explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:2492: Commonly Mispronounced Equations

2021-07-22T10:27:09Z

BenjaminTheBenevolent: add comment

I think the wave equation is wrong based on units, but it's been a while. The wave speed ought to be squared. Of course, ''c'' could be a squared speed, but it's usually not. [[Special:Contributions/172.70.34.164|172.70.34.164]] 01:22, 22 July 2021 (UTC)

:I agree, normally it's written as C squared... The equations in order are 1: Gravitational Attraction, 2: Einstein's Mass / Energy Conversion, 3: Pythagorean Theorem (triangle side relations), 4: Area of a Circle, 5: Entropy equation, 6: Ideal Gas Law, 7: Euler's Identity, 8: Newtons Second law, 9: Wave equation, 10: The derivative of a function f, and, 11: The Quadratic Equation... I don't understand the linguistic rules being applied to the names, but they seem to be visual as much as anything [[Special:Contributions/108.162.237.66|108.162.237.66]] 02:04, 22 July 2021 (UTC)
::You should turn that into a table in the explanation. We can have a column where we try to come up with the pronunciation rule. [[User:Barmar|Barmar]] ([[User talk:Barmar|talk]]) 04:10, 22 July 2021 (UTC)

The equation for the thing I have as what it was made by is
L
=
i
ψ
¯
γ
μ
∂
μ
ψ
−
e
ψ
¯
γ
μ
(
A
μ
+
B
μ
)
ψ
−
m
ψ
¯
ψ
1
4
F
μ
ν
F
μ
ν
.
{\displaystyle {\mathcal {L}}=i{\bar {\psi }}\gamma ^{\mu }\partial _{\mu }\psi -e{\bar {\psi }}\gamma ^{\mu }(A_{\mu }+B_{\mu })\psi -m{\bar {\psi }}\psi -{\frac {1}{4}}F_{\mu \nu }F^{\mu \nu }.}

when copy-pasted from Wikipedia. {{w|Quantum electrodynamics#Equations_of_motion|here is the link:}} [https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_electrodynamics#Equations_of_motion These are both the links.]
For archival, this is the thing: LAGRONJ EYSIBARYMOODMOOSIOYLERSIBRYMOOAMOOBAMOOSIMASIBRSIQORTFAHMOOVYFAHMOOVY.
[[User:4D4850|4D4850]] ([[User talk:4D4850|talk]]) 02:22, 22 July 2021 (UTC)

My friends and I actually pretty often say "PəV-nert" for the ideal gas law. First syllable is kind of vowel-less, sort of a schwa if anything. But also stressed? Didn't know you could stress a schwa but, guess I did.
[[Special:Contributions/172.70.130.160|172.70.130.160]] 02:36, 22 July 2021 (UTC)

I think this is the XKCD that has made me laugh the most, out of all 2492.
:I'd say it might be the one that made me laugh the most, out of all {{LATESTCOMIC}}. I won't, because it didn't, but I could. --[[User:4D4850|4D4850]] ([[User talk:4D4850|talk]]) 03:23, 22 July 2021 (UTC)

I tried to transcribe these pronunciations into IPA, because reading them like this is kind of ambiguous. I probably got a bunch of stuff wrong though.
fəˈdʒæmɚ |
ˈɛmkɑˌtu |
ætˈbutkut |
ˈæpɚˌtu |
həˈsplɒgpi |
ˈpævnɚt |
ˈaɪpɪn |
ˈfimɑ |
dut kəˈduks |
ˈfækslɪmˌoʊ ˈfæksəˌfɒx |
zəˈbɔbə fækˈtoʊɑ |
ˌɛpsɪˈhutəˌmu ˈdupsɪˌkwɔrps

Why is it a soft G in the gravity equation? [[User:Barmar|Barmar]] ([[User talk:Barmar|talk]]) 04:10, 22 July 2021 (UTC)
:I believe it's a reference to the "gif" pronunciation debate. "Fuh-gam-er" is the obvious pronunciation, Randal is facetiously asserting "Fuh-jam-er" is correct.--[[Special:Contributions/108.162.250.130|108.162.250.130]] 05:00, 22 July 2021 (UTC)
:I think it might be because the English letter "G" is pronounced "Gee" (i.e. "Jee"), which made its way into the pronunciation here.[[User:BenjaminTheBenevolent|BenjaminTheBenevolent]] ([[User talk:BenjaminTheBenevolent|talk]]) 10:27, 22 July 2021 (UTC)

