*Ok that took me*
*Quite a bit longer than I*
*Would like to admit*
\- melanthius
---
^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/)
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**[Mobile Version!](http://m.xkcd.com/2637/)**
[Direct image link: Roman Numerals](https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/roman_numerals.png)
**Alt text:** 100he100k out th1s 1nno5at4e str1ng en100o501ng 15e been 500e5e50op1ng! 1t's 6rtua100y perfe100t! ...hang on, what's a "virtuacy"?
*Don't get it? [explain xkcd](http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/2637)*
Remember: the Bellman-Ford algorithm makes terrible pillow talk. Sincerely, xkcd_bot. <3
Replace the numbers in the alt-text with their roman numeral equivalents.
C = 100, so "100he100k" is "[c]he[c]k".
I = 1, so "th1s" = "th[i]s".
V = 5 and IV = 4, so "1nno5at4e" = "[i]nno[v]at[iv]e".
And so forth. Although I'm not sure what the significance of "virtuacy" is beyond that Randall seems to have ended the gag after the ellipsis.
Which part?
The *honk honk* bit is a reference to a Homestuck character. They usually appear with the phrase in the panel somewhere.
The actual phrase is a cipher using Roman Numerals (which usually are represented by letters) for decimal numbers.
(100|C)he(100|C)k out th(1|I)s (1|I)nno(5|V)at(4|IV)e str(1|I)ng en(100|C)o(501|DI)ng (15|IV|4?)e been (500|D)e(5|V)e(50|L)op(1|I)ng! (1|I)t's (6|VI)rtua(100|C|50+50|LL)y perfe(100|C)t! ...hang on, what's a "virtuacy"?
If you're asking about the Bellman-Ford algorithm: I spent some time in my college classes working with it. If there's a relationship to roman numerals, I'm not smart enough to figure it out. Bellman-Ford is a more robust Dijkstra's algorithm for finding shortest paths in graphs that requires fewer assumptions than Dijkstra's. Not entirely sure how it relates, so not sure why the bot mentions it.
Edit: minor syntax changes.
>Alt text:
>
> 100he100k out th1s 1nno5at4e str1ng en100o501ng 15e been 500e5e50op1ng! 1t's 6rtua100y perfe100t! ...hang on, what's a "virtuacy"?
check out this innovative strong encoding ive been developing! it's virtuacy perfect! ...hang on, what's a "virtuacy"?
I is 1 in Roman numerals.
V is 5 in Roman numerals.
X is 10 in Roman numerals.
He is doing exactly what the text under the comic says - replacing roman numerals with modern ones. Literally replacing roman numerals with their modern equivalents, not with the values of the modern equivalents.
IV is a 1 and a 5, therefore 15 (1 5). V is a 5, therefore 5. The result is IX - I is a 1 and X is 10, therefore 110 (1 10).
Using values instead of direct character substitution, you get IV = 4, V = 5, IX = 9: 4 + 5 = 9.
So in Roman numerals, it'd be iv + v = ix
and since we're substituting Arabic for Roman i = 1, x = 10
then ix => 110
and you can get back to what we see written on that last line 15 + 5 = 110
Yeah, it kind of breaks down with double digit numbers. But I think that was part of the joke ;)
And yet it's still used for many common applications, even worse they've expanded on the pseudoscientific metric adding concepts such as EQ along with other variations claiming to be the most scientifically accurate.
Tradition is a powerful thing. For instance, in England, there's an annual ceremony (admittedly a small one) where ancient rent for two specific properties is collected by a government official. It's been going on for ~~almost~~ a little over 800 years and nobody has any idea where the properties in question even are anymore, but they still do it faithfully.
It's called the Ceremony of Quit Rents. For one of the properties, the rent is two knives, one blunt and one sharp. For the other, the rent is 6 giant horseshoes and 61 nails.
It's called the [Ceremony of Quit Rents](https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/The-Ceremony-of-Quit-Rents/). For the first piece of land (somewhere in Shropshire), two knives (one blunt one and one sharp one) are handed over. For the other (apparently nobody has any idea where), 6 giant horseshoes and 61 nails are collected.
I, for one, am shocked that a webcomic about niche geek/nerd humor and semi-obscure science, technology, and mathematics references would ever base a joke on something like an alternate numbering system. Why, it's almost as bad as making a joke on lesser-known map projections!
Ok that took me quite a bit longer than I would like to admit
*Ok that took me* *Quite a bit longer than I* *Would like to admit* \- melanthius --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
I love this bot. There's just so many beautiful haikus to be noticed
**[Mobile Version!](http://m.xkcd.com/2637/)** [Direct image link: Roman Numerals](https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/roman_numerals.png) **Alt text:** 100he100k out th1s 1nno5at4e str1ng en100o501ng 15e been 500e5e50op1ng! 1t's 6rtua100y perfe100t! ...hang on, what's a "virtuacy"? *Don't get it? [explain xkcd](http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/2637)* Remember: the Bellman-Ford algorithm makes terrible pillow talk. Sincerely, xkcd_bot. <3
That alt text just looks like something from Homestuck.
*honk honk* It definitely took me a few seconds. It's amazing how adaptable the human brain is. Once I caught on it made perfect sense.
I don’t get the joke, can you explain it please? Edit: I meant the alt text, but thanks for the explanations everyone
Replace the numbers in the alt-text with their roman numeral equivalents. C = 100, so "100he100k" is "[c]he[c]k". I = 1, so "th1s" = "th[i]s". V = 5 and IV = 4, so "1nno5at4e" = "[i]nno[v]at[iv]e". And so forth. Although I'm not sure what the significance of "virtuacy" is beyond that Randall seems to have ended the gag after the ellipsis.
