explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

1822: Existential Bug Reports

2017-04-10T13:41:39Z

Concomitant:

{{comic
| number = 1822
| date = April 10, 2017
| title = Existential Bug Reports
| image = existential_bug_reports.png
| titletext = ISSUE: If we wait long enough, eventually the Earth will be consumed by the Sun. WORKAROUND: None.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|New explanation- Please add more. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

[[Megan]] is sitting at her desk, writing an error report. Her description of the issue is fairly standard, albeit somewhat vague - a recent software update has caused hardware she requires for her job to become unusable. This is very problematic, as it could prevent her from doing important work. The humor in this strip comes from her workaround (a short-term method of working despite the problem), which is absurd - she proposes simply waiting for the Sun to consume the Earth.

While this would eliminate the issue, as the hardware, software and Megan would all cease to exist, this would not be helpful to Megan as it does not address the underlying problem of her being unable to work in the present. It would also be extremely inefficient to wait until this occurs as it is expected to take {{w|Sun#After_core_hydrogen_exhaustion|over 5 billion years}}, so it can hardly be considered a short-term fix, and Megan will almost certainly die before this happens {{Citation needed}}.

Megan appears to be having an {{w|Existential_crisis|existential crisis}}, questioning the purpose of her work if everything will eventually be destroyed.

In the title text, Megan has realised that her proposed workaround is itself an issue for the continued survival of the human race. She has raised it as another bug report, as though it were a software problem. No workaround is given, as the Earth being consumed by the Sun is (seemingly) inescapable and Megan does not believe there is anything that can be done to avoid this. However, one possible workaround could be evacuation of the Solar System, as if humanity still exists by the time the Earth's destruction occurs, we will likely have highly advanced technology.

Megan has previously expressed such existential ideas in [[220: Philosophy]] and [[1111: Premiere]].

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

:[Megan is seated at a desk, typing on a laptop.]

:ISSUE: Recent update broke support for hardware I need for my job.

:WORKAROUND: If we wait long enough, the Earth will eventually be consumed by the Sun.

{{comic discussion}}

1822: Existential Bug Reports

2017-04-10T13:39:00Z

Concomitant:

{{comic
| number = 1822
| date = April 10, 2017
| title = Existential Bug Reports
| image = existential_bug_reports.png
| titletext = ISSUE: If we wait long enough, eventually the Earth will be consumed by the Sun. WORKAROUND: None.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|New explanation- Please add more. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

[[Megan]] is sitting at her desk, writing an error report. Apparently, a recent software update has caused hardware she uses for her job to be unusable. This is very problematic, as it could prevent her from doing important work. The humor in this strip comes from her workaround (a short-term method of working despite the problem), which is simply waiting for the Sun to consume the Earth.

While this would eliminate the issue, as the hardware, software and Megan would all cease to exist, this would not be helpful to Megan as it does not address the underlying problem of her being unable to work in the present. It would also be extremely inefficient to wait until this occurs as it is expected to take {{w|Sun#After_core_hydrogen_exhaustion|over 5 billion years}}, so it can hardly be considered a short-term fix, and Megan will almost certainly die before this happens {{Citation needed}}.

Megan appears to be having an {{w|Existential_crisis|existential crisis}}, questioning the purpose of her work if everything will eventually be destroyed.

In the title text, Megan has realised that her proposed workaround is itself an issue for the continued survival of the human race. She has raised it as another bug report, as though it were a software problem. No workaround is given, as the Earth being consumed by the Sun is (seemingly) inescapable and Megan does not believe there is anything that can be done to avoid this. However, one possible workaround could be evacuation of the Solar System, as if humanity still exists by the time the Earth's destruction occurs, we will likely have highly advanced technology.

Megan has previously expressed such existential ideas in [[220: Philosophy]] and [[1111: Premiere]].

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

:[Megan is seated at a desk, typing on a laptop.]

:ISSUE: Recent update broke support for hardware I need for my job.

:WORKAROUND: If we wait long enough, the Earth will eventually be consumed by the Sun.

