electronic Q20 reveals what most people understand least!

mikau · 2007-11-23 12:23:11

I have an electronic Q20 game, like the game we play in dark discussion (except this only works for things, not people). The device asks you 20 questions to which you can answer Yes, No, Sometimes, or Unknown if you are not sure. If it doesn't guess right after 20 questions, it asks 5 more and guesses once more, if it fails then it proclaims you the winner.

This little device is AMAZINGLY good, and unless you pick the most obscure object on the face of the earth, it almost always guesses. Its obviously got a vast library of well organized and categorized objects, and slick AI to handle potentially erroneous answers. (it tends to get it right even if you answer some questions incorrectly)

But the Unknown answer is most interesting. You basically tell the computer little information except how little is known about it in that area.

Suppose then we answer all 20+5 questions with unknown. If this thing is categorize so well it should tell us what your ordinary human understands the least, or rather, what most can answer the least questions about. The results made me smile. So here it is! What the machine asked and the answers I gave.

1. Is it an animal? no. vegetable? no. Mineral? no. Other? no. Unknown? Yes. ( I know thats really 5 questions but that always comes first with this device.)
2. do you hold it when you use it? unknown
3. does it make sound? unknown
4. was it used over 100 years ago? unknown
5. does it use electricity? unknown
6. do you use it in your home? unknown
7. does it come in different colors? unknown
8. is it outside? unknown
9. does it get wet? unknown
10. does it go inside of other things? unknown
11. is it man made? unknown.
12. could it be found in a classroom? unknown.
13. is it larger than a microwave oven? unknown
14. can you hold it? unknown
15. is it involved in movies? unknown
16. is it smaller than a loaf of bread? unknown
17. is it commonly used? unknown.
18. is it dangerous? unknown.
19. is it small? unknown
20. Is it usually visible? unknown.

you're thinking of Infinity? No.

21. can it be used more than once? unknown
22. can it bend without breaking? unknown
23. is it round? unknown
24. can you get information by using it? unkown.
25. do you know any songs about it? unknown

Its Nothing? no.

So there you have it! It seems what people can answer the fewest questions about are infinity and the empty set! Got to love how math shows up everywhere, eh?

kinda sad to know most people don't know infinity is larger than a microwave oven though, eh?

Last edited by mikau (2007-11-23 12:42:05)

mathsyperson · 2007-11-24 02:17:01

Depends what kind of infinity you're talking about. You can draw an infinitely long curve on top of a pinhead, for example.

Very interesting result though. One thing I'd like to know is whether the same thing would happen if you tried again. From what I remember, Q20 isn't completely deterministic.

mikau · 2007-11-24 06:56:34

well i've tried it 3 times and each time it always guessed one (infinity or nothing) then the other. Always infinity and nothing.

Zach · 2007-11-24 12:21:47

Note: An abstract concept is not larger than a microwave.

mikau · 2007-11-24 13:45:04

agreed. It just sounds weird to say infinity is smaller than a microwave.

Math Is Fun Forum

#1 2007-11-23 12:23:11

electronic Q20 reveals what most people understand least!

#2 2007-11-24 02:17:01

Re: electronic Q20 reveals what most people understand least!

#3 2007-11-24 06:56:34

Re: electronic Q20 reveals what most people understand least!

#4 2007-11-24 12:21:47

Re: electronic Q20 reveals what most people understand least!

#5 2007-11-24 13:45:04

Re: electronic Q20 reveals what most people understand least!

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