Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Which number you like more: 1.99 vs 2.01?

fusso - 8-7-2019 at 01:53

Assume you're doing scientific calculations, which one do you like it to appear more, 1.99 or 2.01? Does it depend on situations?

wg48temp9 - 8-7-2019 at 03:33

Quote: Originally posted by fusso  
Assume you're doing scientific calculations, which one do you like it to appear more, 1.99 or 2.01? Does it depend on situations?


Wow what an unusual brain you have:o

happyfooddance - 8-7-2019 at 14:33

If 2 was my target (if I had one) then I would prefer 2.01.

In most other cases I prefer a .99

Sulaiman - 8-7-2019 at 19:45

'unusual' is a very kind word :D

1.99 usually means I get change rather than have to search my pocket for some

some digital electronic displays have 2000 as full scale,
so 2.01 would cause a range change giving less precision

both are trivial but I'm not busy at the moment so gave an answer :P

clearly_not_atara - 8-7-2019 at 22:55

2.001, because you can just blame the one-loop correction.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anomalous_magnetic_dipole_mome...

SWIM - 9-7-2019 at 14:54

I really prefer 127/64ths.

Decimals bum me out.

(For you non-Americans out there: That means they depress me, not that they have some effect on my ass. It comes from the mid 20th century term; bummer, which I don't think is related to the mid-19th century term bummer, but then again I suppose it was a bit of a bummer (20th century) when the bummers (19th century) burned Atlanta.)

fusso - 21-7-2019 at 10:20

Quote: Originally posted by happyfooddance  
If 2 was my target (if I had one) then I would prefer 2.01.

In most other cases I prefer a .99
Would you rather have 4.00-2.01=1.99 or 4.00-1.99=2.01?:P

happyfooddance - 21-7-2019 at 10:50

Quote: Originally posted by fusso  
Quote: Originally posted by happyfooddance  
If 2 was my target (if I had one) then I would prefer 2.01.

In most other cases I prefer a .99
Would you rather have 4.00-2.01=1.99 or 4.00-1.99=2.01?:P


The latter.

CharlieA - 21-7-2019 at 16:33

If you are doing scientific calculations, it does not matter which you would prefer to occur. It only matters which number occurs, whether it is your preferred number or not. Do you fudge your calculations to get the number you want? This used to be called "dry-labbing" when I was a student and TA.

Twospoons - 23-7-2019 at 21:36

Quote: Originally posted by SWIM  
I really prefer 127/64ths.

Decimals bum me out.

(For you non-Americans out there: That means they depress me, not that they have some effect on my ass. It comes from the mid 20th century term; bummer, which I don't think is related to the mid-19th century term bummer, but then again I suppose it was a bit of a bummer (20th century) when the bummers (19th century) burned Atlanta.)


Fear not. Those of us who speak the Queens English do understand what you mean.
*quietly removes haemorrhoid cream from package addressed to 'SWIM'*

morganbw - 24-7-2019 at 11:21

edited:
poor attempt at humor

[Edited on 7/25/2019 by morganbw]