Editing 2343: Mathematical Symbol Fight

This comic imagines which {{w|List of mathematical symbols|mathematical symbols}} would be good in a fight if they were made corporeal in two (or three) dimensions.  

 

Generally, objects with longer reach and pointier ends wound up on the right ("more useful") side of the scale, and symbols with less reach and more curves wound towards the left ("less useful") side. A straight line is farthest to the "more dangerous" side; however, the straight line does not appear to be any thicker or thinner, or pointier, than any of the other lines that would make it more "useful" (It should be noted that this chart seems to fall afoul of what {{w|Eliezer Yudkowsky}} (who also wrote HPMoR) calls the ''intent to kill'': that humans tend to define "winning a fight" and "useful" as causing some form of bodily harm on their opponent despite survival and purely defensive strategies being an equally valid goals.).

The comic invokes {{w|Surreal humour|surreal humor}} by suggesting that mathematical symbols could be handled as physical objects in the real world. Another component of the humor is the implication that it is useful to prepare to use mathematical symbols in a fight, even though mathematicians, who use mathematical symbols, usually do not conduct their debates violently (though some stories suggest that {{w|Hippasus}} was killed by his fellow Pythagoreans for his proof that irrational numbers exist), and even if they did, they wouldn't use large reproductions of their symbols as weapons.

The title text refers to a {{w|treble clef}}, which is not a mathematical symbol but rather a {{w|List of musical symbols|musical symbol}}. The note of concern in the text suggests musical symbols may be viewed in such fights as exotic or especially dangerous. See also the last entry in the table below.

Note that [[Black Hat]] and [[Danish]] are using two of the most useful symbols, and appear to have teamed up against their opponents, resulting in an unfair advantage they would both absolutely exploit.

|The set of {{w|real number}}s

|[[Megan]] seems to be struggling with a giant version of this symbol because of its weight. A very strong person might find it slightly more useful as a bludgeon.

|{{w|Theta#Mathematics and science|Theta}}

|{{w|Empty set}}

|{{w|Infinity}}

|{{w|Inequality (mathematics)|Greater than}}

|Could be used to thrust with the point, but lacks a grip by which to do so.  If held by one leg, the angle and balance is wrong to use it as a pick.  Could also be used as a {{w|boomerang}}.

|<span style="font-size:150%">  ∝</span>

|{{w|Proportionality (mathematics)#Direct proportionality|Direct proportionality}} (not to be confused with lowercase {{w|Alpha#Mathematics and science|alpha}})

|Could be brandished by the ring and used to thrust with the prongs, but the two prongs extending at 90-degree angles make thrusting motions awkward.

|{{w|Union (set theory)|Union}}

|{{w|Element (mathematics)|Member of}} (set theory) or the "lunate" lowercase {{w|Epsilon#Symbol|epsilon}}

|[[Cueball]] is holding this in the manner of a Klingon "{{w|Bat'leth}}" from the ''Star Trek'' franchise. The Bat'leth is [https://youtu.be/VsElSDXPgSA infamous] among swordfighters for being rather impractical, and that the Klingon warrior race would have been better suited using swords like humans. It seems that Randall agrees, as the ∈ is quite far on the left of the chart.

|-

|{{w|Pi}}

|"{{w|Universal quantification|For all}}"

Compared to the similar Δ (delta) the point is sharper, the grip is closer to the point so it would be easier to control (keep the weapon from twisting). It is unclear why it is listed as much less effective than the delta.  Perhaps the guard legs are too long?

|{{w|Partial derivative}} or {{w|Boundary (topology)|boundary operator}}

|{{w|Plus and minus signs#Plus sign|Plus sign}}

|Maybe thrown like a {{w|shuriken}}? It could also be used like {{w|Kylo Ren}}'s lightsaber.

|{{w|Psi#Mathematics|Psi}}

|It could be used as a slightly-less-functional trident or pitchfork, with a shorter handle. More particularly, it resembles a {{w|Sai (weapon)|sai}} (which, funnily enough, is close to how "Psi" is pronounced).

|{{w|Inequation|Not equal to}}

|{{w|Tilde#Mathematics|Tilde}}, meaning "approximately", equivalent, or several transforms of a function. Also used as {{w|Negation#Notation|negation in mathematical logic}} and, in various programming languages, to symbolize {{w|Bitwise operation#NOT|bitwise NOT}} (amongst {{w|Tilde#Computer languages|many, ''many'' other possible uses...}}).

|{{w|Cardinality}}, {{w|connected sum}} (knot theory), or {{w|primorial}}.

|{{w|Delta (letter)|Delta}}

|Could be held with one bar clenched in a fist, and then used as a {{w|push dagger}}.  It is unclear why listed as much more effective than ∀.  Also, delta could be thrown like a star.

|{{w|Material conditional|Material consequence}} or {{w|logical consequence}}, meaning "implies"

|{{w|Decimal separator|Decimal point}} or {{w|multiplication sign}}

|{{w|Aleph number}}

|Uppercase Greek letter {{w|Gamma#Uppercase|gamma}}

|{{w|Radical symbol}}

|Randall has drawn this sign with a long overbar, which makes it useful like a {{w|Pole weapon|pole arm}}.  [[Black Hat]] has chosen this symbol in his fight against [[Hairy]].

|{{w|Prime_constant|Italic rho}}

|{{w|Contour integral}}

|{{w|Integral}}

|[[Danish]] is brandishing this symbol against Ponytail, apparently using it like a spear.

|{{w|Up tack}} or falsum, indicating a false proposition in logic, perpendicular lines in geometry, or the bottom element in a partial order

|Used as a {{w|war hammer}} (held by the long stem) so the opponent would be struck with either leg of the top of the T. Held by the short legs (like a wishbone), could be used as a two handed sword.

|Could be used as a single-barbed spear or, if held by the other end, similarly to a sabre. The multi-functionality is probably why it is listed as more useful than the 'implies' arrow.

|{{w|Fraction#Vocabulary|Fraction bar}} (division) or {{w|Overline#Math_and_science|overline}} (complex conjugate or mean) or {{w|Plus and minus signs#Minus sign|minus sign}}.

|[[Hairy]] is brandishing this symbol against Black Hat. The single shaft would allow it to be used in the manner of a {{w|quarterstaff}}, {{w|bō}}, or other {{w|stick-fighting}} weapon.  Of the symbols shown in the comic, Randall considers this one the most useful in a fight, presumably because of its greater reach than the vector arrow and its simplicity compared to the radix root symbol. Alternatively, could be handled like a pike, with a reach greater than that of an implication or vector arrow.

|{{w|Treble clef}} (title text)

:[Megan is awkwardly handling a giant "ℝ" holding it up against White Hat who is holding a "θ" (or "∅"?) with both hands, as a shield.]