A mathematician, a physicist, and an engineer are asked to test the following hypothesis: All odd numbers greater than one
are prime.
The mathematician: "Three is a prime, five is a prime, seven is a prime, but nine is not a prime. Therefore, the hypothesis
is false."
The physicist: "Three is a prime, five is a prime, seven is a prime, nine is not a prime, eleven is a prime, and thirteen
is a prime. Hence, five out of six experiments support the hypothesis. It must be true."
The engineer: "Three is a prime, five's a prime, seven's a prime, nine's a prime..."
are prime.
The mathematician: "Three is a prime, five is a prime, seven is a prime, but nine is not a prime. Therefore, the hypothesis
is false."
The physicist: "Three is a prime, five is a prime, seven is a prime, nine is not a prime, eleven is a prime, and thirteen
is a prime. Hence, five out of six experiments support the hypothesis. It must be true."
The engineer: "Three is a prime, five's a prime, seven's a prime, nine's a prime..."
Related:
- Prime Numbers
Several professors were asked to solve the following problem:
"Prove that all odd integers are prime." Mathematician... - A mathematician, a physicist and an engineer are given an
identical problem:
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Prove that all odd integers are prime.
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Several professors were asked to solve the following problem:
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Proof:
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