Comments on: The Power of 17 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/ Random samplings from a universe of ideas. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:54:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: ranma http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/comment-page-1/#comment-24484 ranma Mon, 12 Feb 2007 14:07:21 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/#comment-24484 I found something more interesting, in Bible, the word "seventeen" is used seventeen times. Genesis 7:11, 8:4, 37:2, 47:28; 1 Kings 14:21, 22:52; 2 Kings 13:1, 16:1; 1 Chronicles 24:15, 25:24; 2 Chronicles 12:13; Jeremiah 32:9; Judith 1:13; Judges 8:14; 1 Chronicles 7:11; Ezra 2:39; Nehemiah 7:42. take look at http://www.vinc17.org/d17_eng.html also. I found something more interesting, in Bible, the word “seventeen” is used seventeen times.

Genesis 7:11, 8:4, 37:2, 47:28; 1 Kings 14:21, 22:52; 2 Kings 13:1, 16:1; 1 Chronicles 24:15, 25:24; 2 Chronicles 12:13; Jeremiah 32:9; Judith 1:13; Judges 8:14; 1 Chronicles 7:11; Ezra 2:39; Nehemiah 7:42.

take look at http://www.vinc17.org/d17_eng.html also.

]]> By: ranma http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/comment-page-1/#comment-24483 ranma Mon, 12 Feb 2007 14:04:50 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/#comment-24483 something more, 2² + 3² + 5² + 7² + 11² + 13² + 17² = 666 (although it is said, that "the new number of the beast" is 616, not 666 ;) something more, 2² + 3² + 5² + 7² + 11² + 13² + 17² = 666 (although it is said, that “the new number of the beast” is 616, not 666 ;)

]]> By: ranma http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/comment-page-1/#comment-24485 ranma Mon, 12 Feb 2007 14:03:27 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/#comment-24485 17 in binary is 10001 in hexadecimal it's 11 17 is the age at which one may donate blood and join the military voluntarily, the age at which one may view R-rated movies without a parent's accompaniment according to MPAA standards and it is the age at which one may purchase M-rated video games according to ESRB ratings. There is a magazine called "seventeen". In the Harry Potter universe, 17 is the coming of age for wizards. It is equivalent to the usual coming of age at 18 ;) The fictional city in the video game Half Life 2 is called City 17. 17 is the number of guns in a 17-gun salute to U.S. Army, Air Force and Marine Corps Generals, and Navy and Coast Guard Admirals. Seventeen is also the number of syllables in a haiku poem (5+7+5). Research done on wikipedia. 17 in binary is 10001
in hexadecimal it’s 11

17 is the age at which one may donate blood and join the military voluntarily, the age at which one may view R-rated movies without a parent’s accompaniment according to MPAA standards and it is the age at which one may purchase M-rated video games according to ESRB ratings.

There is a magazine called “seventeen”.

In the Harry Potter universe, 17 is the coming of age for wizards. It is equivalent to the usual coming of age at 18 ;)

The fictional city in the video game Half Life 2 is called City 17.

17 is the number of guns in a 17-gun salute to U.S. Army, Air Force and Marine Corps Generals, and Navy and Coast Guard Admirals.

Seventeen is also the number of syllables in a haiku poem (5+7+5).

Research done on wikipedia.

]]> By: Not so Random Numbers « Lifer On Earth http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/comment-page-1/#comment-24482 Not so Random Numbers « Lifer On Earth Mon, 12 Feb 2007 13:48:19 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/#comment-24482 [...] Posted in science, mathematics, statistics, random numbers, surprising at 7:06 pm by liferonearth A recent post on the blog cosmicvariance.com had elaborated on a strange phenomenon- when asked to choose a random number between 1 & 20, people tended to choose the number 17 more than other numbers. They asked readers to do a small survey of their friends to see if this behaviour repeats itself. The results are in , & the propensity for choosing 17 manifested itself, along with a revelation that 7 was the next most commonly chosen number. In this latest post the author delves deeper into the mystery. [...] [...] Posted in science, mathematics, statistics, random numbers, surprising at 7:06 pm by liferonearth A recent post on the blog cosmicvariance.com had elaborated on a strange phenomenon- when asked to choose a random number between 1 & 20, people tended to choose the number 17 more than other numbers. They asked readers to do a small survey of their friends to see if this behaviour repeats itself. The results are in , & the propensity for choosing 17 manifested itself, along with a revelation that 7 was the next most commonly chosen number. In this latest post the author delves deeper into the mystery. [...]

]]> By: Glúon /blog » É provável que tenha escolhido 17! http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/comment-page-1/#comment-24486 Glúon /blog » É provável que tenha escolhido 17! Sun, 11 Feb 2007 19:52:09 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/#comment-24486 [...] Segundo os blogs Cognitive Daily e Cosmic Variance, é comum as pessoas escolherem o número 17 quando perguntadas sobre um número entre 1 e 20. ___________________________________________________________ [...] [...] Segundo os blogs Cognitive Daily e Cosmic Variance, é comum as pessoas escolherem o número 17 quando perguntadas sobre um número entre 1 e 20. ___________________________________________________________ [...]