{{comic discussion}}

1822: Existential Bug Reports

2017-04-10T13:34:54Z

Concomitant:

{{comic
| number = 1822
| date = April 10, 2017
| title = Existential Bug Reports
| image = existential_bug_reports.png
| titletext = ISSUE: If we wait long enough, eventually the Earth will be consumed by the Sun. WORKAROUND: None.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|New explanation- Please add more. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

[[Megan]] is sitting at her desk, writing an error report. Apparently, a recent software update has caused hardware she uses for her job to be unusable. This is very problematic, as it could prevent her from doing important work. The humor in this strip comes from her workaround (a short-term method of working despite the problem), which is simply waiting for the Sun to consume the Earth. While this would eliminate the issue, as the hardware, software and Megan would all cease to exist, this would not be helpful to Megan as it does not address the underlying problem of her being unable to work in the present. It would also be extremely inefficient to wait until this occurs as it is expected to take {{w|Sun#After_core_hydrogen_exhaustion|over 5 billion years}}, so it can hardly be considered a short-term fix, and Megan would almost certainly die before this could happen {{Citation needed}}.

The title text is similar, except the comic's workaround is the issue. No workaround is given, as the Earth being consumed by the Sun is (seemingly) inescapable. However, one possible workaround could be evacuation of the Solar System, as by the time the Earth's destruction occurs, if humanity still exists, we will likely have highly advanced technology.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

:[Megan is seated at a desk, typing on a laptop.]

:ISSUE: Recent update broke support for hardware I need for my job.

:WORKAROUND: If we wait long enough, the Earth will eventually be consumed by the Sun.

{{comic discussion}}

1822: Existential Bug Reports

2017-04-10T12:47:15Z

Concomitant: Added transcript

1652: Conditionals

2016-03-07T14:28:17Z

Concomitant: Fixed incomplete sentence

{{comic
| number = 1652
| date = March 7, 2016
| title = Conditionals
| image = conditionals.png
| titletext = 'If you're done being pedantic, we should get dinner.' 'You did it again!' 'No, I didn't.'
}}

==Explanation==
Cueball is having a conversation via text message. His conversation partner uses a conditional "if-then" statement, as might be found in formal logic or in a computer programm. WHen such a statement is used in a computer program, the computer will check to see if a certain condition, such as a variable value being equal to some constant, is true or false. If it is true, it will execute the code in the "then" section.

For example:
comic = "xkcd"
if (comic = "xkcd")
then print "xkcd"

When this pseudocode is run by a computer, the computer would print "xkcd" because the condition (does comic = xkcd?) is true, since the variable comic was assigned the value "xkcd".

Conditionals are also used in formal logic. A possible form is "if A then B", meaning that if the first part of the statement (A, the premise or antecedent) is true, the second part (B, the conclusion or consequent) is asserted to be true.

For example:
"If you are reading this then you probably read xkcd."

An equivalent form of such a statement is "B if A":
"You probably read xkcd if you are reading this."

The humor of the comic arises from Cueball's interaction with an invitation for a social meeting, which is put to him casually in the form of a “B if A” statement, as a formal conditional statement: if Cueball wants to hang out, then his conversation partner will be in his city. This does not imply anything about where the partner will be if Cueball does ''not'' want to hang out; they could be in the city or anywhere else (a conditional statement makes no assertions about the truth or falsity of its conclusion if its premise is false).

Since the person is only guaranteed to be in the city if Cueball wants to hang out, he asks them where they will be if he doesn't. The other person makes an excuse to drop their invitation, apparently tiring of his insistence on his overly-pedantic interpretation. Hence the caption observes that being pedantic with regard to conditionals is likely to make your friends disinclined to hang out with you.

