71% of trivia game players can identify the Pythagorean Theorem
June 3rd, 2023 at 6:53:34 PM
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Today's "Question of the Day" on the Amazon Echo (aka Alexa) was, "What is a2 + b2 = c2 known as?"
Four answers were given for the multiple choice. After I answered correctly, the announcer said that 71% of other players also got it correct.
Given what we know (or think) about the state of math literacy, is this good news or bad news?
Four answers were given for the multiple choice. After I answered correctly, the announcer said that 71% of other players also got it correct.
Given what we know (or think) about the state of math literacy, is this good news or bad news?
I run Easy Vegas ( https://easy.vegas )
June 3rd, 2023 at 7:40:50 PM
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Benign.
June 3rd, 2023 at 8:07:04 PM
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My first thoughts were of the Pythagorean diet, and personally enjoying not living on a commune just now.
May the cards fall in your favor.
June 3rd, 2023 at 10:36:38 PM
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I heard that since Pythagoras was a vegetarian, before there was the word "vegetarian", vegetarians were known as Pythagoreans.
I run Easy Vegas ( https://easy.vegas )
June 4th, 2023 at 5:21:20 AM
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That depends.Quote: MichaelBluejayGiven what we know (or think) about the state of math literacy, is this good news or bad news?
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What were the choices?
I know the formula even though I rarely need to use it.
And I know that the Scarecrow quoted it incorrectly after getting his brain.
But if you would have asked for the name without multiple choices, I would have scratched my head for a bit and may not have come up with it.
FYI. I got out of high school 46 years ago.
Last edited by: DJTeddyBear on Jun 4, 2023
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June 4th, 2023 at 6:29:55 AM
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I've reached the age where I don't know if I can spit out what is definitely stored in the memory banks somewhere. Multiple choice helps.
Last edited by: odiousgambit on Jun 4, 2023
the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: “Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell!” She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
June 4th, 2023 at 7:58:36 AM
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(Embarrassingly?) Wizard will ask our (usually hot) waitresses or tray lizards such a question. Offering a bet on if she will get the answer. For this one, I’d take the ‘no’. The 71% is from ‘trivia contestants, not a reasonable cohort of the general population. WoV members would FAR exceed 71% (I hope!). General population I doubt makes it near 50%.
I have a great T shirt bought on one of the Greek Islands (Rhodes?) that features the Pythagorean Theorem.
I have a great T shirt bought on one of the Greek Islands (Rhodes?) that features the Pythagorean Theorem.
June 4th, 2023 at 8:27:07 AM
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Duplicate
June 4th, 2023 at 9:11:39 AM
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Tray lizards. Such a nice way to describe workersQuote: SOOPOO(Embarrassingly?) Wizard will ask our (usually hot) waitresses or tray lizards such a question. Offering a bet on if she will get the answer. For this one, I’d take the ‘no’. The 71% is from ‘trivia contestants, not a reasonable cohort of the general population. WoV members would FAR exceed 71% (I hope!). General population I doubt makes it near 50%.
I have a great T shirt bought on one of the Greek Islands (Rhodes?) that features the Pythagorean Theorem.
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It’s all about making that GTA
June 4th, 2023 at 10:19:46 AM
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I don't remember all the choices, but one of them was "Theory of Relativity". The others were clearly wrong, also. With this trivia game, they don't just ask easy questions, often the wrong multiple choice options are just ridiculous. Recently there was a question where the answer had to be a Chinese person, and the other three names given weren't Chinese, or even Asian. I think another one asked about a historical building in India (answer: Taj Mahal), and the other choices weren't even in India. Usually, I know the answer to the question before she even gives the multiple choices, but if I don't, I can usually get it after hearing the choices. In the case of the Pythagorean Theorem, I knew the answer before hearing the choices.Quote: DJTeddyBearThat depends.
What were the choices?
I know the formula even though I rarely need to use it.