]]> By: antonio http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/comment-page-1/#comment-24506 antonio Sun, 11 Feb 2007 03:40:54 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/#comment-24506 The 68, red hammer, 17 and 7 tricks work the same in spanish. The 68, red hammer, 17 and 7 tricks work the same in spanish.

]]> By: JL Wallace http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/comment-page-1/#comment-24471 JL Wallace Fri, 09 Feb 2007 19:17:09 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/#comment-24471 17 is a Full Reptend Prime. 17 = 0.5882352941176470 17 is a Full Reptend Prime. 17 = 0.5882352941176470

]]> By: Mathias http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/comment-page-1/#comment-24508 Mathias Sun, 04 Feb 2007 17:20:56 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/#comment-24508 Maybe 17 is the average age people lost their virginity so its the most common number they pick since it was eventful. Maybe 17 is the average age people lost their virginity so its the most common number they pick since it was eventful.

]]> By: hf http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/comment-page-1/#comment-24507 hf Sat, 03 Feb 2007 22:47:02 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/#comment-24507 <i>They did an experiment with the numbers 1-100. There, the most common "random" number was 37.</i> Amusingly, both 17 and 37 are important numbers in some Cabala. Probably we could find a common psychological explanation. Cabala (this kind, anyway) pays attention to primes because it interprets numbers as combinations or extensions of other numbers. They did an experiment with the numbers 1-100. There, the most common “random” number was 37.

Amusingly, both 17 and 37 are important numbers in some Cabala. Probably we could find a common psychological explanation. Cabala (this kind, anyway) pays attention to primes because it interprets numbers as combinations or extensions of other numbers.

]]> By: eenauk http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/comment-page-1/#comment-24474 eenauk Sat, 03 Feb 2007 16:08:24 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/#comment-24474 think of a number of US soldiers happily sitting at home right now between 1,000 and 20,000 ... think of a number of US soldiers happily sitting at home right now between 1,000 and 20,000 …

]]> By: llewelly http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/comment-page-1/#comment-24475 llewelly Sat, 03 Feb 2007 15:08:40 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/#comment-24475 <blockquote> Think immediately of a tool and a color ! It's said 98% people think of a red hammer... </blockquote> That's funny. I thought of emacs. And dark slate gray.

Think immediately of a tool and a color !
It’s said 98% people think of a red hammer…

That’s funny. I thought of emacs. And dark slate gray.

]]> By: Michael Kremer http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/comment-page-1/#comment-24477 Michael Kremer Sat, 03 Feb 2007 14:46:29 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/#comment-24477 I tested the 5 people in my family. Answers: 7 (me, as soon as I saw the question) 4 20 15 17 (my wife) Not exactly a preponderance of 17. But my wife did say she was thinking about the question as I asked everyone else (I asked her last) and had concluded that the most common answer would be 17. I tested the 5 people in my family. Answers:
7 (me, as soon as I saw the question)
4
20
15
17 (my wife)

Not exactly a preponderance of 17. But my wife did say she was thinking about the question as I asked everyone else (I asked her last) and had concluded that the most common answer would be 17.

]]> By: Daldianus http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/comment-page-1/#comment-24476 Daldianus Sat, 03 Feb 2007 14:35:23 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/#comment-24476 I've said 15. I’ve said 15.

]]> By: Carlie http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/comment-page-1/#comment-24478 Carlie Sat, 03 Feb 2007 13:53:20 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/#comment-24478 Perhaps it has to do with our somewhat dualistic way of thinking. People go at half between 1 and 20 for 10, quickly decide that's too obvious, then go half again and a little over, and you get 17. Perhaps it has to do with our somewhat dualistic way of thinking. People go at half between 1 and 20 for 10, quickly decide that’s too obvious, then go half again and a little over, and you get 17.

]]> By: Sean http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/comment-page-1/#comment-24472 Sean Fri, 02 Feb 2007 18:01:23 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/#comment-24472 That's what we call a "systematic error." That’s what we call a “systematic error.”

]]> By: B http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/comment-page-1/#comment-24473 B Fri, 02 Feb 2007 16:24:49 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/#comment-24473 my office mate said 20. here's why: he thought I tried to schedule him for a seminar and he'd smartly pick the last possible date. besides this, a completely representative survey resulted in lots of 6-s and 12-s from Germans, all Americans picked 17 (there was only one, see above), the Italians were confused, the Austrians were suspicious and requested further information before answering. -B. my office mate said 20. here’s why: he thought I tried to schedule him for a seminar and he’d smartly pick the last possible date.

besides this, a completely representative survey resulted in lots of 6-s and 12-s from Germans, all Americans picked 17 (there was only one, see above), the Italians were confused, the Austrians were suspicious and requested further information before answering.

-B.

