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#1 2009-03-26 06:55:01
- nubemet
- Member
- Registered: 2009-03-25
- Posts: 8
Self defence and mathematics
A man is caught going on an airplane with a bomb in his suitcase.
In his interrogation, he is asked for his motives and who sent him to do it.
The man says, that he did not intend to explode the bomb. It was just for self defence.
Detective: "Self Defence?" 
Man: "Yep, Self Defence".
Detective: "Explain"
Man: "Have you heared of probability theory? what are the chances that on the same plane there will be two independent bombers?"
Detective: 
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#2 2009-03-26 07:28:15
- Jai Ganesh
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- Registered: 2005-06-28
- Posts: 48,398
Re: Self defence and mathematics
Good one 
It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.
Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.
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#3 2009-03-26 09:49:16
- Jai Ganesh
- Administrator
- Registered: 2005-06-28
- Posts: 48,398
Re: Self defence and mathematics
The fact that there is already a bomber is implied. Hence, the joke passes the test with high HQ, Humor Quotient!
It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.
Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.
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#4 2009-03-26 10:55:00
- JaneFairfax
- Member
- Registered: 2007-02-23
- Posts: 6,868
Re: Self defence and mathematics
The correct logical reasoning should be: What are the chances that on the same plane there will be two independent bombers, given that there is already a bomber? (And no, that was NOT implied! 
)
This is the same as the chances that there will be a bomber other than that man if that man hadnt done anything. Hence that stupid mans actions did not alter the chances of a plane bombing in any way whatsoever! 
Last edited by JaneFairfax (2009-03-26 11:33:34)
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#5 2009-03-26 11:28:24
- MathsIsFun
- Administrator
- Registered: 2005-01-21
- Posts: 7,713
Re: Self defence and mathematics
And hence the "Huh? Oh! LOL!"
"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..." - Leon M. Lederman
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#6 2009-03-26 15:31:50
- nubemet
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- Registered: 2009-03-25
- Posts: 8
Re: Self defence and mathematics
The correct logical reasoning should be: What are the chances that on the same plane there will be two independent bombers, given that there is already a bomber? (And no, that was NOT implied!
This is the same as the chances that there will be a bomber other than that man if that man hadnt done anything. Hence that stupid mans actions did not alter the chances of a plane bombing in any way whatsoever!
Yep. So the joke is on this man, and since u're right...its on me too
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