgads - A reference to a running joke on {{w|Homestar Runner}}. See http://www.hrwiki.org/wiki/Fhqwhgads
−
*Kia '''49andGothy''' - Gothy or gothic is a member of the {{w|goth subculture}}; most of its members are much younger than 49
+
*Kia 49andGothy - Gothy or gothic is a member of the {{w|goth subculture}}; most of its members are much younger than 49
−
*Chevrolet '''Niceguy''' - A reference to the idiom "nice guys finish last".
+
*Chevrolet Niceguy
−
*Oldsmobile '''Goodwood''' - May be a reference to the {{w|Goodwood Festival of Speed}}
+
*Oldsmobile Goodwood - May be a reference to the {{w|Goodwood Festival of Speed}}
−
*Infiniti '''Toothy69''' - "69" is slang for a sex position where two participants pleasure each other orally; for obvious reasons, many would not want teeth involved.
+
*Infiniti Toothy69
−
*BMW '''Outhouse''' - Loose standing toilet, or {{w|Outhouse}}.
+
*BMW Outhouse - Loose standing toilet, or {{w|Outhouse}}.
−
*Volkswagen '''Woodpony 7oh7''' - Wood ponies are wooden constructions to give kids (and sometimes adults) the feeling of riding a horse, but don't actually move. 7oh7 is a way to pronounce 707, which could be a reference to the Boeing 707 passenger jet series.
+
*Volkswagen Woodpony 7oh7 - Wood ponies are wooden constructions to give kids (and sometimes adults) the feeling of riding a horse, but don't actually move. 7oh7 is a way to pronounce 707, which could be a reference to the Boeing 707 passenger jet series.
−
*Chrysler '''Uh Iono''' - When pronounced, sounds roughly like someone slurring [https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=iono "Uh, I don't know"]
+
*Chrysler Uh Iono - When pronounced, sounds roughly like someone slurring "Uh, I don't know"
−
*Nissan '''Doody''' - An incredibly juvenile term meaning feces. May reference the unfortunately named {{w|Nissan Moco}}, which is Spanish for snot
+
*Nissan Doody - May reference the unfortunately named {{w|Nissan Moco}}, which is Spanish for snot
  
−
;Potential Hits
+
===Potential Hits===
−
*Honda '''3Chainz''' - A play on 2Chainz in the previous section; according to the table the number 2 has a score of 6 and the number 3 has a higher score of 55; the index will go up by (55-6)/7/10=0.7.
+
*Honda 3Chainz - A play on 2Chainz in the previous section; according to the table the number 2 has a score of 6 and the number 3 has a higher score of 55; the index will go up by (55-6)/7/10=0.7.
−
*Subaru '''Andre3000''' - {{w|André 3000}} is an American rapper
+
*Subaru Andre3000 - {{w|André 3000}} is an American rapper
−
*Suzuki '''Sexism''' - Akihiro Suzuki is a Tokyo city assemblyman who made sexist remarks in June 2014.
+
*Suzuki Sexism -  
−
*Lincoln '''Marxism''' - {{w|Marxism}} is a political method of societal analysis which has been used to critique {{w|Capitalism}}. There are various essays noting {{w|Karl Marx|its founder}} and {{w|Abraham Lincoln}} exchanged letters during the American civil war. Lincoln is also the marque for the {{w|Ford Motor Company}}'s luxury vehicles, capitalist status symbols throughout the late 20th century. Its juxtaposition with Marxism is thus particularly ironic.
+
*Lincoln Marxism - {{w|Marxism}} is a form of communism. There are various essays noting it's founder and {{w|Abraham Lincoln}} exchanged letters during the American civil war.  
−
*Hyundai '''Climax''' - In this context, an {{w|orgasm}}. The title text finds an excuse to add another "x" with the model '''SexClimax'''.
+
*Hyundai Climax -  
−
*Porsche '''Zizek9000''' - A portmanteau referencing academic {{w|Slavoj Žižek}} and the {{w|Saab 9000}}
+
*Porsche Zizek9000 - A portmanteau referencing academic {{w|Slavoj Žižek}} and the {{w|Saab 9000}}
−
*Lexus '''3×3Cutrix''' - 3×3 is a play on 4×4; this car presumably has 3 wheels. "Executrix" (in {{w|leet}} "3×3Cutrix") is the female counterpart of "executor", one who administers a will.
+
*Lexus 3×3Cutrix - 3×3 is a play on 4×4; this car presumably has 3 wheels.  
−
*Acura '''PizzaJazz''' - The letter Z has a very high score, so using 4 of them in a fairly short name makes this a potential hit.
+
*Acura PizzaJazz -  
−
*Ford '''SixAxle 4×4''' - A contradictory name, as the 4×4 refers to a vehicle that has all four wheels connected to the drivetrain, which would only use two axles. May also be a reference to the Sony PlayStation's {{w|Sixaxis controller}}.
+
*Ford SixAxle 4×4 - A contradictory name, as the 4×4 refers to a vehicle that has all four wheels connected to the drivetrain, which would only use two axles.  
−
*Toyota '''Cervixxx''' - A portmanteau of {{w|cervix}} and XXX rating used by pornographic industry to make titles seem more extreme (see {{w|X rating}}). It being the highest scoring item on the list may be an attempt to show that {{w|sex sells}}.
+
*Toyota Cervixxx - A portmanteau of {{w|cervix}} and XXX rating used by pornographic industry to make titles seem more extreme (see {{w|X rating}}). It being the highest scoring item on the list may be an attempt to show that {{w|sex sells}}.
  
