Probably should’ve just asked Wolfram Alpha

  • jbrains@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    25
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    edit-2
    10 days ago

    There are two meanings being conflated here.

    “1/3 more” can mean “+ 1/3” or "* (1 + 1/3)“.

    So “1/3 more than 1/3” could be 2/3 or 4/9, but not 1/2.

    Instead 1/2 is 1/2 more than 1/3, not 1/3 more. That’s the meme I’ve seen go around recently.

    • Deebster@programming.dev
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      6
      ·
      edit-2
      10 days ago

      Yes, and the Google AI response is correct (and quite clear) in what it says. edit: Thanks Batman. I mean that Google’s understanding of the question is logical (although still the maths is wrong as you say (now I’ve re-read you)) and its answer explained the angle it was answering from.

      However, I think the reasonable assumption for the intention behind the question is relative to a whole. I had third of a pizza, and now I have an extra sixth of a pizza. It’s subtle, but that’s the kind of thing AI falls down on.

      • jbrains@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        5
        ·
        edit-2
        10 days ago

        I agree with your assessment regarding the intention of the phrase. We’re back at the silly arithmetic meme that hinges on not grouping terms explicitly and watching people yell at each other in the mistaken belief that there’s one authoritative interpretation of an ambiguous string of symbols.

        Still, the actual mistake remains. Why an extra 1/6 of the pizza? 1/3 of 1/3 is 1/9, not 1/6. That’s 1/2 of 1/3.

        • Deebster@programming.dev
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          4
          ·
          10 days ago

          I thought we were finally agreeing fully! My understanding of the question is “what is the difference between a third (of a pizza, say) and a half?”

          1/2 - 1/3 = 1/6
          1/2 = 1/3 + 1/6
          a half is one sixth more than a third.

          btw, I fixed my Kagi screenshot since I’d missed a word from the question (reading comprehension’s clearly not my strong point today)

      • BatmanAoD@programming.dev
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        10 days ago

        You are saying “yes” to a comment explaining why the Google AI response cannot possibly be correct, so what do you mean “and [it’s] correct”?

        • Deebster@programming.dev
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          10 days ago

          Ah, you’re right - I misunderstood jbrain’s point to just be about the “relative to the original” understanding. Guess I’m no smarter than Google’s AI.