Comic #4196: math
Description
Here's the transcribed text from the comic:
Panel 1
- Character 1: "Part of why math confuses people is we pick stupid names for things."
- Character 2: "Imaginary numbers? They're not 'imaginary'; they're actual things that show up in lots of practical equations!"
Panel 2
- Character 1: "Why do we have 'natural' numbers when all sorts of things naturally don't come in positive integer values? Is half of something unnatural? Is pi unnatural?"
- Character 2: "So, you think we should adopt more descriptive terms?"
- Character 1: "No."
Panel 3
- Character 2: "I think if we're going to use bad terminology, we should stop half-assing it."
- Character 2: "My proposal: natural numbers will be called 'boring numbers.'"
- Character 2: "Imaginary numbers should be called 'bullshit numbers.'"
Panel 4
- Character 2: "Complex numbers should be called 'boring bullshit numbers': hyperreals will be called 'big-ass numbers,' and irrational numbers will be called 'those fuckin' things.'"
Panel 5
- Character 2: "Consider the utility here. All number categories are now easy to remember, and you can use phrases like, 'As a Platonist, I believe in the real existence of bullshit numbers.'"
Panel 6
- Character 1: "Have you created anything interesting or just recategorized known concepts?"
- Character 2: "That is a matter for philosophers!"