Editing 1236: Seashell
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | + | {{incomplete|1236: Seashell}} | |
− | + | The equation should be read as follows: (The probability that I'm near the ocean, given that I picked up a seashell) is equal to (The probability that I picked up a seashell, given that I'm near the ocean) multiplied by (The probability that I'm near the ocean) divided by (The probability that I picked up a seashell). This method of relating the probabilites of two events is known as {{w|Bayes' theorem|Bayes' Theorem}}. | |
− | + | If you put a seashell up to your ear, you can hear {{w|Seashell resonance|a sound similar to the ocean}} apparently inside the shell. But the idea that this sound is actually the sound of the sea is just a popular myth: hold only your hands close to your ears and you will hear the same sound. The comic, through an application of Bayes' Theorem points out that most of the time when you pick up a seashell, you are in fact at the beach next to the real ocean, so hearing the ocean at that location is not all that impressive, but it's just real. | |
− | The title text points out that | + | The title text points out that nearly all instances where the author has picked up a seashell have been at the beach, but most of the times where he has picked up a seashell and put it to his ear have been elsewhere. |
− | This comic was released late | + | This comic was released late and at the first version the formula was incorrect. But it's corrected now. |
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
− | + | :P(I'm near the ocean|I picked up a seashell) = | |
− | + | :P(I picked up a seashell|I'm near the ocean) P(I'm near the ocean) | |
− | :P(I'm near the ocean|I picked up a seashell) = | + | :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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− | :P(I picked up a seashell|I'm near the ocean)P(I'm near the ocean) | ||
− | : | ||
:P(I picked up a seashell) | :P(I picked up a seashell) | ||
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+ | :''Crashhh'' | ||
+ | :''Sploosh'' | ||
+ | :[Cueball holding a seashell.] | ||
:Statistically speaking, if you pick up a seashell and ''don't'' hold it to your ear, you can probably hear the ocean. | :Statistically speaking, if you pick up a seashell and ''don't'' hold it to your ear, you can probably hear the ocean. | ||
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{{Comic discussion}} | {{Comic discussion}} | ||
[[Category:Math]] | [[Category:Math]] | ||
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[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] |