The most similar time when equations are actually 'pronounced' a bit like this is the "soh cah toa" mnemonic for the trigonometric identities - should this be in the explanation? (the comic made at least me think that might be the original inspiration) [[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.204|141.101.99.204]] 06:42, 22 July 2021 (UTC)

:The circle area might be meant to read out like "upper two", referencing the square. I can't see the same for any of the others though. / [[Special:Contributions/162.158.183.157|162.158.183.157]] 06:52, 22 July 2021 (UTC)

2240: Timeline of the Universe

2019-12-11T19:53:43Z

BenjaminTheBenevolent: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2240
| date = December 11, 2019
| title = Timeline of the Universe
| image = timeline_of_the_universe.png
| titletext = Not actual size, except technically at one spot near the left.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by the BIG BANG. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This comic is about the size of the universe, presented as a timeline. Some events on it are real, but others are jokes.

The title text is a mathematical joke, based on the Intermediate Value Theorem (IVT). Note that the actual size (A) of the universe is zero at the Big Bang (time t = 0), while the corresponding size of the comic (C) is positive (the shape there has a small but nonzero thickness). Thus, A(0) - C(0) < 0. Also, the actual size of the universe at the present day is larger {{Citation needed}} than the corresponding size of the comic. So we have A(present) - C(present) > 0. Assuming the sizes of the universe and the comic are continuous {{Citation needed}}, by the IVT, there exists a time u in the interval (0, present) such that A(u) - C(u) = 0. Noting such a time u is likely reached very quickly after the Big Bang, it is represented close to the left of the comic. Hence, technically, Randall is correct.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
:'''Timeline of the Universe'''

:??

:Big Bang
:[The Universe comes in as a circle with action lines around it. It stays the same size for a while.]

:Planck Epoch

:Medium Bang
:[The Universe starts inflating very slowly]

:Inflation
:[The Universe briefly inflates very rapidly, and returns to its normal rate of expansion.]

:Quark Epoch

:Lepton Epoch

:Photon Epoch

:Cool Bug Epoch

:[The Universe starts inflating and deflating rapidly, as if to form a grip.]
:Molded grip

:[Stars appear in the timeline. The Universe starts inflating slightly faster than before.]
:Stars form

:Stagflation
:[The Universe starts deflating slowly.]

:Settling

:Rebound
:[The Universe starts inflating slowly again.]

:Someone tripped and accidentally hit the "Inflation" switch again
:[The Universe starts inflating at the same rate as the Inflation section.]

:Emergency Stop triggered
:[The Universe abruptly stops inflating, and stays level.]

:[Galaxies appear in the timeline. The Universe starts inflating at a medium pace.]
:Galaxies form

:Earth forms

:Present day
:[We see the edge of the Universe, with a rounded shape. Various dotted line predictions are on the edges.]
:Future Cosmological development handed over to J.J. Abrams, outcome unknown
{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Space]]
[[Category:Star Wars]]
[[Category:Timelines]]
[[Category:Charts]]

2240: Timeline of the Universe

2019-12-11T19:52:32Z

BenjaminTheBenevolent: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2240
| date = December 11, 2019
| title = Timeline of the Universe
| image = timeline_of_the_universe.png
| titletext = Not actual size, except technically at one spot near the left.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by the BIG BANG. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This comic is about the size of the universe, presented as a timeline. Some events on it are real, but others are jokes.