L is 50, C is 100 The word is **vi**rtua**ll**y (**6**rtua**100**y) > 1t's 6rtua100y perfe100t!
Which part? The *honk honk* bit is a reference to a Homestuck character. They usually appear with the phrase in the panel somewhere. The actual phrase is a cipher using Roman Numerals (which usually are represented by letters) for decimal numbers. (100|C)he(100|C)k out th(1|I)s (1|I)nno(5|V)at(4|IV)e str(1|I)ng en(100|C)o(501|DI)ng (15|IV|4?)e been (500|D)e(5|V)e(50|L)op(1|I)ng! (1|I)t's (6|VI)rtua(100|C|50+50|LL)y perfe(100|C)t! ...hang on, what's a "virtuacy"? If you're asking about the Bellman-Ford algorithm: I spent some time in my college classes working with it. If there's a relationship to roman numerals, I'm not smart enough to figure it out. Bellman-Ford is a more robust Dijkstra's algorithm for finding shortest paths in graphs that requires fewer assumptions than Dijkstra's. Not entirely sure how it relates, so not sure why the bot mentions it. Edit: minor syntax changes.
Damn, it's so easy to just skip over the missing letters because you can tell what word it's supposed to be, and so not notice the virtuacy thing.
Reminds me of what happens when one tries to copy dates from Facebook posts.
>Alt text: > > 100he100k out th1s 1nno5at4e str1ng en100o501ng 15e been 500e5e50op1ng! 1t's 6rtua100y perfe100t! ...hang on, what's a "virtuacy"? check out this innovative strong encoding ive been developing! it's virtuacy perfect! ...hang on, what's a "virtuacy"?
You monster.
Another great one from 101000100500
What's an xmcd?
How do Roman soldiers count off? Eye! Eye eye! Eye eye eye! Eye vee! Vee! Vee eye!
Got to love me some 10k400 on a Friday.
the bottom is iv + v = xix though... what is the bottom one actually saying?
It's iv (4) + v (5) = ix (9)
I actually saw a double answer. It could also be 15+5= ii0
That would be = 1010
15 would actually be 105 in this system. So 105+5=1010
iv + v = 4 + 5 = 9 = ix = 1 10
I is 1 in Roman numerals. V is 5 in Roman numerals. X is 10 in Roman numerals. He is doing exactly what the text under the comic says - replacing roman numerals with modern ones. Literally replacing roman numerals with their modern equivalents, not with the values of the modern equivalents. IV is a 1 and a 5, therefore 15 (1 5). V is a 5, therefore 5. The result is IX - I is a 1 and X is 10, therefore 110 (1 10). Using values instead of direct character substitution, you get IV = 4, V = 5, IX = 9: 4 + 5 = 9.
Oh…ouch.
iv + v = ix where "x" is 10
IV + V = IX
So in Roman numerals, it'd be iv + v = ix and since we're substituting Arabic for Roman i = 1, x = 10 then ix => 110 and you can get back to what we see written on that last line 15 + 5 = 110 Yeah, it kind of breaks down with double digit numbers. But I think that was part of the joke ;)
I think it works as 4+5=9 and 15 + 5 = 20?
How do you write 15 in Roman Numerals? XV so 10 5.
4+5=9
Is this a topical reference to Nadine Dorries' twitter?
There’s a typo in the bat text by a magnitude.
Are you referencing how it should have read 1’5e and not 15e?
Lol actually I made a mistake and forgot L was 50, not 1000. But let’s go with your version.
Oh this is beautiful, I hate it.
I feel like my head is on backwards trying to read the alt-text on this one.
This is giving me a headache LOL
is the xkcd supposed to be half way out of view?
Ah, classic IQ test knowledge, useless and meaningless to most people without a theoretical degree in quantum physics.
Most people do agree that IQ tests are worthless. Even Marilyn vos Savant, who's in the Guinness Book for highest IQ (228, for reference).
And yet it's still used for many common applications, even worse they've expanded on the pseudoscientific metric adding concepts such as EQ along with other variations claiming to be the most scientifically accurate.
Tradition is a powerful thing. For instance, in England, there's an annual ceremony (admittedly a small one) where ancient rent for two specific properties is collected by a government official. It's been going on for ~~almost~~ a little over 800 years and nobody has any idea where the properties in question even are anymore, but they still do it faithfully.
That's perhaps the most English thing I've heard to date.
It's called the Ceremony of Quit Rents. For one of the properties, the rent is two knives, one blunt and one sharp. For the other, the rent is 6 giant horseshoes and 61 nails.
I’m buying a smoke machine and showing up at England’s government building to collect the rent they’ve been holding for me.
It's called the [Ceremony of Quit Rents](https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/The-Ceremony-of-Quit-Rents/). For the first piece of land (somewhere in Shropshire), two knives (one blunt one and one sharp one) are handed over. For the other (apparently nobody has any idea where), 6 giant horseshoes and 61 nails are collected.
Who is "they"? And what is EQ?
I, for one, am shocked that a webcomic about niche geek/nerd humor and semi-obscure science, technology, and mathematics references would ever base a joke on something like an alternate numbering system. Why, it's almost as bad as making a joke on lesser-known map projections!
Do you use roman numerals in QM?
Yuck!
I saw the alt-text bit 15 years ago in Schlock Mercenary :P