November 17, 2008

Efeion's Homework Uncertainty Principle

I have always hated the fact that answers to homework are never obviously correct especially in homework for math and physics, so the student can only assume that the answers which seem correct are indeed correct. This does not only apply to homework, but when viewed in a more generalized way is applied to almost anything. Such as in science, theories are always used, but not proven, until another better theory comes along. So, after having a somewhat witty and strange banter with Matt over homework answers in general, I have come up with My Homework Uncertainty Principle.

All answers to homework that are assumed correct are correct until proven false.



This is based on the Schrodinger Cat idea, as until the homework has been graded it is neither correct nor false in the eyes of a an indifferent and unaware party. However this changes because of the fact that a student has already assumed that the default state of the homework answers are correct, as it is taken as truth that no student should leave incorrect answers on a homework. The professor also must be assuming that the answers are correct and looking for false ones, based on the same reasoning. Because of this we get the first part of the principle, which is all involved parties have assumed the answer should be correct.

Going on from there, as we have established that the homework is originally assumed correct, then it would take another outside source of greater significance to prove the answers given are other then what has been established, which is currently by default true. If a more trusted source stating something outside what has already been established as true can be found, then it must be assumed that this new result is now the truth and if the answers that have been given do not agree then they must be the opposite of true and thus false.

This leaves us with an interesting problem, if no outside source can be shown to give an actual answer, then the default must be assumed and as such the homework must be correct. As in the case of some of the architecture homework. More interesting is the concept that if all other sources of another different answer are removed from the system then it must be assumed that the only answer that exists is the truth.

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