0540: "Base System"

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Luthen
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Re: "Base System" discussion

Luthen wrote:
golemB wrote:
Iluvatar wrote:The binary reads, appropriately, "base 2"
for the base-10 representation as a single string ("6261 7365 2032"),
My GoogleMath-fu is weak, what did that mean?
Clarification for everyone (I eventually worked out what golemB was saying): 0110=6, 0010=2, 0110=6, 0001=1, etc. The spaces made me think it was a code it didn't know. Converting the ASCII codes in their eight digit form gives 98 97 115 101 32 50 (not sure why I did that).
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10nitro
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Re: "Base System" discussion

givemecheese wrote:
Hmmm... The diagram is severely confused by the fact that the starting position (i.e. no sex/pre eye-contact) is the same point on the diagram as sex. Perhaps we could come up with some sort of clearer coordinate system here.

Polar Coordinates? Home can be (-Pi)/2 and sex is (3Pi)/2 unless it was rotated to make sense in polar, then it would just be 0 and 2Pi.

Here is an explanatory image. I waited to post it because I was going to clean it up. But I decided not to.
Bases system in polar coordinates
bases-08.gif (122.91 KiB) Viewed 11470 times
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dennisw
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Re: "Base System" discussion

Actaeus wrote:
ThemePark wrote:
Luthen wrote:
golemB wrote:
Iluvatar wrote:The binary reads, appropriately, "base 2"
for the base-10 representation as a single string ("6261 7365 2032"),
My Google-fu is weak, what did that mean?

It's the hexadecimal representation of the ASCII characters of the string "base 2".

No it isn't, it's decimal.

Code: Select all

hex  dec  char62   98   b61   97   a73   115  s65   101  e20   32   [space]32   50   2

What's the difference between base-10 and decimal, anyway?

If you're using the imath tag in your signature, I'd like to suggest that you use the sup tag instead, since you're only using a superscript.
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Luthen
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Re: "Base System" discussion

Luthen wrote:Clarification for everyone (I eventually worked out what golemB was saying): 0110=6, 0010=2, 0110=6, 0001=1, etc. The spaces made me think it was a code it didn't know. Converting the ASCII codes in their eight digit form gives 98 97 115 101 32 50 (not sure why I did that).
dennisw & Actaeus wrote:Shouting match without listening to each other

Code: Select all

                   ASCII:  B         A         S         E         <space>   2                  Binary: 0110 0010 0110 0001 0111 0011 0110 0101 0010 0000 0011 0010    Decimal(by quartets):  6    2    6    1    7    3    6    5    2    0    3    2Hexadecimal(by quartets):  6    2    6    1    7    3    6    5    2    0    3    2 Hexadecimal(by octects):    62        61        73        65        20        32      Decimal(by octets):   98        97        115       101       32        50

Oh me yarm! Because 16=24 the decimal (or hexadecimal because each is less than 10) expression of each group of four binary digits gives either the "sixteens" or "ones" column of the hexadecimal expansion of each eight digit ASCII character. </sarcasm>

The decimal representation given should have been spaced "6 2 6 1 7 3 6 5 2 0 3 2". It's not the real decimal representation as it uses the 4bit groups rather than the whole byte ASCII designations but it is a decimal representation. And it just so happens that if you pair the decimals you get the hexadecimal representation of the full bytes.
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dennisw
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Re: "Base System" discussion

Luthen wrote:
Luthen wrote:Clarification for everyone (I eventually worked out what golemB was saying): 0110=6, 0010=2, 0110=6, 0001=1, etc. The spaces made me think it was a code it didn't know. Converting the ASCII codes in their eight digit form gives 98 97 115 101 32 50 (not sure why I did that).
dennisw & Actaeus wrote:Shouting match without listening to each other

Code: Select all

                   ASCII:  b         a         s         e         <space>   2                  Binary: 0110 0010 0110 0001 0111 0011 0110 0101 0010 0000 0011 0010    Decimal(by quartets):  6    2    6    1    7    3    6    5    2    0    3    2Hexadecimal(by quartets):  6    2    6    1    7    3    6    5    2    0    3    2 Hexadecimal(by octects):    62        61        73        65        20        32      Decimal(by octets):   98        97        115       101       32        50
fix'd (partially)

Oh me yarm! Because 16=24 the decimal (or hexadecimal because each is less than 10) expression of each group of four binary digits gives either the "sixteens" or "ones" column of the hexadecimal expansion of each eight digit ASCII character. </sarcasm>

The decimal representation given should have been spaced "6 2 6 1 7 3 6 5 2 0 3 2". It's not the real decimal representation as it uses the 4bit groups rather than the whole byte ASCII designations but it is a decimal representation. And it just so happens that if you pair the decimals you get the hexadecimal representation of the full bytes.

The decimal representation should have been given as:

Code: Select all

Binary Decimal (by onetets): 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0

</sarcasm>

Just because you're not using all the numerals of a number system and number systems have numerals in common, you don't change bases (base system, as in the title of the comic, get it?). It's not at all "it just so happens".

Code: Select all

     Binary: 0110 1101 0110 1111 0110 1110 0110 1011Hexadecimal:   6    D    6    F    6    E    6    B    Decimal:    109       111       110       107      ASCII:     m         o         n         k

The D, F, E and B are not decimal digits. Neither are all of the 6's (unless you'd like to shift back and forth, digit by digit, between hex and decimal). Neither is any digit in "6 2 6 1 7 3 6 5 2 0 3 2" (in the context from which it came). By the way, my example spells "monk" - as in someone who never takes the field, so to speak.
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sakeniwefu
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Re: "Base System" discussion

dennisw wrote:What's the difference between base-10 and decimal, anyway?