The title text is a mathematical joke, based on the Intermediate Value Theorem (IVT). Note that the actual size (A) of the universe is zero at the Big Bang (time t = 0), while the corresponding size of the comic (C) is positive (the shape there has a small but nonzero thickness). Thus, A(0) - C(0) < 0. Also, the actual size of the universe at the present day is larger {{citation needed}} than the corresponding size of the comic. So we have A(present) - C(present) > 0. Assuming the sizes of the universe and the comic are continuous {{citation needed}}, by the IVT, there exists a time u in the interval (0, present) such that A(u) - C(u) = 0. Noting such a time u is likely reached very quickly after the Big Bang, it is represented close to the left of the comic. Hence, technically, Randall is correct.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
:'''Timeline of the Universe'''

:??

:Big Bang
:[The Universe comes in as a circle with action lines around it. It stays the same size for a while.]

:Planck Epoch

:Medium Bang
:[The Universe starts inflating very slowly]

:Inflation
:[The Universe briefly inflates very rapidly, and returns to its normal rate of expansion.]

:Quark Epoch

:Lepton Epoch

:Photon Epoch

:Cool Bug Epoch

:[The Universe starts inflating and deflating rapidly, as if to form a grip.]
:Molded grip

:[Stars appear in the timeline. The Universe starts inflating slightly faster than before.]
:Stars form

:Stagflation
:[The Universe starts deflating slowly.]

:Settling

:Rebound
:[The Universe starts inflating slowly again.]

:Someone tripped and accidentally hit the "Inflation" switch again
:[The Universe starts inflating at the same rate as the Inflation section.]

:Emergency Stop triggered
:[The Universe abruptly stops inflating, and stays level.]

:[Galaxies appear in the timeline. The Universe starts inflating at a medium pace.]
:Galaxies form

:Earth forms

:Present day
:[We see the edge of the Universe, with a rounded shape. Various dotted line predictions are on the edges.]
:Future Cosmological development handed over to J.J. Abrams, outcome unknown
{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Space]]
[[Category:Star Wars]]
[[Category:Timelines]]
[[Category:Charts]]

2240: Timeline of the Universe

2019-12-11T19:49:01Z

BenjaminTheBenevolent: Explaining the title text

{{comic
| number = 2240
| date = December 11, 2019
| title = Timeline of the Universe
| image = timeline_of_the_universe.png
| titletext = Not actual size, except technically at one spot near the left.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by the BIG BANG. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This comic is about the size of the universe, presented as a timeline. Some events on it are real, but others are jokes.

The title text is a mathematical joke, based on the Intermediate Value Theorem (IVT). Note that the actual size (A) of the universe is zero at the Big Bang (time t = 0), while the corresponding size of the comic (C) is positive (the shape there has a small but nonzero thickness). Thus, A(0) - C(0) < 0. Also, the actual size of the universe at the present day is larger (citation needed) than the corresponding size of the comic. So we have A(present) - C(present) > 0. Assuming the sizes of the universe and the comic are continuous (citation needed), by the IVT, there exists a time u in the interval (0, present) such that A(u) - C(u) = 0.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
:'''Timeline of the Universe'''

:??

:Big Bang
:[The Universe comes in as a circle with action lines around it. It stays the same size for a while.]

:Planck Epoch

:Medium Bang
:[The Universe starts inflating very slowly]

:Inflation
:[The Universe briefly inflates very rapidly, and returns to its normal rate of expansion.]

:Quark Epoch

:Lepton Epoch

:Photon Epoch

:Cool Bug Epoch

:[The Universe starts inflating and deflating rapidly, as if to form a grip.]
:Molded grip

:[Stars appear in the timeline. The Universe starts inflating slightly faster than before.]
:Stars form

:Stagflation
:[The Universe starts deflating slowly.]

:Settling

:Rebound
:[The Universe starts inflating slowly again.]

:Someone tripped and accidentally hit the "Inflation" switch again
:[The Universe starts inflating at the same rate as the Inflation section.]

:Emergency Stop triggered
:[The Universe abruptly stops inflating, and stays level.]