Under the intended interpretation, "if you want to hang out" is shorthand for the conditional statement "we can hang out, if you want to hang out", with the consequent "we can hang out" being implied. "I'll be in your city tomorrow" is not part of the conditional statement and only serves to provide background.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

:[Cueball is texting on a phone with a friend]

:Friend: I'll be in your city tomorrow if you want to hang out.
:Cueball: But where will you be if I ''don't'' want to hang out?
:Friend: You know, I just remembered I'm busy.
:Why I try not to be pedantic about conditionals.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Language]]

1652: Conditionals

2016-03-07T14:26:44Z

Concomitant:

{{comic
| number = 1652
| date = March 7, 2016
| title = Conditionals
| image = conditionals.png
| titletext = 'If you're done being pedantic, we should get dinner.' 'You did it again!' 'No, I didn't.'
}}

==Explanation==
Cueball is having a conversation via text message. His conversation partner uses a conditional "if-then" statement, as might be found in formal logic or in a computer programm. WHen such a statement is used in a computer program, the computer will check to see if a certain condition, such as a variable value being equal to some constant, is true or false. If it is true, it will execute the code in the "then" section.

For example:
comic = "xkcd"
if (comic = "xkcd")
then print "xkcd"

When this pseudocode is run by a computer, the computer would print "xkcd" because the condition (does comic = xkcd?) is true, since the variable comic was assigned the value "xkcd".

Conditionals are also used in formal logic. A possible form is "if A then B", meaning that if the first part of the statement (A, the premise or antecedent) is true, the second part (B, the conclusion or consequent) is asserted to be true.

For example:
"If you are reading this then you probably read xkcd."

An equivalent form of such a statement is "B if A":
"You probably read xkcd if you are reading this."

The humor of the comic arises from Cueball's interaction with an invitation for a social meeting, which is put to him casually in the form of a “B if A” statement, as a formal conditional statement: if Cueball wants to hang out, then his conversation partner will be in his city. This does not imply anything about where the partner will be if Cueball does ''not'' want to hang out; they could be in the city or anywhere else (a conditional statement makes no assertions about the truth or falsity of its conclusion if its premise is false).

Since the person is only guaranteed to be in the city if Cueball wants to hang out, he asks them where they will be if he doesn't. The other person, apparently tiring of his insistence on his incorrect interpretation. Hence the caption observes that being pedantic with regard to conditionals is likely to make your friends disinclined to hang out with you.

Under the intended interpretation, "if you want to hang out" is shorthand for the conditional statement "we can hang out, if you want to hang out", with the consequent "we can hang out" being implied. "I'll be in your city tomorrow" is not part of the conditional statement and only serves to provide background.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

:[Cueball is texting on a phone with a friend]

:Friend: I'll be in your city tomorrow if you want to hang out.
:Cueball: But where will you be if I ''don't'' want to hang out?
:Friend: You know, I just remembered I'm busy.
:Why I try not to be pedantic about conditionals.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Language]]

1652: Conditionals

2016-03-07T14:22:49Z

Concomitant:

{{comic
| number = 1652
| date = March 7, 2016
| title = Conditionals
| image = conditionals.png
| titletext = 'If you're done being pedantic, we should get dinner.' 'You did it again!' 'No, I didn't.'
}}

==Explanation==
Cueball is having a conversation via text message. His conversation partner uses a conditional "if-then" statement, as might be found in formal logic or in a computer programm. WHen such a statement is used in a computer program, the computer will check to see if a certain condition, such as a variable value being equal to some constant, is true or false. If it is true, it will execute the code in the "then" section.

For example:
comic = "xkcd"
if (comic = "xkcd")
then print "xkcd"

When this pseudocode is run by a computer, the computer would print "xkcd" because the condition (does comic = xkcd?) is true, since the variable comic was assigned the value "xkcd".

Conditionals are also used in formal logic. A possible form is "if A then B", meaning that if the first part of the statement (A, the premise or antecedent) is true, the second part (B, the conclusion or consequent) is asserted to be true.

For example:
"If you are reading this then you probably read xkcd."

An equivalent form of such a statement is "B if A":
"You probably read xkcd if you are reading this."

