Reality is a matter of perspective
It is woven from countless conventions
Everyone knows the famous image: two people looking at a number on the ground — one sees a “6”, the other sees a “9". Who is right?
It depends on what the number is meant to represent, what the person who drew it had in mind, and so on.
Today, I stumbled upon another picture — and it got me thinking.
The question is: Is the boy’s answer correct?
Conditionally speaking — yes.
But of course, there’s a big ”but.” Otherwise, I wouldn’t be writing this post.
First, the way people interpret the answer in the image depends heavily on their mathematical background.
Those with only basic elementary school math might think the boy is misunderstanding the order of operations, giving the wrong answer: 4, instead of the “correct” 24.
But anyone who has at least a little experience with higher mathematics will recall that 4! (four factorial) is exactly 24. In that case, the boy’s answer is spot on.
For those unfamiliar with the notation:
4! (read as "four factorial") means
1 × 2 × 3 × 4 = 24
Well… it depends.
It depends on his mathematical education.
If he only knows basic math and used the exclamation mark just for emphasis, then he’s wrong.
But if he knows a bit more — and understands what factorials are — then he’s absolutely right.
The point is: there’s rarely only one correct answer.
Perspective matters. Context matters. Knowledge matters.
About the Creator
Bozhan Bozhkov
Hi, dear readers. I'm Bulgarian. I used to be a physicist, that's my education, but now I work as a network administrator. For many years, I have been writing a blog, and have also written several fairy tales and short stories, and a novel.
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Comments (5)
Brilliant!
"Perspective matters. Context matters. Knowledge matters." Now that was spot on!
I wholeheartedly agree with the conclusion that perspective, context, and knowledge matter. Great illustration, Bozhan!
The best critique I've seen of the 6 - 9 meme is: "But one of those people is wrong, someone painted a six or a nine. They need to back up and orient themselves, see if there are any other numbers to align with. Maybe there's a driveway or a building to face, or they can ask someone who actually knows." And also, to quote Bertrand Russel: "A certain type of “superior person“ is fond of asserting that “everything is relative.” This is, of course, nonsense, because, if everything were relative, there would be nothing for it to be relative to." (a quote from his book ABC Of Relativity)
Hello Mr. BB, being philosophical with us today, I see. I was never a math wiz, so the simple explanation for me gives me 4. 😎Many sides to everything, I agree.