Editing 1155: Kolmogorov Directions
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | {{w|Andrey Kolmogorov}} was a mathematician who worked, among other things, on defining computational complexity. Roughly speaking, the {{w|Kolmogorov complexity}} of a string (of bits, words, symbols, etc.) is the shortest description that allows an accurate reconstruction | + | {{w|Andrey Kolmogorov}} was a mathematician who worked, among other things, on defining computational complexity. Roughly speaking, the {{w|Kolmogorov complexity}} of a string (of bits, words, symbols, etc.) is the shortest description that allows an accurate reconstruction - or, in some variants, the length of the smallest program which will output the original string. Cueball's method of giving directions is very reminiscent of Kolmogorov's method of determining complexity. These directions may have minimal Kolmogorov complexity, but they are non-intuitive (and are likely not the shortest or quickest way to get there, considering that they consist only of left turns). |
− | + | This is [[783: I Don't Want Directions|not the first time]] Cueball has had difficulties with directions, and here we see he hates giving directions as much as he hates receiving them. You would be grumpy too if your friend lied as to where his directions would actually take you. | |
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− | This is [[783: I Don't Want Directions|not the first time]] Cueball has had difficulties with directions, and here we see he hates giving directions as much as he hates receiving them. | ||
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==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
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:Cueball: Hmm... | :Cueball: Hmm... | ||
:Cueball: Ok, starting from your driveway, take every left turn that doesn't put you on a prime-numbered highway or street named for a president. | :Cueball: Ok, starting from your driveway, take every left turn that doesn't put you on a prime-numbered highway or street named for a president. | ||
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:When people ask for step-by-step directions, I worry that there will be too many steps to remember, so I try to put them in minimal form. | :When people ask for step-by-step directions, I worry that there will be too many steps to remember, so I try to put them in minimal form. | ||
− | {{comic discussion}} | + | {{comic discussion}} |
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | ||
− | [[Category: | + | [[Category:Math]] |