 
Note that Randall gives the symbol × the value of 126, which means he equates it with the letter x.
 
Note that Randall gives the symbol × the value of 126, which means he equates it with the letter x.
−
:index(3×3Cutrix) = (+55 + score(×) +55 +27 -68 -18 +8 -21 +126)/9/10 = 3.22. This means that the score of the symbol × is 90×3.22 - 164 = 125.8
+
:index(3×3CutrixNote) = (+55 + score(×) +55 +27 -68 -18 +8 -21 +126)/9/10 = 3.22. This means that the score of the symbol × is 90×3.22 - 164 = 125.8
  
−
;Title text
+
===Title text===
−
As mentioned in the comic, the index for the word "climax" is 2.48. However, applying the index to the phrase "sexclimax" yields a value of 2.72, higher than that for "climax".
 
  
 
==Transcript==
 
==Transcript==
−
:{| style="text-align:center; border:0px; width:63%;"
+
:{| style="text-align:center; border:0px; width:75%;"
 
| '''Certain letters and numbers are used<br/> disproportionately often in car models<br/> compared to regular text.'''
 
| '''Certain letters and numbers are used<br/> disproportionately often in car models<br/> compared to regular text.'''
 
|-
 
|-
Line 70: Line 102:
 
| colspan="37" | '''Letter and number scores based on relative frequency in car model names'''
 
| colspan="37" | '''Letter and number scores based on relative frequency in car model names'''
 
|-
 
|-
−
| style="text-align:left;" | Carlike
+
| style="text-align:left;" | [Positive axis label.] Carlike  
−
|| 60
+
|| 60  
−
||
+
||  
−
|| 6
+
|| 6  
−
|| 55
+
|| 55  
−
|| 35
+
|| 35  
−
|| 74
+
|| 74  
−
|| 6
+
|| 6  
−
||
+
||  
−
||
+
||  
−
||
+
||  
−
||
+
||  
−
||
+
||  
−
|| 27
+
|| 27  
−
||
+
||  
−
||
+
||  
−
|| 5
+
|| 5  
−
|| 27
+
|| 27  
−
||
+
||  
−
||
+
||  
−
|| 64
+
|| 64  
−
|| 32
+
|| 32  
−
|| 12
+
|| 12  
−
|| 19
+
|| 19  
−
||
+
||  
−
||
+
||  
−
||
+
||  
−
|| 40
+
|| 40  
−
|| 8
+
|| 8  
−
|| 15
+
|| 15  
−
||
+
||  
−
||
+
||  
−
|| 41
+
|| 41  
−
||
+
||  
−
|| 126
+
|| 126  
−
||
+
||  
 
