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  3. A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Number 42

A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Number 42

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  • D Daniel Pfeffer

    No, no, no! It's the 42nd letter of the [Umnian](https://wiki.lspace.org/mediawiki/Um) alphabet. :)

    Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows. -- 6079 Smith W.

    Sander RosselS Offline
    Sander RosselS Offline
    Sander Rossel
    wrote on last edited by
    #5

    I'm not familiar with Pratchett's work :o

    Best, Sander sanderrossel.com Migrating Applications to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript Object-Oriented Programming in C# Succinctly

    Kornfeld Eliyahu PeterK OriginalGriffO F 3 Replies Last reply
    0
    • Sander RosselS Sander Rossel

      I'm not familiar with Pratchett's work :o

      Best, Sander sanderrossel.com Migrating Applications to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript Object-Oriented Programming in C# Succinctly

      Kornfeld Eliyahu PeterK Offline
      Kornfeld Eliyahu PeterK Offline
      Kornfeld Eliyahu Peter
      wrote on last edited by
      #6

      You better remove that comment... before they burn you... :laugh:

      "The only place where Success comes before Work is in the dictionary." Vidal Sassoon, 1928 - 2012

      "It never ceases to amaze me that a spacecraft launched in 1977 can be fixed remotely from Earth." ― Brian Cox

      OriginalGriffO 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • Kornfeld Eliyahu PeterK Kornfeld Eliyahu Peter

        You better remove that comment... before they burn you... :laugh:

        "The only place where Success comes before Work is in the dictionary." Vidal Sassoon, 1928 - 2012

        OriginalGriffO Offline
        OriginalGriffO Offline
        OriginalGriff
        wrote on last edited by
        #7

        Too late ... :-D

        "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!

        "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
        "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

        1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • Sander RosselS Sander Rossel

          I'm not familiar with Pratchett's work :o

          Best, Sander sanderrossel.com Migrating Applications to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript Object-Oriented Programming in C# Succinctly

          OriginalGriffO Offline
          OriginalGriffO Offline
          OriginalGriff
          wrote on last edited by
          #8

          BURN THE HERETIC!

          "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!

          "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
          "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

          Sander RosselS 1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • Sander RosselS Sander Rossel

            I'm not familiar with Pratchett's work :o

            Best, Sander sanderrossel.com Migrating Applications to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript Object-Oriented Programming in C# Succinctly

            F Offline
            F Offline
            fd9750
            wrote on last edited by
            #9

            It's main purpose is to show that a lot of human activity is just plain ridiculous, something it does with great success. Other than that it is extremely funny and a very good and entertaining read. I have all his works and don't regret it for a second.

            Sander RosselS 1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • J James Lonero

              Interesting article in today's Code Project Daily News: "For Math Fans: A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Number 42". See [For Math Fans: A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Number 42 - Scientific American](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/for-math-fans-a-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-number-42/). Why is 42 such a big deal for the mathematicians and other so called philosophers? This article takes it all in, almost. What is the answer to: "The Great Question of Life, the Universe and Everything”. I have always heard the answer as "to die". Then, someone had the intelligence to "two dice", each having one to six dots on each side. Adding up the dots on both dice gives the sum of 42. Maybe not complex math, but overthinking and recontextualizing the problem to get the magic number.

              pkfoxP Offline
              pkfoxP Offline
              pkfox
              wrote on last edited by
              #10

              When all Douglas actually did was gaze out of his window at home and thought of the number 42 - lots of people have been trying to read something deep and meaningful into it ever since.

              "We can't stop here - this is bat country" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP

              M 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • J James Lonero

                Interesting article in today's Code Project Daily News: "For Math Fans: A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Number 42". See [For Math Fans: A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Number 42 - Scientific American](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/for-math-fans-a-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-number-42/). Why is 42 such a big deal for the mathematicians and other so called philosophers? This article takes it all in, almost. What is the answer to: "The Great Question of Life, the Universe and Everything”. I have always heard the answer as "to die". Then, someone had the intelligence to "two dice", each having one to six dots on each side. Adding up the dots on both dice gives the sum of 42. Maybe not complex math, but overthinking and recontextualizing the problem to get the magic number.

                O Offline
                O Offline
                obermd
                wrote on last edited by
                #11

                I read that article. Interesting...

                1 Reply Last reply
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                • J James Lonero

                  Interesting article in today's Code Project Daily News: "For Math Fans: A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Number 42". See [For Math Fans: A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Number 42 - Scientific American](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/for-math-fans-a-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-number-42/). Why is 42 such a big deal for the mathematicians and other so called philosophers? This article takes it all in, almost. What is the answer to: "The Great Question of Life, the Universe and Everything”. I have always heard the answer as "to die". Then, someone had the intelligence to "two dice", each having one to six dots on each side. Adding up the dots on both dice gives the sum of 42. Maybe not complex math, but overthinking and recontextualizing the problem to get the magic number.

                  D Offline
                  D Offline
                  dandy72
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #12

                  All these answers so far, and nobody mentions that Douglas Adams himself had apparently said that 42p was simply the cost of a pint at his local pub at the time he wrote the book. Heard this decades ago. No idea whether it's true or not. Just relaying what I know. [Edit] A quick Google search brought back a [BBC page](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk\_news/magazine/7287255.stm) from over 12 years ago with someone making the same claim. Of course, that's not any more authoritative than what I just mentioned...

