prodeng@fluke.UUCP (Jim Hirning) (08/24/83)
In the Hitchhiker's Guide trilogy, there was the scenario of the "answer to the great question of Life, the Universe, and Everything." The answer, given in the first book, was "42". The question, given in the third book, was "What is 6 times 9". How about this: 6 X 9 = 54 IN BASE 10. But, if 54 is considered in base 13, it is (4 times 13) + (2 times 1) = 52 + 2 = 54. Thus, 54 (base 10) = 42 (base 13). The 6 and 9 are still 6 and 9 in base 13. Thus, 6 times 9 = 42. Has anyone else seen this? Is the joke that the universe is intrinsically based on the traditionally "unlucky" number 13? Grapelet
eric@aplvax.UUCP (08/26/83)
Your argument on 42 reminds me of the Illumnati (sp?) trilogy. In the books, a number (I think it was 5) is found to be very special and have importance for a world-wide conspiracy. Arguments similar to yours are used to turn almost anything into 5. In the end, it is revealed that what is special about 5 is that it displays man's ingenuity at developing obscure arguments about such things. eric ...!seismo!umcp-cs!aplvax!eric