|| 83
 
|| 83
 
|-
 
|-
Line 146: Line 178:
 
|| '''Z'''
 
|| '''Z'''
 
|-
 
|-
−
| style="text-align:left;" | English-like
+
| style="text-align:left;" | [Negative axis label.] English-like  
−
||
+
||  
−
|| -74
+
|| -74  
−
||
+
||  
−
||
+
||  
−
||
+
||  
−
||
+
||  
−
||
+
||  
−
|| -58
+
|| -58  
−
|| -67
+
|| -67  
−
|| -37
+
|| -37  
−
|| -14
+
|| -14  
 
|| -5  
 
|| -5  
−
||
+
||  
−
|| -21
+
|| -21  
−
|| -45
+
|| -45  
−
||
+
||  
−
||
+
||  
−
|| -44
+
|| -44  
−
|| -21
+
|| -21  
−
||
+
||  
−
||
+
||  
−
||
+
||  
−
||
+
||  
−
|| -46
+
|| -46  
−
|| -80
+
|| -80  
−
|| -27
+
|| -27  
−
||
+
||  
−
||
+
||  
−
||
+
||  
−
|| -18
+
|| -18  
−
|| -68
+
|| -68  
−
||
+
||  
−
|| -20
+
|| -20  
−
||
+
||  
−
|| -90
+
|| -90  
−
||
+
||
 
|}
 
|}
  
−
:{| style="text-align:center; border:0px; width:63%;"
+
:{| style="text-align:center; border:0px; width:75%;"
 
| '''Based on these scores, here are a<br/> few suggestions for car companies:'''
 
| '''Based on these scores, here are a<br/> few suggestions for car companies:'''
 
|-
 
|-
−
| <span style="color:#808080;">(with average letter scores)</span>
+
| <span style="color:#808080">(with average letter scores)</span>
 
|}
 
|}
  
−
:{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; border:1pt black solid; width:63%;"
+
:[Left list - title underlined, brand names and numbers in light grey]
−
| colspan="2" | '''Names to avoid'''
+
:Names to avoid
−
| colspan="2" | '''Potential hits'''
+
:Honda 2Chainz (-0.13)
−
|-
+
:Mitsubishi Fhqwhgads (-0.62)
−
| style="text-align:right; width:25%; color:#808080;" | Honda
+
:Kia 49AndGothy (-2.96)
−
| style="text-align:left;" | '''2Chainz''' (-0.13)
+
:Chevrolet Niceguy (-3.09)
−
| style="text-align:right; width:25%; color:#808080;" | Honda
+
:Oldsmobile GoodWood (-4.44)
−
| style="text-align:left;" | '''3Chainz''' (0.57)
+
:Infinity Toothy69 (-4.51)
−
|-
+
:BMW Outhouse (-4.85)
−
| style="text-align:right; color:#808080;" | Mitsubishi
+
:Volkswagen Woodpony 4OH7 (-5.70)
−
| style="text-align:left;" | '''Fhqwhgads''' (-0.62)
+
:Chrysler Uh Iono (-5.65)
−
| style="text-align:right; color:#808080;" | Subaru
+
:Nissan Doody (-5.84)
−
| style="text-align:left;" | '''Andre3000''' (1.30)
 
−
|-
 
−
| style="text-align:right; color:#808080;" | Kia
 
−
| style="text-align:left;" | '''49AndGothy''' (-2.96)
 