But if you would have asked for the name without multiple choices, I would have scratched my head for a bit and may not have come up with it.
FYI. I got out of high school 46 years ago.
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Often, 70%+ of players get the answer right, sometimes as high as 90%. It's far too easy. I just play when I'm in the kitchen busy doing something else anyway.
High school was 38 years ago for me.
I know I've used the Pythagorean Theorem sometimes when doing handyman-type work but I can't remember an example now. I know once I was calculating the area of a room that wasn't a rectangle, it had an angle to it, but I think in that case I just extended imaginary lines for the affected area to make a rectangle and took half of it. In another case, trying to calculate the area of the gable end of a pitched roof, I couldn't have used PT because it wasn't a right triangle.
I run Easy Vegas ( https://easy.vegas )
June 4th, 2023 at 11:26:32 AM
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These answers do not seem to be selected to determine how much the contestant knows.
Maybe they could throw in a few red herrings like Law of Cosines or Fermat's Last Theorem along with the obviously wrong Boyle's Law.
You know, for sport.
May the cards fall in your favor.
June 4th, 2023 at 2:27:29 PM
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Quote: DJTeddyBearFYI. I got out of high school 46 years ago.
Quote: MichaelBluejayHigh school was 38 years ago for me.
Ah, you kids.... Next month I will be attending my H.S. class's 60th reunion. That is, if I can hold the senility level down low enough to find the others. Fortunately, I'm not the one doing the organizing.
June 4th, 2023 at 3:39:52 PM
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Go Seniors '63!Quote: DocQuote: DJTeddyBearFYI. I got out of high school 46 years ago.
Quote: MichaelBluejayHigh school was 38 years ago for me.
Ah, you kids.... Next month I will be attending my H.S. class's 60th reunion. That is, if I can hold the senility level down low enough to find the others. Fortunately, I'm not the one doing the organizing.
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the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: “Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell!” She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
June 4th, 2023 at 6:13:49 PM
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I worry more about the people who think injecting bleach is an acceptable medical procedure...
June 4th, 2023 at 7:02:14 PM
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I would wager that there's a correlation between thinking that and not being able to identify the Pythagorean Theorem.Quote: GenoDRPhI worry more about the people who think injecting bleach is an acceptable medical procedure..
I run Easy Vegas ( https://easy.vegas )
June 4th, 2023 at 8:12:42 PM
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Quote: GenoDRPhI worry more about the people who think injecting bleach is an acceptable medical procedure...
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Warning: Avoid making political comments such as this one, otherwise expect to be suspended for violating our forum rules. Please read our rules Rules.
So many better men, a few of them friends, are dead. And a thousand thousand slimy things live on, and so do I.
June 4th, 2023 at 10:14:39 PM
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Quote: gordonm888Quote: GenoDRPhI worry more about the people who think injecting bleach is an acceptable medical procedure...
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Warning: Avoid making political comments such as this one, otherwise expect to be suspended for violating our forum rules. Please read our rules Rules.
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Surely you are not going to legitimately argue that individuals who actually believe that injecting bleach is a legitimate, safe and effective medical procedure are worthy of protection on this forum, yet those who lack certain math skills are not?
June 4th, 2023 at 10:51:46 PM
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Quote: MichaelBluejayI would wager that there's a correlation between thinking that and not being able to identify the Pythagorean Theorem.Quote: GenoDRPhI worry more about the people who think injecting bleach is an acceptable medical procedure..
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There are many people on this planet living beautiful fulfilling lives at levels of success economically
and socially far greater than yours and haven't a clue or a care about Pythagorean Theorem.
June 4th, 2023 at 11:33:10 PM
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Perhaps, but that couldn’t really be less irrelevant to my point.Quote: rainmanQuote: MichaelBluejayI would wager that there's a correlation between thinking that and not being able to identify the Pythagorean Theorem.Quote: GenoDRPhI worry more about the people who think injecting bleach is an acceptable medical procedure..