The humor of the comic arises from Cueball's interaction with an invitation for a social meeting, which is put to him casually in the form of a “B if A” statement, as a formal conditional statement. If Cueball wants to hang out, then his conversation partner will be in his city. Logically, this does not imply ANYTHING about where the partner will be if Cueball does not want to hang out (they could be in the city or anywhere else). Since the person is only guaranteed to be in the city if Cueball wants to hang out, he asks them where they will be if he doesn't. The other person, tiring it seems of his insistence on this interpretation of a statement that while conditional in form is not meant to be interpreted as such, drop the invitation.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

:[Cueball is texting on a phone with a friend]

:Friend: I'll be in your city tomorrow if you want to hang out.
:Cueball: But where will you be if I ''don't'' want to hang out?
:Friend: You know, I just remembered I'm busy.
:Why I try not to be pedantic about conditionals.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Language]]

1286: Encryptic

2013-11-04T07:52:44Z

Concomitant: Created page with "{{comic | number = 1286 | date = November 4, 2013 | title = Encryptic | image = encryptic.png | titletext = It was bound to happen eventually. This data theft ..."

{{comic
| number = 1286
| date = November 4, 2013
| title = Encryptic
| image = encryptic.png
| titletext = It was bound to happen eventually. This data theft will enable almost limitless [xkcd.com/792]-style password reuse attacks in the coming weeks. There's only one group that comes out of this looking smart: Everyone who pirated Photoshop.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|1286: Encryptic}}

==Transcript==
Hackers recently leaked '''153 million''' Adobe user emails, encrypted passwords, and password hints.

Adobe encrypted the passwords improperly, misusing block mode 3DES.

The result is something wonderful:

The greatest crossword puzzle in the history of the world

{{comic discussion}}

File:encryptic.png

2013-11-04T07:50:36Z

Concomitant:

Talk:1285: Third Way

2013-11-01T05:10:26Z

Concomitant:

ONE SPACE AFTER A PERIOD. '''[[User:Davidy22|{{Color|#707|David}}y²²]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 04:38, 1 November 2013 (UTC)

Writing plaintext, I always do two spaces after a sentence ending period.
This is probably because I did in fact start typing on a real typewriter.
In an environment where automatic formatting will take place, like a web page or wiki text, I use the newline.
I have had people in this wiki collapse my multiple line forms to one of the others.
(I was disappointed.)
--[[User:Divad27182|Divad27182]] ([[User talk:Divad27182|talk]]) 04:48, 1 November 2013 (UTC)

I prefer double spacing, but I used single spacing in writing the explanation, just to make people happy. Perhaps I should have used new lines. [[User:Concomitant|Concomitant]] ([[User talk:Concomitant|talk]]) 05:10, 1 November 2013 (UTC)

1285: Third Way

2013-11-01T05:07:14Z

Concomitant: Added explanation

{{comic
| number = 1285
| date = November 1, 2013
| title = Third Way
| image = third way.png
| titletext = 'The monospaced-typewriter-font story is a COMPLETE FABRICATION! WAKE UP, SHEEPLE' 'It doesn't matter! Studies support single spaces!' 'Those results weren't statistically significant!' 'Fine, you win. I'm using double spaces right now!' 'Are not! We can all hear your stupid whitespace.'
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete}}

This comic refers to the debate about the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentence_spacing correct number of spaces after the end of a sentence]. While text written on typewriters traditionally had two spaces between sentences, this is becoming less common and many sources now recommend having only one space, although this topic is still [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentence_spacing#Controversy controversial].

[[Cueball]] is advocating a line break after every sentence, the titular "third way", which would be very awkward. Unsurprisingly, his approach has not caught on.

==Transcript==
:[Two angry mobs, each holding signs, with Cueball standing off to the side with another sign. The first mob's sign says "'''Two''' spaces after a period," The second mob's sign says "'''One''' space after a period," and Cueball's sign says "Line break after every sentence."]

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Sheeple]]

1212: Interstellar Memes

2013-05-16T14:36:04Z

Concomitant: Added remark on Sirius being a pun

{{comic
| number = 1212
| date = May 15, 2013
| title = Interstellar Memes
| image = interstellar memes.png
| titletext = The strongest incentive we have to develop faster-than-light travel is that it would let us apologize in advance.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|1212: Interstellar Memes}}

In this comic, Randall highlights various memes from popular culture. A {{w|meme}} is a phenomenon, often in this scenario in the form of a movie quote, a musical reference, a catchphrase or other notable saying that spreads quickly by word-of-mouth. Memes become popular because people hear about them and repeat them to others. Randall points out that if they (assumed intelligent life on other star systems) were listening to the things we said, then they would just now be hearing and popularizing memes started years ago on earth. The delay is due to the time that it takes for expressions of the meme to travel (presumably via radio waves) to distant start systems.

