tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22954374.post4788153888167974399..comments2023-10-17T05:09:58.097-07:00Comments on William Gallagher: Self Distract: Making a math of itWilliam Gallagherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13315381474957511300noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22954374.post-58214209960854954752010-06-28T04:59:55.806-07:002010-06-28T04:59:55.806-07:00Football, of course, isn't a logical game. If ...Football, of course, isn't a logical game. If the outcome was always going to be 4-1, then whether that second England goal had been allowed or not would have had no material bearing on the outcome. But a game levelled at 2-2 <i>might</i> progress very differently. That said, England played so poorly yesterday, that I'm certain they'd still have lost.<br /><br />And it's worth mentioning that not all maths works on certainties. While proofs do, the mathematics of probability is very sound, and that means that while we might expect an outcome, we can't be certain.<br /><br />Incidentally, Marcus du Sautoy is a massive Arsenal fan! And he's talking about the maths of music next Saturday at the Royal Festival Hall (http://seefurtherfestival.org/events/view/marcus-du-sautoy). I'm going, even though it clashes with a quarter-final match.LeeJayWhistlingIsNotAnnoyingMehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03918116711259798827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22954374.post-48833561466272444172010-06-28T01:58:13.476-07:002010-06-28T01:58:13.476-07:00"the moment it breaks, science will drop it&q..."the moment it breaks, science will drop it"<br /><br />Personally, I would call that wishful thinking.<br /><br />Science is as wrapped up in personal politics and ego (and money, let's not forget the money) as everything else.<br /><br />Lots of drama :-)Adaddinsanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10577587188266580561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22954374.post-20492767054548881472010-06-28T01:57:06.481-07:002010-06-28T01:57:06.481-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Adaddinsanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10577587188266580561noreply@blogger.com