I was recently posed with the question whether eight unequal parts of a sliced-up pizza are still eighths or are they something else?
Another braindrainer was whether the air that we breathe can burn? In other words can the Earth's atmosphere set alight?
The final riddler came when I was asked if any modern humans may be descended from more ancient species of humankind such as Cro-Magnon or Neanderthal?
Maybe you know readers and can tell me so I can pass it on!
Burning involves reacting with oxygen.The Earth's atmosphere is mainly Nitrogen which doesn't react with much at all, so it won't burn.
ReplyDeleteNeanderthals were around at the same time as us so we didn't descend from them (but we may have interbred with us). I think Cro Magnon was an ancestor of our species.
The language seems to lack good words for unequal portions of something.
modern Homo Sapiens are descended from the Cro Magnon,the Neanderthals were a sub species from central Europe who were gradually hunted to extinction. Its theorised that emergent man actually ate them all!
ReplyDeleteYes, the air could burn, given the oxygen content, in some areas. Maths not being my strong point, but id say that 8 slices of pizza could be regarded as 8ths, as there are 8 sections of a whole.
ill defer to kevs physics training on this one!
ReplyDeleteIt's probably best for the survival of Mankind if we don't test the atmosphere burning to see!
ReplyDeleteEight parts or portions, rather than eighths?
ReplyDeleteYour first question has not left me alone, Woodsy. I think the trick is that the same question poses itself simultaneously both in algebraic and geometric universes. In algebraic terms, one eighth of a given whole (ie. number) is by definition equal in measure with other parts: x/8.
ReplyDeleteHowever, in terms of geometry, the parts being equal is only a special case of multiple possibilities of slicing up a given whole (ie. a circle).
Since a pizza is more a geometric entity than an algebraic one, I would answer yes, even unequal eighths of a pizza are still eighths.
You'll taste the difference too!
In our neck of the woods (no pun intended), we all have 2-4% Neanderthal DNA. Different species from us, but 'things got cosy' nonetheless as the report below has it
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20151013-how-interbreeding-shaped-us
Best -- Paul
all very interesting replies guys and much for me to ponder! Thanks.
ReplyDelete