The title text jokes that these memes are so annoying that it would give us further incentive to develop the technology to travel faster than light, just simply to travel to these other star systems and apologise to the "residents" about the memes by only a small delay.

The meme for Sirius is a pun; it refers to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, in which Bellatrix Lestrange kills Sirius Black.

The table below lists all the memes described, and the star in which those memes would be heard, based on the rough date that the meme in question became popular.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Meme !! Star !! Origin !! Year !! Distance to star
|-
| Yabba dabba doo! || {{w|Castor (star)|Castor}} || {{w|The Flintstones}} || 1960 || 51 ± 3 ly
|-
| You’ve got to ask yourself one question: “Do I feel lucky?” || {{w|Lambda Aurigae}} || {{w|Dirty Harry}} || 1971 || 41.2 ± 0.1 ly
|-
| {{w|Where's the beef|Where’s the beef?}} || {{w|HR 1614}} || Slogan for {{w|Wendy’s}} || 1984 || 28 ly
|-
| And now for something completely different. || {{w|Capella (star)|Capella}}|| {{w|Monty Python’s Flying Circus}} || 1969 || 42 ly
|-
| Here’s lookin’ at you, kid. || {{w|Kappa Reticuli}} || {{w|Casablanca (film)|Casablanca}} || 1942 || 70 ly
|-
| My spoon is too big! || {{w|Kapteyn's Star}} || {{w|Rejected}} || 2000 || 12 ly
|-
| May the force be with you. || {{w|Delta Trianguli}} || {{w|Star Wars}} || 1977 || 35 ly
|-
| Peanut butter jelly time! || {{w|Luyten's Star}} || [http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/peanut-butter-jelly-time an Internet meme] || 2002 || 12 ly
|-
| Rosebud. || {{w|Alpha Hydri}} || {{w|Citizen Kane}} || 1941 || 71 ly
|-
| Oh my god, {{w|They killed Kenny|they killed Kenny!}} – You bastards! || {{w|AD Leonis}} || {{w|South Park}} || 1997 || 15.9 ± 0.2 ly
|-
| ...God kills a kitten! – A what? || {{w|Procyon}} || {{w|Every time you masturbate... God kills a kitten|an Internet meme}} || 2002 || 11.5 ly
|-
| I ''still'' can’t believe Bellatrix– – Dude, get over it. || {{w|Sirius}} || {{w|Harry Potter}} || 2003 || 08.6 ly
|-
| Ninjas fight ''all the time!'' || {{w|Epsilon Eridani}} || {{w|The Official Ninja Webpage}} || 2002 || 10 ly
|-
| {{w|D'oh!|D’oh!}} || {{w|HR 753}} || {{w|The Simpsons}} || 1989 || 23 ly
|-
| {{w|The Spanish Inquisition (Monty Python)|''Nobody'' expects the Spanish Inquisition!}} || {{w|Beta Virginis}} || {{w|Monty Python’s Flying Circus}} || 1970 || 35 ly
|-
| {{w|All your base are belong to us}}. || {{w|Tau Ceti}} || {{w|Zero Wing}} || 2001 || 11.9 ly
|-
| Take me to your leader! – No, Steve. || {{w|Beta Cassiopeiae|Caph}} || {{w|Take me to your leader (phrase)}} || 1953 || 54 ly
|-
| Chuck Norris doesn’t sleep. He ''waits.'' || {{w|Wolf 359}} || {{w|Chuck Norris facts}} || 2005 || 07.8 ly
|-
| ♬ Numa numa ♪ || {{w|Lalande 21185}} || {{w|Dragostea Din Tei|Numa Numa song}} || 2004 || 08.3 ly
|-
| I can haz? || {{w|WISE 1049-5319|Luhman 16}} || {{w|Lolcats}} || 2006 || 06.6 ± 0.5 ly
|-
| ''Internets!'' || {{w|Luyten 726-8|Gliese 65}} || {{w|George W. Bush}} [http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/internets Internet meme] || 2004 || 08.7
|-
