Register - Log In


FunTrivia Homepage



  • New Questions

  • Unanswered


  • Post a Question
  • Goto Qn #





    Archives

    There is a legendary paradox that involves a Greek warrior and a tortoise. Who is this mathematical paradox attributed to, and how can it be alternatively described using a lamp switch?

    Question #58216. Asked by peasypod. (Jul 07 05 6:15 PM)


    lanfranco

    I think you're talking about one of Zeno's Paradoxes, which involves Achilles and a tortoise:

    "The slower when running will never be overtaken by the quicker; for that which is pursuing must first reach the point from which that which is fleeing started, so that the slower is always some distance ahead ... "

    I never have figured this one out:

    http://plus.maths.org/issue17/xfile/

    Jul 07 05, 6:37 PM
    peasypod

    Nice One, yes, based on the indivisibility of time.

    Interestingly Zeno was born in Elea, later called Velia by the Romans, in southern Italy. (What was Magna Graecia, of course.)

    Jul 07 05, 6:55 PM
    someothername

    Thompson's Lamp is controlled by a being with supernatural powers who likes to play with this lamp as follows. First, he turns it on. At the end of one minute, he turns it off. At the end of half a minute, he turns it on again. At the end of a quarter of a minute, he turns it off. In one eighth of a minute, he turns it on again. And so on, hitting the switch each time after waiting exactly one-half the time he waited before hitting it the last time. Applying the above discussion, it is easy to see that all these infinitely many time intervals add up to exactly two minutes. So given an infinite series, at the end of two minutes is the lamp on or off?
    http://www.mathacademy.com/pr/prime/articles/zeno_tort/index.asp

    Jul 07 05, 7:18 PM
    BillyWhiz

    A similar paradox "proves" that you cannot be hit by an arrow shot at you.

    Any volunteers?

    Jul 09 05, 2:38 PM
    lanfranco

    You mean the reasons why the arrow must always be at rest?

    Here's the whole collection:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeno's_paradoxes#The_arrow_paradox

    Jul 09 05, 3:22 PM


    Find something useful here? Please help us spread the word about FunTrivia. Recommend this page below!


    Sign up to see all responses!

    Create a Free ID instantly to see all recent responses, post your own follow-ups or questions, and access over 1,000,000 trivia questions!

    Choose a User Name:
    Your Email Address:
    Choose a Password:

    I agree by the terms outlined in FunTrivia's Conditions of Use





    Other Similar Questions & Answers


    "Fair is Foul and Foul is Fair" is a paradox, a statement that appears to be contadictory but actually expresses the truth. Explain the paradox in Macbeth?

    He discovered two astroids and another was named after him, oh, and a comet to boot. But the most intriguing aspect is the paradox named after him which tries to answer the world's most asked question, well, the world's second most asked question perhaps. Who is responsible and what is the paradox?

    I want to prove that 'All ravens are black'. An equivalent statement is 'All non-black objects are non-ravens', and if I prove the latter then I prove the former as well. I look around and see a blue sky, green grass, and an overwhelming number of things that are non-black non-ravens. I can easily prove that 'All non-black objects are non-ravens' and, by extension, I must also have proven that 'All ravens are black' because this is an equivalent statement. This is a well known paradox. Whose paradox is it?

    Suggested Related FunTrivia Quizzes - 90,000 currently online

    1 The Switch
    In "The Switch", Jerry attempts to date his girlfriend's roommate, Kramer's first name is introduced and Elaine loans Mr. Pitt's tennis racquet to someone. Good luck!
    'Seinfeld' - Season 6 Average
    10 Q
    kyleisalive
    Feb 28 06
    1224 plays
    2 Greek
    This quiz is about the first episode of ABC family's "Greek", a show about two siblings dealing with each other at a college.
    Greek Average
    10 Q
    beeqn1624
    Aug 04 07
    831 plays
    3 The Time Paradox
    The sixth installment of the "Artemis Fowl" series. One of the best books by Eoin Colfer.
    Colfer, Eoin Average
    10 Q
    v-v
    Aug 05 08
    276 plays




    "Ask FunTrivia" is for entertainment purposes only, and answers offered are unverified and unchecked by FunTrivia. We cannot guarantee the accuracy or veracity of ANY statement posted. Feel free to post an updated response if you feel that an answer is inadequate or incorrect. Please thoroughly research items where accuracy is important to you using multiple reliable sources. By accessing our website, you agree to be bound by our terms of service.