]]> By: Lee Smolin http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/comment-page-1/#comment-24479 Lee Smolin Fri, 02 Feb 2007 06:14:11 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/#comment-24479 Some time back some playful mathematicians in Berkeley worshipped the Yellow Pig by contemplating a theorem each day at 17:17 and celebrating Yellow Pig Day each July 17th. If you asked them why they said that "17 is the most random number." You can see signs of this if you look carefully at the illustrations in Michael Spivak's Great American Differential Geometry Book. Some time back some playful mathematicians in Berkeley worshipped the Yellow Pig by contemplating a theorem each day at 17:17 and celebrating Yellow Pig Day each July 17th. If you asked them why they said that “17 is the most random number.” You can see signs of this if you look carefully at the illustrations in Michael Spivak’s Great American Differential Geometry Book.

]]> By: Paul Schmit http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/comment-page-1/#comment-24480 Paul Schmit Thu, 01 Feb 2007 23:59:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/#comment-24480 anon, recall what Nobody (#6) said, which I believe carries some weight. I tried asking one of my fellow physics majors "pick a number between one and twenty" with that exact wording at lunch yesterday, and he blurted out 17 (and I know he doesn't peruse this blog, though he should...he was completely confused when my friend and i started cracking up at his response). When you ask your classmates to write their response down on paper, they might not be connecting the hearing/verbal-response centers of their brains nearly as effectively, even if they're thinking quickly, and that "entee" stimulus might not play such a big role. That's why John's method of asking each person as they walk in a room makes so much sense...you don't get biased answers, and everyone answers verbally. anon, recall what Nobody (#6) said, which I believe carries some weight. I tried asking one of my fellow physics majors “pick a number between one and twenty” with that exact wording at lunch yesterday, and he blurted out 17 (and I know he doesn’t peruse this blog, though he should…he was completely confused when my friend and i started cracking up at his response). When you ask your classmates to write their response down on paper, they might not be connecting the hearing/verbal-response centers of their brains nearly as effectively, even if they’re thinking quickly, and that “entee” stimulus might not play such a big role. That’s why John’s method of asking each person as they walk in a room makes so much sense…you don’t get biased answers, and everyone answers verbally.

]]> By: anon http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/comment-page-1/#comment-24481 anon Thu, 01 Feb 2007 22:37:31 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/#comment-24481 Tried with a class of 15 liberal arts people. I told them to write down their answer within five seconds of my giving them the instructions because I didn't want them affected by others' answers. I then went around the room and wrote what they said on the board. I didn't copy the data down, but very strange. Lots of 12s and 6s, and only two odd numbers (7 and 11). Not *one* 17. I wonder if they don't have a "good" sense of a random number (or perhaps they have a better one than more mathematically inclined students). Anyway, interesting. Tried with a class of 15 liberal arts people. I told them to write down their answer within five seconds of my giving them the instructions because I didn’t want them affected by others’ answers. I then went around the room and wrote what they said on the board. I didn’t copy the data down, but very strange. Lots of 12s and 6s, and only two odd numbers (7 and 11). Not *one* 17. I wonder if they don’t have a “good” sense of a random number (or perhaps they have a better one than more mathematically inclined students).

Anyway, interesting.

]]> By: saber http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/comment-page-1/#comment-24469 saber Thu, 01 Feb 2007 18:59:16 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/01/30/the-power-of-17/#comment-24469 I once read a book where a pseudoscience practicioner had become so popular that a spacecraft mission to investigate life on Europa had to include him. Irrelevant. Anyway, the stage magician asks a crowd of people to think of a number 1-100. 32 is the most popular but he claims maybe it was 35 not sure. So that's the 2nd number. By then you'd have a good mass of the crowd. I see an above comment with 37. I think primeness is a good characteristic. You have to ask what is the motivation. The provider of the "random" number wants to impress you. So a number that's not trivial like one of the boundaries, but not being obvious about that criterion. Very <em>Princess Bride</em>. Primeness is useful in numbers when I try to remember algebra rules by testing them with arithmetic so that an accidental factoring doesn't confuse me. I think I remember reading that in choosing a bathroom stall, the most common stall was the 2nd to last one. The motivation there would be to choose the least used stall. Seems like an arms race of randomness. I once read a book where a pseudoscience practicioner had become so popular that a spacecraft mission to investigate life on Europa had to include him.

Irrelevant. Anyway, the stage magician asks a crowd of people to think of a number 1-100. 32 is the most popular but he claims maybe it was 35 not sure. So that’s the 2nd number. By then you’d have a good mass of the crowd.

I see an above comment with 37. I think primeness is a good characteristic. You have to ask what is the motivation. The provider of the “random” number wants to impress you. So a number that’s not trivial like one of the boundaries, but not being obvious about that criterion. Very Princess Bride. Primeness is useful in numbers when I try to remember algebra rules by testing them with arithmetic so that an accidental factoring doesn’t confuse me.

I think I remember reading that in choosing a bathroom stall, the most common stall was the 2nd to last one. The motivation there would be to choose the least used stall.

Seems like an arms race of randomness.

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