| Look at the tiny dancing Earth mammals! || {{w|Gliese 1}} || {{w|Hampsterdance}} and/or {{w|Dancing Baby}} || 1998 || 14 ly
|-
| ''Wasssuup!?!'' || {{w|Van Maanen's star}} || {{w|Budweiser (Anheuser-Busch)|Budweiser Beer}} advertising campaign || 1999 || 14 ly
|-
| Yippie-ki-yay, motherfucker. || {{w|Beta Hydri}} || {{w|Die Hard}} || 1988 || 24 ly
|-
| I pity the fool! || {{w|Groombridge 1830}} || {{w|Rocky III}} ({{w|Mr. T}}) || 1982 || 30 ly
|-
| The cake is a lie! || {{w|Alpha Centauri|Alpha Centauri A/B}} || {{w|Portal (video game)|Portal}} || 2007 || 04.3 ly
|-
| ♪ Never gonna give you up ♫ || {{w|Alpha Centauri|Alpha Centauri A/B}} || {{w|Rickrolling}} || 2007 || 04.3 ly
|-
| I’m on a boat! || {{w|Proxima Centauri}} || {{w|The Lonely Island}} || 2009 || 04.243 ± 0.002 ly
|-
| ♫ Chocolate Raaaiiin ♫ || {{w|Barnard's Star}} || {{w|Tay Zonday}}: {{w|Chocolate Rain}} video || 2007 || 06 ly
|-
| Leave Britney alone! || {{w|Barnard's Star}} || {{w|Chris Crocker}}: [http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/leave-britney-alone LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE!] || 2007 || 06 ly
|-
| You’re the man now, dog! || {{w|Epsilon Indi}} || {{w|YTMND}} || 2001 || 11.8
|-
| {{w|More cowbell|More cowbell!}} || {{w|Kruger 60}} || {{w|Saturday Night Live}} || 2000 || 13 ly
|-
| Hasta la vista, baby. || {{w|Gliese 892}} || {{w|Terminator 2}} || 1991 || 21 ly
|-
| Let’s get ready to ruuumble! || {{w|Zeta Tucanae}} || {{w|Michael Buffer}} || 1984 || 28 ly
|-
| You talkin’ to ''me?'' || {{w|Arcturus}} || {{w|Taxi Driver}} || 1976 || 36.7 ± 0.3 ly
|-
| Did ''I'' do that? || {{w|Xi Boötis|Boötis}} || {{w|Family Matters}} ({{w|Steve Urkel}}) || 1989 || 21.89 ± 0.07 ly
|-
| Welcome to Good Burger, home of the good burger. – What’s a burger? – I don’t know. || {{w|70 Ophiuchi}} || {{w|Good Burger}} slogan || 1997 || 16.58 ± 0.07 ly
|-
| Badger badger badger badger || {{w|Ross 154}} || {{w|Badger Badger Badger}} || 2003 || 09.7 ly
|-
| {{w|Vulcan salute|Live long and prosper.}} – OK. || {{w|HD 211415}} || {{w|Star Trek}} || 1967 || 44 ly
|-
| Name’s Bond. James Bond. || {{w|51 Pegasi}} || {{w|Dr. No (film)|Dr. No}} ({{w|James Bond}}) || 1962 || 50.9 ± 0.3 ly
|-
| Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn. || {{w|Alpha Serpentis}} || {{w|Gone with the Wind (film)|Gone with the Wind}} || 1939 || 74.0 ± 0.3 ly
|-
| Mr. T ate my balls! || {{w|Altair}} || [http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/ate-my-balls an Internet meme] || 1996 || 16.7 ly
|-
| I want the truth. – ''You can't handle the truth!'' || {{w|Delta Pavonis}} || {{w|A Few Good Men}} || 1992 || 20 ly
|-
| I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse. || {{w|Beta Trianguli Australis}} || {{w|The Godfather}} || 1972 || 40 ly
|-
| {{w|Resistance is futile|Resistance is futile.}} || {{w|Vega}} || {{w|Star Trek}} ({{w|Borg (Star Trek)|Borg}}) || 1988 || 25 ly
|-
| Oh... My... Gaawd || {{w|Sigma Draconis}} || {{w|Friends}} ({{w|Janice Goralnik}}) || 1994 || 18.8 ly
|-
| Ehh, what’s up, Doc? || {{w|Epsilon Cygni|Gienah}} || {{w|Bugs Bunny}} || 1940 || 73 ly
|-
| ''EXTERMINATE!'' || {{w|Alpha Cephei|Alderamin}} || {{w|Doctor Who}} ({{w|Dalek|The Daleks}}) || 1963 || 49 ly
|}

