View Full Version : Swift mathematics
Spiro
23rd February 2007, 03:17 AM
In Randi's latest commentary, his arithmetic seems to have come under some sort of paranormal influences in explaining how the public flock to draw one of just four themes when asked to sketch something. The percentages he quotes for people choosing to draw a house, stick figure, boat or face add up to 104.
I realize I'm just being a pedant about this, but if the studies (no reference to them is given) asked a reasonable number of people freely to draw whatever came into their heads, these percentages should add up to LESS than 100, since surely there must have been at least one or two subjects who drew something other than one of these four themes?
Nancarrow
23rd February 2007, 04:48 AM
Maybe some people drew houseboats!
:D
T'ai Chi
23rd February 2007, 02:03 PM
In Randi's latest commentary, his arithmetic seems to have come under some sort of paranormal influences in explaining how the public flock to draw one of just four themes when asked to sketch something. The percentages he quotes for people choosing to draw a house, stick figure, boat or face add up to 104.
I realize I'm just being a pedant about this, but if the studies (no reference to them is given) asked a reasonable number of people freely to draw whatever came into their heads, these percentages should add up to LESS than 100, since surely there must have been at least one or two subjects who drew something other than one of these four themes?
I'd recommend the board admin's highly helpful response
http://forums.randi.org/showpost.php?p=2371586&postcount=3
Crazycowbob
23rd February 2007, 02:10 PM
Another interesting question, what would you have drawn? Me, it'd probably have been something that exlpodes or goes fast, maybe a rocket or something... :D
T'ai Chi
23rd February 2007, 02:10 PM
Picture is fixed. Whaddya know?
Horatius
23rd February 2007, 02:13 PM
Picture is fixed. Whaddya know?
Yeah, how dare he fix a mistake! Doesn't he know you're supposed to defend stupid mistakes unto your dying breath?
:eye-poppi :D
BillyJoe
23rd February 2007, 10:41 PM
Should rhetorical questions end in a question mark.
HawkeyeMD
23rd February 2007, 10:47 PM
Should rhetorical questions end in a question mark.
No?
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