Is there a correlation between vehicle size and masculinity?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the correlation between vehicle size and masculinity, exploring societal perceptions, mathematical interpretations, and cultural attitudes towards knowledge and skills. It includes elements of humor and personal anecdotes, as well as references to number theory and Pythagorean triples.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express skepticism about the general public's mathematical abilities, questioning how many people are unaware of basic concepts like Pythagorean triples.
  • There is a suggestion that societal norms accept innumeracy more than illiteracy, with some participants reflecting on cultural attitudes towards math and masculinity.
  • One participant humorously contrasts preferences for vehicle types, suggesting that larger vehicles are associated with a certain masculine identity, while others prefer performance metrics like power-to-weight ratios.
  • Discussions about the interpretation of "square numbers" and the validity of options presented in a video prompt differing opinions on mathematical definitions and fairness.
  • Some participants share personal views on what constitutes a "real man," linking it to interests in vehicles versus numbers.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a variety of views on the relationship between vehicle size and masculinity, with no clear consensus. There are competing perspectives on societal norms regarding mathematical knowledge and masculinity.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes references to mathematical concepts that may not be universally understood, and the interpretations of terms like "square number" and "sum" are not uniformly agreed upon. The cultural context of masculinity and vehicle preferences is also subjective and varies among participants.

Amer
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I found a nice video


The strange thing is 60% thinks it is A.
I think we are somehow unique people :)
 
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Fools. That's why you need number theory, suckers; never heard of Pythagorean triple did ya? (Tongueout)

Amer said:
I think we are somehow unique people

Seems so true.
 
Amer said:
I think we are somehow unique people :)

unique = there is only one

.
 
mathbalarka said:
Fools. That's why you need number theory, suckers; never heard of Pythagorean triple did ya? (Tongueout)

Seems so true.

Yea hih,
zzephod said:
unique = there is only one

.

I think we are countable :)
 
Amer said:
I found a nice video


The strange thing is 60% thinks it is A.
I think we are somehow unique people :)

Although the intent of the question is clear, but all options are correct if you interpret 'number' as 'real number'.
 
caffeinemachine said:
Although the intent of the question is clear, but all options are correct if you interpret 'number' as 'real number'.

A is the correct answer as most of the audience surmises (50%).
The most square number is 8 due to its shape on an LCD display.
And 16 = 8 + 8.
Furthermore, the 6 in 16 also contains a sort of square shape, and it is clearly a larger number.
 
If by "square number" we mean the number represented by the square (i.e., 4), and by "sum" we mean the disjoint union (as is typical in set theory), then the only number which qualifies is 8, which is not among the choices. Unfair.
 
Is this video trying to tell us that the ability to add two numbers is now worth $8000? Seriously, even if you don't immediately know that (9, 16, 25) is a Pythagorean triple, all you need to do is recall (or calculate) the first few square numbers, and try to add them together pairwise to obtain something that's in the list of choices. How hard can it be?

Also, how exactly does nearly three fourths of the audience not know the answer? This makes me sad...
 
Last edited:
In today's society it is "OK" to not know how to add, heck: even proper spelling is seen as "a bit geeky".
 
  • #10
Deveno said:
In today's society it is "OK" to not know how to add, heck: even proper spelling is seen as "a bit geeky".
Eye dsigry wit dat.

-Dan
 
  • #11
mathbalarka said:
Fools. That's why you need number theory, suckers; never heard of Pythagorean triple did ya? (Tongueout)
We would you expect us to did heard of Pythagorean triple! :p
 
  • #12
Illiteracy is seen as a sad thing, but innumeracy is quite acceptable, even preferable, to the masses (at least in my neck of the woods).

'round these parts, a "real man" has no call fer no fancy cipherin'. (Shake)
 
  • #13
MarkFL said:
Illiteracy is seen as a sad thing, but innumeracy is quite acceptable, even preferable, to the masses (at least in my neck of the woods).

'round these parts, a "real man" has no call fer no fancy cipherin'. (Shake)
Are "real men" more interested in fast cars than fancy numbers? (Tongueout)
 

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  • #14
Opalg said:
Are "real men" more interested in fast cars than fancy numbers? (Tongueout)
https://www.physicsforums.com/attachments/2221​

Yes, they certainly are...in fact the supreme vehicle around here for the knuckle dragging crowd is the truck, huge tires and covered in mud. I prefer smooth dry pavement, relatively low drag coefficients and high power to weight ratios, so that puts me on the fringe of the "real men" from the very start. Couple that with my understanding of the relationship between power and torque and gearing and I am an outcast, regarded with suspicion. (Tongueout)

If I drove a European car, I'd be run out of town on a rail. (Emo)
 
  • #15
Is it getting a bit hot around here? :p
 
  • #16
MarkFL said:
Yes, they certainly are...in fact the supreme vehicle around here for the knuckle dragging crowd is the truck, huge tires and covered in mud. I prefer smooth dry pavement, relatively low drag coefficients and high power to weight ratios, so that puts me on the fringe of the "real men" from the very start. Couple that with my understanding of the relationship between power and torque and gearing and I am an outcast, regarded with suspicion. (Tongueout)

If I drove a European car, I'd be run out of town on a rail. (Emo)

Well you know what they say: the bigger the truck, the smaller the man's...capacitor.
 

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