Editing 2821: Path Minimization
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
+ | {{incomplete|Created by WAITING AN HOUR BEFORE SWIMMING - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} | ||
− | In this comic, it appears that Cueball, standing on shore, is observing a swimmer who is possibly | + | In this comic, it appears that Cueball, standing on shore, is observing a swimmer who is possibly in distress. The comic illustrates 5 potential paths that can be taken to reach the swimmer, each with a different reason to make them viable. |
− | The first path is a | + | The first path is a 45° angle away from Cueball, straight to the swimmer, which allows for the minimum possible distance to be traveled. |
− | The second path travels more obliquely from Cueball to the water and then at a sharper angle to the swimmer. This path would take the shortest amount of time, | + | The second path travels more obliquely from Cueball to the water and then at a sharper angle to the swimmer. This path would take the shortest amount of time, since Cueball would cover more of the distance on land (moving faster) and less of the distance through water (moving slower). The exact angles would depend on how much faster Cueball is on land than in the water. |
− | The third path travels at a far more oblique angle to the water | + | The third path travels at roughly a far more oblique angle to the water such that the subsequent swimming path is entirely perpendicular to the shoreline, maximizing the amount of time spent on land and thus minimizing the time spent swimming. Depending on one's swimming ability versus running ability, this could be the safest path to take. |
− | The fourth path travels | + | The fourth path travels horizontal, along the beach, technically moving slightly ''away'' from the swimmer, but towards an arguably more important goal: an ice cream stand in a straight line away from where Cueball is presently. After that detour, the path turns and aims towards the swimmer, as all the others do (although how one could eat ice cream whilst swimming to rescue someone is not explained). |
− | The fifth and final path, barely | + | The fifth and final path, barely visible directly above Cueball, is labeled as the path that ''maximizes'' time. This path, presumably, travels around the entire world, likely stopping for many, ''many'' rest breaks. It should be noted that, by the definition given, it is theoretically possible to stretch the maximum time taken out forever by simply walking away and never returning. |
− | You could also | + | You could also fulfil the criteria of reaching the target in finite, but arbitrarily long, time by following a {{w|random walk}}(+swim) or even follow a {{w|space-filling curve}} carefully chosen to be the maximally finite scenario. In the comic, however, a requirement for simplicity of path may dictate the use of the opposing {{w|great-circle distance}}, or a variation with maximum swim-time without ''undue'' time-wasting detours. |
− | + | The title text adds the stipulation, to the ice-cream path, that you also carry an ice-cream to the target swimmer to 'justify' that choice of route. But how this squares with the reason to rendezvous with the swimmer (who does at least not ''look'' as if they are in distress), or the manner in which this would further complicate the swimming stage, goes unsaid. But it makes it clear that not doing this is not socially permissable. | |
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− | The title text adds to the ice-cream path | ||
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} | {{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} | ||
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:Path that minimizes distance [A straight line from beach cueball to ocean cueball, bearing about 135] | :Path that minimizes distance [A straight line from beach cueball to ocean cueball, bearing about 135] | ||
:Path that minimizes time [A line from beach cueball to the waterline closer to horizontal, bearing about 120, then angling towards ocean cueball, bearing about 150] | :Path that minimizes time [A line from beach cueball to the waterline closer to horizontal, bearing about 120, then angling towards ocean cueball, bearing about 150] | ||
:Path that minimizes swimming [A line from beach cueball to the waterline closest to ocean cueball, bearing about 115, then angling toward ocean cueball, bearing 180] | :Path that minimizes swimming [A line from beach cueball to the waterline closest to ocean cueball, bearing about 115, then angling toward ocean cueball, bearing 180] | ||
− | :Path that minimizes time until you get ice cream [A line from beach cueball to | + | :Path that minimizes time until you get ice cream [A line from beach cueball to an ice cream stand manned by Ponytail, bearing about 90, then angling toward ocean cueball, bearing about 190] |
:Path that maximizes time [A line from beach cueball away from the shore, bearing 0, fading and disappearing at the top of the panel, and reappearing at the bottom of the panel directly below ocean cueball] | :Path that maximizes time [A line from beach cueball away from the shore, bearing 0, fading and disappearing at the top of the panel, and reappearing at the bottom of the panel directly below ocean cueball] | ||
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[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]] | ||
[[Category:Multiple Cueballs]] | [[Category:Multiple Cueballs]] | ||
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