- #1
dj023102
- 15
- 0
Probability gets interesting?
Hey guys thought this was an interesting problem that our lecturer purposed:
Pick any word in the first few lines and do the following: Let’s say your choice is the
word “shadows”. This word has seven letters. The seventh word following “shadows”
is “all”. This word has three letters. The third word following “all” is “That”. This
word has four letters, etc. proceed until you come across the word “restore” in the last
line, from where you cannot move any further. Why is it that no matter which word
you choose in the first few lines, you always end up with the same word, “restore”. In
fact, even if you had started somewhere in the middle of A Midsummer Nights Dream
you would have wound up with the same word. And, even stranger, every play by
Shakespeare contains a special word like “restore”. Are these words secret messages left
by Shakespeare, is all this coincidence, or is there another easy explanation?
If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumber’d here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend:
if you pardon, we will mend:
And, as I am an honest Puck,
If we have unearned luck
Now to ’scape the serpent’s tongue,
We will make amends ere long;
Else the Puck a liar call;
So, good night unto you all.
Give me your hands, if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends.
Anyone have any ideas to how that is, apparently it also occurs with The Harry Potter books no matter what word u start with in the book you will always end up with the same word in the end of the book? Any ideas?
Hey guys thought this was an interesting problem that our lecturer purposed:
Pick any word in the first few lines and do the following: Let’s say your choice is the
word “shadows”. This word has seven letters. The seventh word following “shadows”
is “all”. This word has three letters. The third word following “all” is “That”. This
word has four letters, etc. proceed until you come across the word “restore” in the last
line, from where you cannot move any further. Why is it that no matter which word
you choose in the first few lines, you always end up with the same word, “restore”. In
fact, even if you had started somewhere in the middle of A Midsummer Nights Dream
you would have wound up with the same word. And, even stranger, every play by
Shakespeare contains a special word like “restore”. Are these words secret messages left
by Shakespeare, is all this coincidence, or is there another easy explanation?
If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumber’d here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend:
if you pardon, we will mend:
And, as I am an honest Puck,
If we have unearned luck
Now to ’scape the serpent’s tongue,
We will make amends ere long;
Else the Puck a liar call;
So, good night unto you all.
Give me your hands, if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends.
Anyone have any ideas to how that is, apparently it also occurs with The Harry Potter books no matter what word u start with in the book you will always end up with the same word in the end of the book? Any ideas?