FUQs

xilman · 2012-11-20, 23:34

In a previous life I was a coma-intainer of a site-wide FUQ list. It occurs to me that the MersenneForum is sadly lacking a FUQ list.

Most everyone nowadays know what a FAQ is. A FUQ is closely related: a Frequently Unanswered Question. A FUQ, like a FAQ, consists of a couplet of a question followed by an answer. The response must be a correct answer to the question but should be perversely useless. Rather like some FAQs seen on the net in other words.

The first FUQ on a list is usually the following. It gives a concise example of the genre but other forms are also to be found.

Q: What is a FAQ?
A: A FAQ is a TLA.

More examples welcomed.

aketilander · 2012-11-20, 23:50

Could a FUQ be:

Q: Where do I find the next Mersenne prime?
A: Among the Mersenne numbers with prime exponent.

Stargate38 · 2012-11-21, 00:05

Here's one:

Q: Is MM127 prime?
A: The answer is both "yes" and "no" simultaneously until we successfully LL-test it (according to the "Schrodinger's Cat" theory). Hopefully they'll prove/disprove its primality by 2070 (They better or I'm not going to be very happy!).

science_man_88 · 2012-11-21, 00:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by xilman

In a previous life I was a coma-intainer a site-wide FUQ list. It occurs to me that the MersenneForum is sadly lacking a FUQ list.

Most everyone nowadays know what a FAQ is. A FUQ is closely related: a Frequently Unanswered Question. A FUQ, like a FAQ, consists of a couplet of a question followed by an answer. The response must be a correct answer to the question but should be perversely useless. Rather like some FAQs seen on the net in other words.

The first FUQ on a list is usually the following. It gives a concise example of the genre but other forms are also to be found.

Q: What is a FAQ?
A: A FAQ is a TLA.

More examples welcomed.

so basically it's one that never gets answered because all the answer gives you is another question ? this one means is a FAQ ( frequently asked question) is a TLA ( triple letter acronym). so until they know what that is they have no answer to the question ?

xilman · 2012-11-21, 07:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by aketilander

Could a FUQ be:

Q: Where do I find the next Mersenne prime?
A: Among the Mersenne numbers with prime exponent.

Good one!

LaurV · 2012-11-21, 07:51

This kind of RadioYerevan/Q&A/"jokes" like "Q: Can you take a bath when you have diarrhea? A: Yes, if you have enough (this sounds better in Romanian language, due to language puns)", are/were very popular in East-European culture during the communist era. I have thousands somewhere on a corner of harddisk, have to look for them if you are interested.

kar_bon · 2012-11-21, 08:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stargate38

Here's one:

Q: Is MM127 prime?

With a small difference and in such mathmatical forum:

Q: Is MM127 prime or not?
A: Yes.

axn · 2012-11-21, 08:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by kar_bon

With a small difference and in such mathmatical forum:

Q: Is MM127 prime or not?
A: Yes.

In this context, the answer could be taken to mean that it _is_ prime. Instead, a better one would be, A: Correct (or True).

LaurV · 2012-11-21, 08:33

I am with axn here. The correct version would be:

Q: is MM127 prime or composite?
A: yes

only_human · 2012-11-21, 09:48

Q: Can I run Prime 95 on this computer?
A: The CPU is better suited to perform that task.

xilman · 2012-11-21, 11:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaurV

I am with axn here. The correct version would be:

Q: is MM127 prime or composite?
A: yes

I agree. Another nice entry for the FUQ list.

2012-11-20, 23:34	#1
xilman Bamboozled! "𒉺𒌌𒇷𒆷𒀭" May 2003 Down not across 10786₁₀ Posts	FUQs In a previous life I was a coma-intainer of a site-wide FUQ list. It occurs to me that the MersenneForum is sadly lacking a FUQ list. Most everyone nowadays know what a FAQ is. A FUQ is closely related: a Frequently Unanswered Question. A FUQ, like a FAQ, consists of a couplet of a question followed by an answer. The response must be a correct answer to the question but should be perversely useless. Rather like some FAQs seen on the net in other words. The first FUQ on a list is usually the following. It gives a concise example of the genre but other forms are also to be found. Q: What is a FAQ? A: A FAQ is a TLA. More examples welcomed. Last fiddled with by xilman on 2012-11-21 at 11:29

2012-11-21, 00:05	#3
Stargate38 "Daniel Jackson" May 2011 14285714285714285714 2³×83 Posts	Quantum physics says both yes AND no. Here's one: Q: Is MM127 prime? A: The answer is both "yes" and "no" simultaneously until we successfully LL-test it (according to the "Schrodinger's Cat" theory). Hopefully they'll prove/disprove its primality by 2070 (They better or I'm not going to be very happy!).

2012-11-21, 09:48	#10
only_human "Gang aft agley" Sep 2002 7252₈ Posts	Q: Can I run Prime 95 on this computer? A: The CPU is better suited to perform that task. Last fiddled with by only_human on 2012-11-21 at 09:50 Reason: italics

2012-11-20, 23:50	#2
aketilander "Åke Tilander" Apr 2011 Sandviken, Sweden 2×283 Posts	Could a FUQ be: Q: Where do I find the next Mersenne prime? A: Among the Mersenne numbers with prime exponent.

2012-11-21, 07:51	#6
LaurV Romulan Interpreter Jun 2011 Thailand 2⁶×151 Posts	This kind of RadioYerevan/Q&A/"jokes" like "Q: Can you take a bath when you have diarrhea? A: Yes, if you have enough (this sounds better in Romanian language, due to language puns)", are/were very popular in East-European culture during the communist era. I have thousands somewhere on a corner of harddisk, have to look for them if you are interested.

2012-11-21, 08:33	#9
LaurV Romulan Interpreter Jun 2011 Thailand 2⁶×151 Posts	I am with axn here. The correct version would be: Q: is MM127 prime or composite? A: yes