==Transcript==
:If other star systems are listening in on our pop culture, given the speed-of-light delay, these are the jokes and catchphrases they just learned about and are currently repeating way too much:
:''List of stars and catchphrases, see above''

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Physics]]
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Charts]]

Talk:1201: Integration by Parts

2013-04-20T11:43:41Z

Concomitant:

I think the joke is that's not the full explanation.
--[[Special:Contributions/128.113.151.84|128.113.151.84]] 04:30, 19 April 2013 (UTC)
: Exactly; he omits the final step part of the process: ∫udv= uv - ∫vdu. This is only helpful if you can easily obtain v from ∫dv and can integrate ∫vdu . The key trick is picking u and dv properly; it's rarely as easy as saying u = f(x) and v=g(x)dx. So the joke is that he's treating integration by parts as if it's a "magic rule" on the order of the product rule for differentiation, when it's not. [[Special:Contributions/66.202.132.250|66.202.132.250]] 21:10, 19 April 2013 (UTC)

Not the full explanation?But what exactly is the joke here?It takes a lot of practice to be able to do integration sums correctly.[[User:Guru-45|Guru-45]] ([[User talk:Guru-45|talk]]) 05:26, 19 April 2013 (UTC)

I think the joke is rather “which definitely looks easier” — that’s how mathematics is generally perceived by non-mathematicians: You rewrite something, state that it looks easier / more beautiful / more elegant — which the non-mathematician usually perceives differently — and even if it does, you’re not a tad nearer to the answer. --[[Special:Contributions/84.191.162.248|84.191.162.248]] 08:00, 19 April 2013 (UTC)

Symbolic integration ALWAYS require experience and trial-and-error, which is flustrating given that the reverse process - derivation - can be described with simple alghorithm and done mechanically. I heart that derivation is easy as geting toothpaste out of tube and integration is reverse process ... meaning its as hard as puting the toothpaste back into tube. The reason is that there is simple rule for derivation of product, whereas integration of product is usually done by GUESSING the product which will derivate into given integral (which is what integration by parts actually is, only reformulated to sound little easier). -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 09:18, 19 April 2013 (UTC)

: By using the term ''derivation'', you mean it as the same as the term ''differentiation'', correct? I've never used the term derivation before. I like it, it's shorter. If so, YES, integration of products is WAY harder. 'u' substitutions alone are a pain - having a 'v' substitution as well requires a lot of hard work and trial and error... {{unsigned|Dangerkeith3000}}

''Oh, and add a '+C' or you'll get yelled at.''
Best part. This is something I experienced many times in my first semester of mathematics for scientists.
The joke seems to me to be the presentation of the idea accurately; after the initial step, there's no real advice to give. Good luck is the best you can hope for. [[Special:Contributions/49.176.36.57|49.176.36.57]] 12:37, 19 April 2013 (UTC)

Cripes, to do something by parts means to do something without enthusiasm or leave something incomplete. The joke is that he didn't complete the explanation! [[Special:Contributions/124.189.64.231|124.189.64.231]]

The title text refers to a ridiculously specific case (integrating x), which would not normally be done using integration by parts. This suggests that the narrator is pretending to know more about integration by parts than he actually does, which would explain why he left in such a hurry. [[User:Concomitant|Concomitant]] ([[User talk:Concomitant|talk]]) 11:43, 20 April 2013 (UTC)