−
| style="text-align:right; color:#808080;" | Suzuki
 
−
| style="text-align:left;" | '''Sexism''' (1.82)
 
−
|-
 
−
| style="text-align:right; color:#808080;" | Chevrolet
 
−
| style="text-align:left;" | '''Niceguy''' (-3.09)
 
−
| style="text-align:right; color:#808080;" | Lincoln
 
−
| style="text-align:left;" | '''Marxism''' (2.17)
 
−
|-
 
−
| style="text-align:right; color:#808080;" | Oldsmobile
 
−
| style="text-align:left;" | '''GoodWood''' (-4.44)
 
−
| style="text-align:right; color:#808080;" | Hyundai
 
−
| style="text-align:left;" | '''Climax''' (2.48)
 
−
|-
 
−
| style="text-align:right; color:#808080;" | Infinity
 
−
| style="text-align:left;" | '''Toothy69''' (-4.51)
 
−
| style="text-align:right; color:#808080;" | Porsche
 
−
| style="text-align:left;" | '''Zizek9000''' (3.06)
 
−
|-
 
−
| style="text-align:right; color:#808080;" | BMW
 
−
| style="text-align:left;" | '''Outhouse''' (-4.85)
 
−
| style="text-align:right; color:#808080;" | Lexus
 
−
| style="text-align:left;" | '''3x3Cutrix''' (3.22)
 
−
|-
 
−
| style="text-align:right; color:#808080;" | Volkswagen
 
−
| style="text-align:left;" | '''Woodpony 7OH7''' (-5.70)
 
−
| style="text-align:right; color:#808080;" | Acura
 
−
| style="text-align:left;" | '''PizzaJazz''' (3.56)
 
−
|-
 
−
| style="text-align:right; color:#808080;" | Chrysler
 
−
| style="text-align:left;" | '''Uh Iono''' (-5.65)
 
−
| style="text-align:right; color:#808080;" | Ford
 
−
| style="text-align:left;" | '''SixAxle 4x4''' (3.95)
 
−
|-
 
−
| style="text-align:right; color:#808080;" | Nissan
 
−
| style="text-align:left;" | '''Doody''' (-5.84)
 
−
| style="text-align:right; color:#808080;" | Toyota
 
−
| style="text-align:left;" | '''Cervixxx''' (4.85)
 
−
|}
 
  
−
==Trivia==
+
:[Right list - title underlined, brand names and numbers in light grey]
−
*Later after the initial release of this comic Randall added a link to this page. It's viewable in the HTML-source or here: [https://xkcd.com/1571/info.0.json https://xkcd.com/1571/info.0.json]. The text is: ''"A full explanation of THE CUNNING REFERENCES in this are at http:\n\nwww.explainxkcd.com\nwiki\nindex.php\n1571"''.
+
:Potential hits
 +
:Honda 3Chainz (0.57)
 +
:Subaru Andre3000 (1.30)
 +
:Suzuki Sexism (1.82)
 +
:Lincoln Marxism (2.17)
 +
:Hyundai Climax (2.48)
 +
:Porsche Zizek9000 (3.06)
 +
:Lexus 3x3Cutrix (3.22)
 +
:Acura PizzaJazz (3.56)
 +
:Ford SixAxle 4x4 (3.95)
 +
:Toyota Cervixxx (4.85)
  
 
{{comic discussion}}
 
{{comic discussion}}
  
−
[[Category:Bar charts]]
 
 
[[Category:Charts]]
 
[[Category:Charts]]
 
[[Category:Language]]
 
[[Category:Language]]
 
[[Category:Math]]
 
[[Category:Math]]
−
[[Category:Sex]]
 

Please note that all contributions to explain xkcd may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here.
You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see explain xkcd:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission!

To protect the wiki against automated edit spam, we kindly ask you to solve the following CAPTCHA:

Cancel | Editing help (opens in new window)

Templates used on this page:

Retrieved from "https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/1571:_Car_Model_Names"