A vent

Russ Smith

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Why are the national media and fans obsessed with round numbers? Why does it matter that McAllister got "only" 99 yards and not 100?

I bet if Bonds breaks 755 and keeps going when he gets to 799 ESPN will follow him around all day until he hits 800 and then make a huge deal out of it even though he alread had the record. Just as they did when he hit #70 in one season when 69 was already the record.

Sorry, just had to get it off my chest.

Go Cards
 

maddogkf

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In order to understand the importance of your question, Russ, one must fully understand our reason for choosing the traditional numbering system as we use today.

There are a multitude of numbering systems out there, such as the hexagonal, binary, octagonal, et al.

However, Russ, it is our familiarity with the base 10 (decimal) system that we like round whole numbers.

Please take a look at these key points in the Base 10 (Decimal) Numbering system:

The Indian culture developed the decimal system. The Mohenjo Daro culture of the Indus valley was using a form of decimal numbering some 5000 years ago. Succeeding cultural changes in this area developed the decimal system into a rigorous numbering system, including the use of zero by the Hindu mathematicians some 1500 years ago. The digits we use for the decimal system are the Arabic/Indian digits of 0 thru 9. Each number occupies a place value. When 1 is reached, the value goes to 0 and 1 is added to the next place value.

0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,etc

Kind of nice, eh Russ?

Each place value to the left is equal to 10 times the place value to the right which implies that each place value to the right is equal to the place value to the left divided by10.

continuing infinitely <- 100000,10000,1000,100,10,1

The decimal point allow for the place value to continue in a consistent manner with groups smaller than one.

0.1, 0.01, 0.001, 0.0001, 0.00001 -> continuing infinitely. This gives great precision for a number. The precision gained from this numbering system played no small part in the development of the calculus.

A zero was used in the decimal system to represent nothing of a particular place value.

The use of 10 digits for a numbering system may be seen to arise from counting on our 10 fingers. Count on your fingers up to ten, put a mark in the sand and continue counting on fingers.

So in essence, it is because we are familiar with our own hand (granted your last name is not Alfonseca) in that we choose to count in the nice round numbers of "10."

Hence forth and thereto, we like statistics when they are these nice round numbers because it makes us warm and fuzzy inside. :thumbup:
 

LVCARDFREAK

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Originally posted by maddogkf
In order to understand the importance of your question, Russ, one must fully understand our reason for choosing the traditional numbering system as we use today.

There are a multitude of numbering systems out there, such as the hexagonal, binary, octagonal, et al.

However, Russ, it is our familiarity with the base 10 (decimal) system that we like round whole numbers.

Please take a look at these key points in the Base 10 (Decimal) Numbering system:

The Indian culture developed the decimal system. The Mohenjo Daro culture of the Indus valley was using a form of decimal numbering some 5000 years ago. Succeeding cultural changes in this area developed the decimal system into a rigorous numbering system, including the use of zero by the Hindu mathematicians some 1500 years ago. The digits we use for the decimal system are the Arabic/Indian digits of 0 thru 9. Each number occupies a place value. When 1 is reached, the value goes to 0 and 1 is added to the next place value.

0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,etc

Kind of nice, eh Russ?

Each place value to the left is equal to 10 times the place value to the right which implies that each place value to the right is equal to the place value to the left divided by10.

continuing infinitely <- 100000,10000,1000,100,10,1

The decimal point allow for the place value to continue in a consistent manner with groups smaller than one.

0.1, 0.01, 0.001, 0.0001, 0.00001 -> continuing infinitely. This gives great precision for a number. The precision gained from this numbering system played no small part in the development of the calculus.

A zero was used in the decimal system to represent nothing of a particular place value.

The use of 10 digits for a numbering system may be seen to arise from counting on our 10 fingers. Count on your fingers up to ten, put a mark in the sand and continue counting on fingers.

So in essence, it is because we are familiar with our own hand (granted your last name is not Alfonseca) in that we choose to count in the nice round numbers of "10."

Hence forth and thereto, we like statistics when they are these nice round numbers because it makes us warm and fuzzy inside.


Oh for the love of God!!!! :confused:
 

Redleg

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OH MY GOD! What an insightful and thorough explanation, I enjoyed it.

Now may I be excused, please, my brain is full. :D
 

Lex

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Maddog- nice call on Alfonseca...

I think Russ may be down to 9 digits, he's worn his fingers down on all the Bronco boards.
 

SECTION 11

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Well that cerainly clears that up. Thank you, Maddog.


Like the Mad Hatter, I've often wondered why the raven is like a writing desk, but perhaps that's more appropriate for the Dallas game.
 

40yearfan

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Originally posted by maddogkf
In order to understand the importance of your question, Russ, one must fully understand our reason for choosing the traditional numbering system as we use today.

There are a multitude of numbering systems out there, such as the hexagonal, binary, octagonal, et al.

However, Russ, it is our familiarity with the base 10 (decimal) system that we like round whole numbers.

Please take a look at these key points in the Base 10 (Decimal) Numbering system:

The Indian culture developed the decimal system. The Mohenjo Daro culture of the Indus valley was using a form of decimal numbering some 5000 years ago. Succeeding cultural changes in this area developed the decimal system into a rigorous numbering system, including the use of zero by the Hindu mathematicians some 1500 years ago. The digits we use for the decimal system are the Arabic/Indian digits of 0 thru 9. Each number occupies a place value. When 1 is reached, the value goes to 0 and 1 is added to the next place value.

0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,etc

Kind of nice, eh Russ?

Each place value to the left is equal to 10 times the place value to the right which implies that each place value to the right is equal to the place value to the left divided by10.

continuing infinitely <- 100000,10000,1000,100,10,1

The decimal point allow for the place value to continue in a consistent manner with groups smaller than one.

0.1, 0.01, 0.001, 0.0001, 0.00001 -> continuing infinitely. This gives great precision for a number. The precision gained from this numbering system played no small part in the development of the calculus.

A zero was used in the decimal system to represent nothing of a particular place value.

The use of 10 digits for a numbering system may be seen to arise from counting on our 10 fingers. Count on your fingers up to ten, put a mark in the sand and continue counting on fingers.

So in essence, it is because we are familiar with our own hand (granted your last name is not Alfonseca) in that we choose to count in the nice round numbers of "10."

Hence forth and thereto, we like statistics when they are these nice round numbers because it makes us warm and fuzzy inside. :thumbup:

Hmmmm, either a frustrated accountant or an injury attorney.
 

jf-08

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Originally posted by 40yearfan
Hmmmm, either a frustrated accountant or an injury attorney.

neither, it's my drunk brother.

He still pissed he lost his full ride NAvy Nuclear Engineering scholarship because of a drunk injury the night before his physical.
 
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Russ Smith

Russ Smith

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Originally posted by maddogkf
Hence forth and thereto, we like statistics when they are these nice round numbers because it makes us warm and fuzzy inside. :thumbup:

Makes sense but it still bugs me (-:

the single biggest one that ticked me off was Nolan Ryan's 5000 strikeouts as if 4999 wasn't already the record(or was it 4k and 3999 I forget).
 

Renz

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Originally posted by Russ Smith
Makes sense but it still bugs me (-:

the single biggest one that ticked me off was Nolan Ryan's 5000 strikeouts as if 4999 wasn't already the record(or was it 4k and 3999 I forget).

Nolan Ryan finished his career with a record 5,714 K's. :)
 

Redheart

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Well...how come when I use both hands, take off my shoes and socks, and unzip my fly, I can get to 21???
 

Ryanwb

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Anyone have a picture of Alfonseca's weird hand?
 
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