:[Galaxies appear in the timeline. The Universe starts inflating at a medium pace.]
:Galaxies form

:Earth forms

:Present day
:[We see the edge of the Universe, with a rounded shape. Various dotted line predictions are on the edges.]
:Future Cosmological development handed over to J.J. Abrams, outcome unknown
{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Space]]
[[Category:Star Wars]]
[[Category:Timelines]]
[[Category:Charts]]

1708: Dehydration

2016-07-18T15:21:47Z

BenjaminTheBenevolent: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1708
| date = July 18, 2016
| title = Dehydration
| image = dehydration.png
| titletext = I don't care what the research says. Everybody knows you should drink 3,000 glasses of water a day and change your oil every 8 miles.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page.}}

This comic puns on the idea that there is little to no consensus in the scientific community with regard as to the amount of water a person should drink per day. In the first panel White Hat presents us with an innocent and sensible suggestion (although controvertible) that people should drink six glasses of water per day. In the second panel, more characters joined the discussion, all with different (one of which markedly different) opinions, highlighting the existence of a wide range of so-called 'optimum' liquid consumption 'rule-of-thumb'. Implied here is the variety of health-related books, articles, blogs or other literature published that self-proclaims an optimum drinking formula. The first sign of absurdity arises here in the second panel when Black Hat posits that we need 5 glasses of water every minute. This equates to 7200 glasses of water a day, and using the standard definition of a glass equalling 8 oz, Black Hat is suggesting that we should each drink 1.7 cubic metres of water a day. This sarcastic [citation needed] statement further emphasises the undecidability of the problem at hand.

In the third and fourth panels, Megan, although having read through all studies on dehydration (or low-grade dehydration in particular), still could not come to a solid conclusion. She becomes dizzy and starts commenting on her own experience of dehydration due to her research on dehydration (ironically). Her personal experience with dehydration prompted someone off-panel to get some water. Cueball finally suggests that she should drink straight from the tap, a (tenuously) sincere suggestion seeing her dehydration, but mostly referring to Black Hat's sarcastic comment earlier.

In the title text, the discussion is further turned towards the absurd and even links to the (similarly controversial) debate of the optimum frequency of a car's oil change. Someone else can continue the explanation here.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

Dehydration

All but the second of the four panels have a black outline.

White hat says to Cueball: "Many people are mildly dehydrated. And don't realize it. You should drink at least six glasses of water per day."

Off-pane, left: "No, EIGHT glasses!"
Ponytail says: "I heard ten."
Black hat says: "You need to drink at least five glasses of water per minute."

[Later:]
Megan holding a book or a thick binder, says: "Okay, I just read through every study I could find to try to figure out whether low-grade dehydration is even a real thing."
Off-panel, right: "What did you learn?"

Megan, with squeans above hear head: "If you spend all day doing research and forget to eat or drink, you start to feel pretty bad."
Off-panel, right: "I'll get some water."
Megan: "''But how many glas'' - Whoa, feeling dizzy."
Cueball: "Maybe you should just drink straight from the tap."

Title text: I don't care what the research says. Everybody knows you should drink 3,000 glasses of water a day and change your oil every 8 miles.

{{incomplete transcript| First try at this & edit conflict. Let someone else merge it.}}

Pane 1:
Whitehat & cueball standing LTR next to each other, whitehat explaining to cueball:

Whitehat: "Many people are mildly dehydrated. And don't realize it. You should drink at least six glasses of water per day.

Pane 2:
Whitehat & Cueball get joined by Ponytail and Blackhat

Offscreen comment: No, Eight glasses!
Ponytail: I heard ten.
Blackhat: You need to drink at least five glasses of water per minute.

Pane 3:

Later:
one-eye-behind-her-hair-girl: Okay, I just read trough every study I could find to try to figure out wether low-grade dehydration is even a real thing.

Offscreen: What did you learn?

(one-eye-behind-her-hair-girl hereafter to be called o-e-b-h-h-g is the only one in this frame)

Pane 4:

o-e-b-h-h-g: If you spend all day doing research and forget to eat or drink, you start to feel pretty bad.
Offscreen: I'll get some water.
o-e-b-h-h-g: (Italic text) ''but how many glas-'' Whoa, feeling dizzy.
(There's a few dizzy bursting bubble thingies above her head too)

cueball: Maybe you should just dring straight from the tap.

{{comic discussion}}

1708: Dehydration

2016-07-18T15:03:34Z

BenjaminTheBenevolent: /* Transcript */