Coming Soon 👀 At the beginning of April, you’ll be
introduced to a brand-new GoComics! See more information here. Subscribers, check your
email for more details.
Actually, Danae is correct. You want to end up with a speed of Zero, both vertically and horizontally. Jeffrey just has to figure out the calculations to get that answer..
Actually, it’s fairly much how setting a budget works. You start with the amount of money you wish to spend and then work backwards, designating the purchases which can be accommodated by that amount.
I’m reasonably confident Danae has never formulated a budget.
Math? How about Republican law. I’m thinking this how the current POTUS works. Allege someone’s guilty of something then start manufacturing evidence or pressuring someone to lie.
I’m pretty sure that, if you want a smooth landing on Mars, that’s EXACTLY how science works. The solution is a velocity within certain bounds, at a chosen location on Mars, within a given window. You still need the equations that will let you get to that solution (but people have mostly done the hard work for you). Then “all” you have to do is fill in the numbers that give you the answer you want.
When I was in school (back before they invented chalk much less calculators) the math teachers all insisted that we had to show our work, not just give the answer. And more than once, after I knew the answer, I went back and figured out how I could have gotten there using the methods they were teaching.
(Yes, I was lying about the chalk. But they really hadn’t invented green-boards yet, much less dry-erase boards or image projectors except for movies).
Since we’re working backwards, there’s landing safely back on Earth, traveling safely from Mars back to Earth, launching safely from the surface of Mars, landing safely on Mars, traveling safely to Mars from Earth, and launching safely from Earth.
We have had Mars technology for decades. However, tight-fisted politicians (mostly elephants) put the kibosh on it after the Apollo program, which was also cut short. There were supposed to be Apollo 18 and 19 missions.
I do not understand why there is an effort to launch a space vehicle to Mars with humans on board. At the present time there is little to gain from such an expensive project other than bragging rights among the Earth’s inhabitants. With the advanced technologies that exist, and are emerging, would it not be less expensive to take the human element and its’ requirements for life support out of the project for the time being and let the machinery and electronics accomplish the mission?
Yes, it is. The Scientific method starts with a hypothesis (answer) and then designs and conducts experiments to confirm it. Just like Danae suggested.
Isn’t that how math works, though? An equation says the sums on both sides of the equal sign are equal. So it you start with the answer, whatever you stack on the left side, as long as it equals the answer, must be correct.
Any takers on the finale tomorrow being some disaster occurring upon the realization that this ‘magic math method’ doesn’t work if you don’t already know the answer?
Actually, if you start with the numbers of a successful landing and work back from there, it could lead to a design that works. Think Apollo 13, when they had to start all the circuits without tripping a breaker set at the maximum available. They worked back from the value of that breaker. It makes you have to find the design solution that provides the numbers of success, even if it is just, “Casualties = 0”. Of course that doesn’t mean it will be a usable solution, because of budget or politics or something. But at least you will have proven it is possible. Not quite what she is espousing, but when you are doing completely new things, you have to be open to possibilities.
On Babylon 5 they showed humans living on Mars in plastic bubbles with air piped in, connected to each other by tubes. And trains running between them. I think that’s a good guess on how it will really look.
Oh, some fields of science (or what passes for science since at least late 1859) do work that way. Foregone conclusion, just work out the details, make the data fit. From what I hear, there are several other problems with all areas of science these days, even in physics. Sad.
In a twisted way, would that not be the case? We know the distance, the trajectory to leave earth’s atmosphere the rest is trying to find the numbers that work
It is actually what we do. The answer is going to Mars. You now have to work your way back through each obstacle in a descending order. Though it would seem to be more work that way. But good luck ….
Survival of the Richest: Escape Fantasies of the Tech Billionaires is a 2022 book by Douglas Rushkoff that explains how the super-rich fully anticipate a global meltdown or catastrophe in their own lifetimes and are laying plans for how they can survive it. It’s everything from underground bunkers to private islands to space stations to wholly owned 3rd-world countries to (you guessed it) Mars. The biggest stumbling block in these elitist survivalist scenarios is where they’re going to get all the flunkies that they’re going to need to supply their services (most notably including all the necessary kowtows). The poor babies may have to actually save some peons as well!
C 24 days ago
Dunning-Kruger poster child
Hello Everyone 24 days ago
I fear Danae is going to grow up to be a Politician.
Godfreydaniel 24 days ago
I’m waiting for Cap’n Eddie to be even more insane than Danae…..
Bilan 24 days ago
Actually, Danae is correct. You want to end up with a speed of Zero, both vertically and horizontally. Jeffrey just has to figure out the calculations to get that answer..
braindead Premium Member 24 days ago
Also, you need to get $40 billion in government contracts, none of which is waste. Or fraud. Or abuse.
Alabama Al 24 days ago
Actually, it’s fairly much how setting a budget works. You start with the amount of money you wish to spend and then work backwards, designating the purchases which can be accommodated by that amount.
I’m reasonably confident Danae has never formulated a budget.
syzygy47 24 days ago
Math? How about Republican law. I’m thinking this how the current POTUS works. Allege someone’s guilty of something then start manufacturing evidence or pressuring someone to lie.
some idiot from R'lyeh Premium Member 24 days ago
That was the problem with the Mars Climate Orbiter.
fredd13 24 days ago
I’m pretty sure that, if you want a smooth landing on Mars, that’s EXACTLY how science works. The solution is a velocity within certain bounds, at a chosen location on Mars, within a given window. You still need the equations that will let you get to that solution (but people have mostly done the hard work for you). Then “all” you have to do is fill in the numbers that give you the answer you want.
