How random is a random NUMBER GENERATOR? The problem with the iPod, iPad & iPhone Shuffle

Here is an example of Gambler’s Fallacy, but for non-gamblers. 

We see – in this case – hear a pattern and then attribute meaning to this pattern  – It’s a conspiracy!!!! – when there is no pattern and no meaning!!!!! So Apple found when designing their iPod shuffle feature later on the iPad and iPhone. 

“When Apple first introduced the shuffle feature on its iPods, the shuffle was truly random; each song was equally likely to be picked than any other. However, the randomness didn’t appear random, since some songs were occasionally repeated, and customers concluded that the feature contained some secret patterns and preferences. As a result, Apple was forced to revise the algorithm. ‘We made it less random to make it feel more random,’ said Steve Jobs, the CEO of Apple’  

p68 The Decisive Moment How the Brain Makes Up Its Mind Jonah Lehrer (Text Publishing 2009)

Try it. Pick 12 songs to make your playlist.

USE The Random Number Spinning Wheel HERE

Keep in mind that writing a program for a RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR is difficult as all programs are based on some pattern. Click the Spinning Wheel link above and  spin the wheel 12 times.

What happened? Did you get too many repeats like the iPod Shuffle customers who complained?

Holiday Music: The Random Playlist & Not so Random Math

USE The Random Number Spinning Wheel HERE

 

Here’s Mathspig’s Play List with links:

1. Angie McMahon, Melb, AUS      Pasta

2. San Cisco, WAust                      Skin

3. Go Get Mum, Melb, AUS           Phone, Key, Wallet

4. Shirley Kovacs, Netherlands      Sound of the Underground

5. The Teskey Brothers, Vic           Hold Me

6. The Dead South, Canada           In Hell I’ll Be in Good Company

7. The Staves, UK                           The Long Run

8.  Cat Clyde, Canada                     Mama Said

9. Mojo Juju, Melb, AUS                  Train Along the Hawkesbury

10. Marlon Williams, NZ                   Hello Miss Lonesome

11. Syzygy, Melb, AUS                      The Pendulum

12. Vampire Weekend, USA              Harmony Hall

Happy Mathsy 2021

Mathspig LOVES maths. However, 2020 was a year ruled by MATHS and Mathspig is happy to kiss it goodbye.

Here’s to a HAPPY MATHSY YEAR.

Numb and Number: The Math!

From Philosophy Matters

Trick 4: How to be a Mathematical Clairvoyant

How to be a Mathematical Clairvoyant

Requirements: Spooky music and spooky look.

You will find some spooky music here.

Tell your students you will beat them  adding up 5 x 5 digit numbers in your head when they are using calculators.

Method:

1. Ask a student to write down 2 x 5-digit numbers on the board.

2. You rapidly write a 5-digit number underneath.

3. Ask another student to write another 5-digit number.

4. You write another 5-digit number quickly.

5. You have 5 by 5 digit numbers. Say ‘Go’. You instantly write down the answer.

Stand back.

This is how it works:

N₁ = 97413

N₂ = 28619

N₃ = 71380  (Each digit in N₃ that you write down must add up to 9 with digits in No. above)

N₄ = 64231

N₅ = 35768  (Once again each digit in N₅ must add up to 9 with digits above)

Now you will instantly write down the sum of these five numbers as

297411

Da! DA!

The trick is to subtract 2 from N₁ and put it in front:

N₁ = 97413

N₁ -2 = 97411

Sum of 5 numbers = 297411

This is why it works:

Hint: When you get your students to add up the five 5-digit numbers on a calculator you will beat them, but they will also get many different answers as a number of students will key incorrect numbers.

Magic Chat

 

 

Sasha a little dog with a BIG, BIG ID Number!

This exercise works best if for homework the middle school students count the digits in their own cell phone, passport, bill code or some other number. They don’t have to show the passport or bill. They just have to count the digits.