Well, obviously in base-10 you only have 10 symbols to choose from, namely 0 and 1 whereas in decimal you have 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

10nitro
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Re: "Base System" discussion

sakeniwefu wrote:
dennisw wrote:What's the difference between base-10 and decimal, anyway?

Well, obviously in base-10 you only have 10 symbols to choose from, namely 0 and 1 whereas in decimal you have 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

See, it's funny, because he is implying that the "10" in "base-10" is binary, so it equates to what most people understand to be "2".

In a base-n number system, n is always written as "10"

"2" in base-2 : "10"
"3" in base-3 : "10"
"4" in base-4 : "10"
"5" in base-5 : "10"
"6" in base-6 : "10"
"7" in base-7 : "10"
"8" in base-8 : "10"

So, when you say "base-10", depending on what base the reader uses, it can be interpreted as anything.
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Actaeus
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Re: "Base System" discussion

10nitro wrote:
sakeniwefu wrote:
dennisw wrote:What's the difference between base-10 and decimal, anyway?

Well, obviously in base-10 you only have 10 symbols to choose from, namely 0 and 1 whereas in decimal you have 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

See, it's funny, because he is implying that the "10" in "base-10" is binary, so it equates to what most people understand to be "2".

In a base-n number system, n is always written as "10"

"2" in base-2 : "10"
"3" in base-3 : "10"
"4" in base-4 : "10"
"5" in base-5 : "10"
"6" in base-6 : "10"
"7" in base-7 : "10"
"8" in base-8 : "10"

So, when you say "base-10", depending on what base the reader uses, it can be interpreted as anything.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the "default" base for most people is A.
I've decided that saying 133710 is stupid, and unfair to the other bases, however, so I suggest 1337A to avoid confusion.

grocer
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Re: "Base System" discussion

As far as starting where you end: Remember, home base has no value until the other three bases have been tagged - in order - the batter can jump up and down on home plate all s/he wants but s/he doesn't score until the other three bases have been tagged...so I don't see the contradiction there. On the other hand, I've coached softball and I'm a baseball fan...

voxrationis
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Re: "Base System" discussion

I'm a little concerned by the use of the "Maginot Line". As I recall it was never breached. The Germans simply went round it. I dread to think how that translates to this situation.

p314rat
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Re: "Base System" discussion

I think you can do this using cricket, and you don't even need to edit the map. Just read the position names and let your imagination soar into the gutter, if I may mix the vectors of my metaphors.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Crick ... tions2.svg

Actaeus
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Re: "Base System" discussion

p314rat wrote:I think you can do this using cricket, and you don't even need to edit the map. Just read the position names and let your imagination soar into the gutter, if I may mix the vectors of my metaphors.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Crick ... tions2.svg

This is hilarious.
"Third Man"
"Leg Slip"
"Mid On"
"Silly Mid-On"

Silly mid-on is my new favorite euphemism for sex.

Lenary
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Re: "Base System" discussion

Actaeus wrote:
p314rat wrote:I think you can do this using cricket, and you don't even need to edit the map. Just read the position names and let your imagination soar into the gutter, if I may mix the vectors of my metaphors.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Crick ... tions2.svg

This is hilarious.
"Third Man"
"Leg Slip"
"Mid On"
"Silly Mid-On"

Silly mid-on is my new favorite euphemism for sex.

dude, you just crossed the silly point.

also, off-topic:
Spoiler:
i have umpired a cricket match between staff and pupils at my prep-school (i was 13). for the final teacher that came in, they had wicket keeper, bowler, and about 5 slips and people in "silly" positions, all up close. the rest were on the boundary. there were 3 balls left of the game, and the staff needed about 3 to win. notice, teacher isn't very athletic. needless to say, he hit the ball perfectly into the arms of one of the guys on the boundary, who caught it, and then stepped over the line. they guy who caught it was so pissed off. tbh, no one really cared as this last teacher was actually the 12th batsman to come on (cricket should be 11-a-side)
My Tumblog

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ConMan
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Re: "Base System" discussion

Actaeus wrote:
p314rat wrote:I think you can do this using cricket, and you don't even need to edit the map. Just read the position names and let your imagination soar into the gutter, if I may mix the vectors of my metaphors.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Crick ... tions2.svg

This is hilarious.
"Third Man"
"Leg Slip"
"Mid On"
"Silly Mid-On"

Silly mid-on is my new favorite euphemism for sex.

Watch out for the sticky wicket, though.
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bigby
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Re: "Base System" discussion

honestly, I think the base 2 bit is the best part of the comic. Thank you for clarifying what the bases mean! I've always wanted to know.

BennyHill
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Re: "Base System" discussion

Gotta love the base system.
"Base 2"

ProudNerd
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Re: "Base System" discussion

Quite a handy chart, though. I never knew exactly what second and third base were (heck I wasn't even 100% sure what first base was either!)

Also, I didn't get "base 2" till coming to this thread. Definitely groaned and almost facepalmed when I realized it.

jvfreak
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Re: "Base System" discussion

voxrationis wrote:Magino

You're right, the German's never breached it, they just went around it by way of Belgium. In the diagram, the "Teens" by pass it.

RabbitWho
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Re: 0540: "Base System"

Where can I get the Spanish version of this? I wanna find out how they translated "tricky" but for some reason the Spanish one names all the comics instead of numbering them.

gamefreq
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Re: 0540: "Base System"

So an "x" on the pitcher's mound would imply a threesome with you, your date, and the set-up man/woman?

I guess, but more specifically, a threesome with 2 guys and a chick is a double header, right?
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Vir4030
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Re: 0540: "Base System"

Some of the guys at work today were discussing what third base meant in this system, so I had to print this up and share it. It went over quite well with this 50-something crowd who are not very internet-savvy.

This is one of the things I have liked about xkcd. Many of the comics have universal appeal.