The heap of sand

Discussion in 'Off Topic' started by _______D_A_R_K_N_E_S_S_______, Feb 26, 2016.

  1. A (famous?) Paradox:

    Say you have a sand heap containing 1m sand grains. If you remove one sand grain it still counts as a heap because it still has 999,999 sand grains. So if you continue to remove one at a time is the last grain a heap of sand?

    I found this interesting...this is rare lol because most paradoxes i hear are quite stupid.


    What are your thoughts?


    In case I get low effort comments...:
    [​IMG]
     
  2. No. But what you would have is a heap of wasted time.
     
  3. Gonna add a bit more to first post later it is very interesting I think
     
  4.  
  5. I want someone to feel so passionate about me as the cat does playing that.

    On topic, you should try doing that with an ant hill.
     
  6. No and here is why,
    Definition of heap
    noun:
    * an untidy collection of objects placed haphazardly on top of each other.
    * a large amount or number of.
    adverb:
    * a great deal.
    verb:
    * put (objects or a loose substance) in a heap.
    * direct a great deal of praise, abuse, criticism, etc. at (someone or something).

    Edit* That's why the sentence, "there are heaps of cat on the internet" , does not work lol
     
  7. You say that it's rare, yet you say it's rare because most paradoxes are stupid, according to you. Why is it rare? That's a paradox in and of itself.
     
  8. Phenomenon of vagueness. There is no real answer.
     
  9. There is an answer, a heap is defined as objects (not object) on top of eachother which means either when no grains are on top or when it's reduced to one grain it's no longer a heap.
     
  10. Where did you get that definition? I searched multiple sources, and non just said "objects on top of each other". Most include words like disordered , or haphazard. If you had two grains of sand, one on top of the other, would you call that a heap?
     
  11. this hurts my brain
     
  12. I don't comprehend
     
  13. I'd say no as you'd have to pretty carefully place one grain of sand on the other so it'd b a placement or stack of sand not a heap
     
  14. Why can't people stick to killing their grandparents...
     
  15. Once the grains of sand no longer create the haphazard 'heap' or pile, and are spread out, your heap is gone. Could be 900,000 or 900, depends on your surface .
    If you had a Barrel OF Monkeys, and took one out, you'd now have a Barrel WITH Monkeys.