Naked Science Forum

On the Lighter Side => That CAN'T be true! => Topic started by: scherado on 19/02/2018 15:27:08

Title: What size alphabet is required to name each non-negative integer?
Post by: scherado on 19/02/2018 15:27:08

What size alphabet is required to name each non-negative integer?
You are advised in advance that the following is a trick question. It is, in full:

What size English alphabet is required to provide a unique name for each non-negative integer?

Title: Re: What size alphabet is required to name each non-negative integer?
Post by: chiralSPO on 19/02/2018 16:01:04

One letter.

Allow me to count the first few numbers off, starting with zero (the first non-negative integer)

U
UU
UUU
UUUU
UUUUU
etc.

Not very efficient, but each non-negative integer has a unique name.

Title: Re: What size alphabet is required to name each non-negative integer?
Post by: evan_au on 19/02/2018 20:20:06

Any size that will fit in the English alphabet, ie size 1 to size 52.

It doesn't ask for "minimum size", which is what @chiralSPO answered.

"0" to "9" are on our English keyboards, but are not part of the alphabet = the Greek sequence "alpha, beta....", or in English "A, B, C,...,Z".

So there are 26 symbols in the English alphabet, but do you:
- Distinguish minuscules "a-z" from MAJUSCULES "A-Z", giving 52 symbols (base 52) - sounds reasonable.
- Allow the occasional ring-ins from other languages, such as accented letters in "entree"? - probably not?

Title: Re: What size alphabet is required to name each non-negative integer?
Post by: scherado on 19/02/2018 20:25:26

`c

Quote from: chiralSPO on 19/02/2018 16:01:04

One letter.

Allow me to count the first few numbers off, starting with zero (the first non-negative integer)

.
Well, I'll be the first to declare (positively) that your answer does not merit a thread. Perhaps, I was...loo[k]ing for some other....thing....and I'll start a new thread....

....if I do.

Title: Re: What size alphabet is required to name each non-negative integer?
Post by: Bored chemist on 19/02/2018 22:05:09

Quote from: scherado on 19/02/2018 20:25:26

`c

Quote from: chiralSPO on 19/02/2018 16:01:04

One letter.

Allow me to count the first few numbers off, starting with zero (the first non-negative integer)

.
Well, I'll be the first to declare (positively) that your answer does not merit a thread. Perhaps, I was...looing for some other....thing....and I'll start a new thread....

....if I do.

You may well have been looking for something else.
However, ChiralSPO's answer is correct.
It's not our fault you failed to specify the question well enough to get the answer you wanted.

Title: Re: What size alphabet is required to name each non-negative integer?
Post by: Colin2B on 19/02/2018 23:49:48

Quote from: chiralSPO on 19/02/2018 16:01:04

One letter.

I can’t believe you beat me to posting.
However, i have to contest your answer and your being awarded best answer.
The true answer i was about to give is:
A
AA
AAA
AAAA
AAAAA
ETC

So, admit it my answer is best, yes?

Title: Re: What size alphabet is required to name each non-negative integer?
Post by: chiralSPO on 20/02/2018 02:41:39

Actually, I've run an optimization, the best answer is actually:

Y
YY
YYY
YYYY
YYYYY

The cool thing about this is that I actually discovered this system last year, when I used it to count to 20 after Trump was declared winner...

Title: Re: What size alphabet is required to name each non-negative integer?
Post by: Colin2B on 20/02/2018 07:58:44

Wow, that’s some optimisation program. Must have needed more computing power than bitcoin mining - unless of course you optimised it!
Count to 20 eh, better achievement than some people you mention?

Title: Re: What size alphabet is required to name each non-negative integer?
Post by: scherado on 20/02/2018 11:57:09

Quote from: Bored chemist on 19/02/2018 22:05:09

You may well have been looking for something else.
However, ChiralSPO's answer is correct.

.
Well, you should infer something from the big green enclosure I placed around "ChiraSPO"'s answer.