                  J 1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • J James Lonero

                    Interesting article in today's Code Project Daily News: "For Math Fans: A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Number 42". See [For Math Fans: A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Number 42 - Scientific American](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/for-math-fans-a-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-number-42/). Why is 42 such a big deal for the mathematicians and other so called philosophers? This article takes it all in, almost. What is the answer to: "The Great Question of Life, the Universe and Everything”. I have always heard the answer as "to die". Then, someone had the intelligence to "two dice", each having one to six dots on each side. Adding up the dots on both dice gives the sum of 42. Maybe not complex math, but overthinking and recontextualizing the problem to get the magic number.

                    A Offline
                    A Offline
                    AndyChisholm
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #13

                    I thought that it was neat that the ascii code 42 is the star * What with the book being about galaxies and stuff, and being one of the best books ever, whichever planet you are based on. Andy

                    1 Reply Last reply
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                    • J James Lonero

                      Interesting article in today's Code Project Daily News: "For Math Fans: A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Number 42". See [For Math Fans: A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Number 42 - Scientific American](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/for-math-fans-a-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-number-42/). Why is 42 such a big deal for the mathematicians and other so called philosophers? This article takes it all in, almost. What is the answer to: "The Great Question of Life, the Universe and Everything”. I have always heard the answer as "to die". Then, someone had the intelligence to "two dice", each having one to six dots on each side. Adding up the dots on both dice gives the sum of 42. Maybe not complex math, but overthinking and recontextualizing the problem to get the magic number.

                      J Offline
                      J Offline
                      James Lonero
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #14

                      Sorry to respond to myself, but #42 is the number in Jackie Robinson's Jersey. He was the first black man to play in the white baseball league. The next question is why or how did he get the number 42?

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • D dandy72

                        All these answers so far, and nobody mentions that Douglas Adams himself had apparently said that 42p was simply the cost of a pint at his local pub at the time he wrote the book. Heard this decades ago. No idea whether it's true or not. Just relaying what I know. [Edit] A quick Google search brought back a [BBC page](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk\_news/magazine/7287255.stm) from over 12 years ago with someone making the same claim. Of course, that's not any more authoritative than what I just mentioned...

                        J Offline
                        J Offline
                        James Lonero
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #15

                        I will upvote that.

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

                          BURN THE HERETIC!

                          "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!

                          Sander RosselS Offline
                          Sander RosselS Offline
                          Sander Rossel
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #16

                          Don't be like that, I've always considered you as a Brutha :D

                          Best, Sander sanderrossel.com Migrating Applications to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript Object-Oriented Programming in C# Succinctly

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • F fd9750

                            It's main purpose is to show that a lot of human activity is just plain ridiculous, something it does with great success. Other than that it is extremely funny and a very good and entertaining read. I have all his works and don't regret it for a second.

                            Sander RosselS Offline
                            Sander RosselS Offline
                            Sander Rossel
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #17

                            fd9750 wrote:

                            a very good and entertaining read

                            What makes you think I read? :laugh:

                            Best, Sander sanderrossel.com Migrating Applications to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript Object-Oriented Programming in C# Succinctly

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • J James Lonero

                              Interesting article in today's Code Project Daily News: "For Math Fans: A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Number 42". See [For Math Fans: A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Number 42 - Scientific American](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/for-math-fans-a-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-number-42/). Why is 42 such a big deal for the mathematicians and other so called philosophers? This article takes it all in, almost. What is the answer to: "The Great Question of Life, the Universe and Everything”. I have always heard the answer as "to die". Then, someone had the intelligence to "two dice", each having one to six dots on each side. Adding up the dots on both dice gives the sum of 42. Maybe not complex math, but overthinking and recontextualizing the problem to get the magic number.

                              F Offline
                              F Offline
                              Forogar
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #18

                              In the question "What is 7 x 9?" The answer is 42... if you are working to the base 13, not base 10.

                              - I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • pkfoxP pkfox

                                When all Douglas actually did was gaze out of his window at home and thought of the number 42 - lots of people have been trying to read something deep and meaningful into it ever since.

                                "We can't stop here - this is bat country" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP

                                M Offline
                                M Offline
                                markrlondon
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #19

                                pkfox wrote:

                                When all Douglas actually did was gaze out of his window at home and thought of the number 42 - lots of people have been trying to read something deep and meaningful into it ever since.

                                Ah, but who (or what) put "42" into his head...

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • J James Lonero

                                  Interesting article in today's Code Project Daily News: "For Math Fans: A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Number 42". See [For Math Fans: A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Number 42 - Scientific American](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/for-math-fans-a-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-number-42/). Why is 42 such a big deal for the mathematicians and other so called philosophers? This article takes it all in, almost. What is the answer to: "The Great Question of Life, the Universe and Everything”. I have always heard the answer as "to die". Then, someone had the intelligence to "two dice", each having one to six dots on each side. Adding up the dots on both dice gives the sum of 42. Maybe not complex math, but overthinking and recontextualizing the problem to get the magic number.

                                  P Offline
                                  P Offline
                                  Paul Kemner
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #20

                                  If you haven't heard the original BBC radio play, its well worth a listen. Looks like it's on youtube!

                                  1 Reply Last reply
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