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There are many people on this planet living beautiful fulfilling lives at levels of success economically
and socially far greater than yours and haven't a clue or a care about Pythagorean Theorem.
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I run Easy Vegas ( https://easy.vegas )
June 5th, 2023 at 12:27:48 AM
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Quote: MichaelBluejayPerhaps, but that couldn’t really be less irrelevant to my point.Quote: rainmanQuote: MichaelBluejayI would wager that there's a correlation between thinking that and not being able to identify the Pythagorean Theorem.Quote: GenoDRPhI worry more about the people who think injecting bleach is an acceptable medical procedure..
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There are many people on this planet living beautiful fulfilling lives at levels of success economically
and socially far greater than yours and haven't a clue or a care about Pythagorean Theorem.
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Sorry I missed your point, It appeared you were suggesting those who are unaware of the Theorem are lesser beings than those that are.
I believe this to be untrue so I offered an example but again sorry I missed your point.
June 5th, 2023 at 11:08:52 AM
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Quote: GenoDRPhQuote: gordonm888Quote: GenoDRPhI worry more about the people who think injecting bleach is an acceptable medical procedure...
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Warning: Avoid making political comments such as this one, otherwise expect to be suspended for violating our forum rules. Please read our rules Rules.
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Surely you are not going to legitimately argue that individuals who actually believe that injecting bleach is a legitimate, safe and effective medical procedure are worthy of protection on this forum, yet those who lack certain math skills are not?
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I am not arguing the ridiculousness of a statement about ingesting bleach. I am not arguing anything at all. Rather, I am telling you that your statement was an obvious reference to Donald Trump, who is a highly controversial politician who is running for President. And we have a rule forbidding posts about partisan politics.
I gave you a warning hoping that you will understand that you are not allowed to make any statements about Trump or Biden or any other political candidate on this forum. That includes posts in which the politician is unnamed but the intent is easily understood. Please be a good citizen of this forum and abide by this rule. I am warning you that if you keep making posts referring to ingestion/injecting bleach, then I will upgrade the warning to a suspension. (which is now your second warning!)
So many better men, a few of them friends, are dead. And a thousand thousand slimy things live on, and so do I.
June 5th, 2023 at 4:27:59 PM
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Quote: MichaelBluejayGiven what we know (or think) about the state of math literacy, is this good news or bad news?
I'm pleasantly surprised it was as high as 71%. I'd lay long odds against the average American adult knowing this.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
June 5th, 2023 at 5:19:37 PM
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Well, remember, it was multiple choice, and the other choices were ridiculous (like "Theory of Relativity").Quote: WizardQuote: MichaelBluejayGiven what we know (or think) about the state of math literacy, is this good news or bad news?
I'm pleasantly surprised it was as high as 71%. I'd lay long odds against the average American adult knowing this.
Today's question had the highest hit rate of any I can remember, 96%. It was "What common household item absorbs odors?" Of course I knew "baking soda" before the multiple choices were read.
I run Easy Vegas ( https://easy.vegas )
June 5th, 2023 at 5:30:50 PM
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I'm fairly good at trivia, but two that recently got me were
1) Which has more ridges? A dime or a quarter?
2) Name all the vegetables that are flowers
A fun one is who is the only real person depicted on a PEZ dispenser? For example- a PEZ of Captain Kirk doesn't represent William Shatner. One PEZ was issued to honor a real-life person.
Name a fruit or vegetable that is never sold frozen, canned, processed or cooked. It is only sold fresh.
What famous landmark is constantly moving backward?
1) Which has more ridges? A dime or a quarter?
2) Name all the vegetables that are flowers
A fun one is who is the only real person depicted on a PEZ dispenser? For example- a PEZ of Captain Kirk doesn't represent William Shatner. One PEZ was issued to honor a real-life person.
Name a fruit or vegetable that is never sold frozen, canned, processed or cooked. It is only sold fresh.
What famous landmark is constantly moving backward?
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
June 5th, 2023 at 5:54:07 PM
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Quote: billryanI'm fairly good at trivia, but two that recently got me were
1) Which has more ridges? A dime or a quarter?
2) Name all the vegetables that are flowers
A fun one is who is the only real person depicted on a PEZ dispenser? For example- a PEZ of Captain Kirk doesn't represent William Shatner. One PEZ was issued to honor a real-life person.
Betsy Ross, Daniel Boone. Presidents Washington, Adams (both?), Jefferson, James Monroe, also Marilyn Monroe. Elvis, Harry and Meghan. Maybe you meant to add the distinguishing factor that they were alive when depicted?
Quote: billryanName a fruit or vegetable that is never sold frozen, canned, processed or cooked. It is only sold fresh.
Guess: Avocado?
Quote:What famous landmark is constantly moving backward?
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Mt Everest (Continental Drift?), Niagara Falls, Iguazu Falls and Angel Falls (South America) due to erosion?, The Doomsday Clock?
So many better men, a few of them friends, are dead. And a thousand thousand slimy things live on, and so do I.
June 5th, 2023 at 6:16:12 PM
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For the PEZ question, Betsy Ross is considered correct. Perhaps it is out of date.
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
June 5th, 2023 at 7:50:32 PM
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I'm almost sure there is a niche industry cobbling together unofficial PEZ dispensers from decapitated action figures, bobble-heads, and other unique sources.
Even as you read this, someone is likely talking to their connection about converting their Nancy Pearl figure into a PEZ gizmo, ever since the dog disabled the deluxe "shushing" functionality.
Hopefully this isn't an excessive derailment.
Even as you read this, someone is likely talking to their connection about converting their Nancy Pearl figure into a PEZ gizmo, ever since the dog disabled the deluxe "shushing" functionality.
Hopefully this isn't an excessive derailment.
May the cards fall in your favor.
June 5th, 2023 at 8:20:02 PM
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Quote: billryanFor the PEZ question, Betsy Ross is considered correct. Perhaps it is out of date.
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Here is a good site on Pez Dispensers, Betsy Ross and Real people.
Pez Dispensers and Real People
So many better men, a few of them friends, are dead. And a thousand thousand slimy things live on, and so do I.
June 5th, 2023 at 9:35:18 PM
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What percentage of people know what Euler’s identity is ?
Even for people on this forum, I’d guess 2%. I wouldn’t call it trivial since it ties together the most important numbers in mathematics using one brief equation
Even for people on this forum, I’d guess 2%. I wouldn’t call it trivial since it ties together the most important numbers in mathematics using one brief equation
It’s all about making that GTA
June 5th, 2023 at 11:04:20 PM
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My guess on the fruit would be a banana
June 6th, 2023 at 4:46:16 AM
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Seeing as my Chinese neighbor has a garden full of vegetables I have never seen before, naming all vegetables that are flowers would probably prove difficult for anyone! Off the top of my head... brocolli, cauliflower, probably artichokes. Are capers considered a vegetable? I'm sure there are more.Quote: billryan2) Name all the vegetables that are flowers
"Dealer has 'rock'... Pay 'paper!'"
June 6th, 2023 at 6:10:48 AM
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Quote: JoemanSeeing as my Chinese neighbor has a garden full of vegetables I have never seen before, naming all vegetables that are flowers would probably prove difficult for anyone! Off the top of my head... brocolli, cauliflower, probably artichokes. Are capers considered a vegetable? I'm sure there are more.Quote: billryan2) Name all the vegetables that are flowers
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Capers, I think, are not a vegetable in the culinary sense. (I believe their usual usage puts them in the 'herb' category; they're a flavor enhancement, not the main ingredient, even if you know somebody who ate a big jar of capers with a spoon once.)
Squash blossoms. (Courgette is a lovely word, which I think people should use more.)
May the cards fall in your favor.