How hard can it be?
Concretionist 24 days ago
When I was in school (back before they invented chalk much less calculators) the math teachers all insisted that we had to show our work, not just give the answer. And more than once, after I knew the answer, I went back and figured out how I could have gotten there using the methods they were teaching.
(Yes, I was lying about the chalk. But they really hadn’t invented green-boards yet, much less dry-erase boards or image projectors except for movies).
phritzg Premium Member 24 days ago
Since we’re working backwards, there’s landing safely back on Earth, traveling safely from Mars back to Earth, launching safely from the surface of Mars, landing safely on Mars, traveling safely to Mars from Earth, and launching safely from Earth.
OldsVistaCruiser 24 days ago
We have had Mars technology for decades. However, tight-fisted politicians (mostly elephants) put the kibosh on it after the Apollo program, which was also cut short. There were supposed to be Apollo 18 and 19 missions.
Funniguy 24 days ago
I do not understand why there is an effort to launch a space vehicle to Mars with humans on board. At the present time there is little to gain from such an expensive project other than bragging rights among the Earth’s inhabitants. With the advanced technologies that exist, and are emerging, would it not be less expensive to take the human element and its’ requirements for life support out of the project for the time being and let the machinery and electronics accomplish the mission?
Q4horse 24 days ago
Yes, it is. The Scientific method starts with a hypothesis (answer) and then designs and conducts experiments to confirm it. Just like Danae suggested.
MS72 24 days ago
Women are from Venus.
bluegirl285 24 days ago
It’s a wonder Jeffrey’s brain hasn’t imploded yet from all of Danae’s crazy, nonsensical theories.
cdnalor 24 days ago
That’s how it works if you want that grant.
ClaytonEmery1 24 days ago
Isn’t that how math works, though? An equation says the sums on both sides of the equal sign are equal. So it you start with the answer, whatever you stack on the left side, as long as it equals the answer, must be correct.
dflak 24 days ago
There is something to Danni’s reasoning. The obstacles look different when you view them from the other side.
baskate_2000 24 days ago
Don’t fight with her Jeffrey, you’ll never win, but you will get ulcers after the arguments!
[Unnamed Reader - 14b4ce] 24 days ago
Why are we trying to go to Mars? Ray Walston liked it HERE.
sandpiper 24 days ago
Sounds like a process that recently has dominated the news.
Redd Panda 24 days ago
Danae is correct. First define the task and then the path.
ManiacEx 24 days ago
Any takers on the finale tomorrow being some disaster occurring upon the realization that this ‘magic math method’ doesn’t work if you don’t already know the answer?
dalemcginnis 24 days ago
actually, i’ve seen a lot of science like that
calliarcale 24 days ago
Well, it kind of works. Somebody needs to use this as a sneaky way of introducing her to algebra. ;-)
I was FRAMED!!!!!! 24 days ago
That seems like what Musk & Trump are doing. Making up fraud to pay for the tax cuts for the Billionaires.
SusieB 24 days ago
MAGA pseudo science
poppacapsmokeblower 24 days ago
“Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy,” was correct, no one can know both the question and the answer.
SweetieBird 24 days ago
Actually, in math class, they did require you to show how you arrived at the answer.
kyle.league07 24 days ago
Actually, if you start with the numbers of a successful landing and work back from there, it could lead to a design that works. Think Apollo 13, when they had to start all the circuits without tripping a breaker set at the maximum available. They worked back from the value of that breaker. It makes you have to find the design solution that provides the numbers of success, even if it is just, “Casualties = 0”. Of course that doesn’t mean it will be a usable solution, because of budget or politics or something. But at least you will have proven it is possible. Not quite what she is espousing, but when you are doing completely new things, you have to be open to possibilities.
Spacetech 24 days ago
That how Boeing does it!
Can't Sleep 24 days ago
And today, she’s Assistant Secretary of Education.
Jack7528 24 days ago
Well Tesla said he could do it that way but he was a genius who went mad.
Joseph Hafeman 24 days ago
The SpaceX approach to space travel…
patiodragon 24 days ago
It worked for “dark matter”, whatever that is. Spoiler: nobody knows.
mindjob 24 days ago
On Babylon 5 they showed humans living on Mars in plastic bubbles with air piped in, connected to each other by tubes. And trains running between them. I think that’s a good guess on how it will really look.
Number Six (1967) 24 days ago
42
Will E. Makeit Premium Member 24 days ago
so THAT’S how carbon dating works…
gigagrouch 24 days ago
That was me in my maths class… i knew the answer, but couldn’t “show my work.”
DaBump Premium Member 24 days ago
Oh, some fields of science (or what passes for science since at least late 1859) do work that way. Foregone conclusion, just work out the details, make the data fit. From what I hear, there are several other problems with all areas of science these days, even in physics. Sad.
JosephShriver 24 days ago
In a twisted way, would that not be the case? We know the distance, the trajectory to leave earth’s atmosphere the rest is trying to find the numbers that work
lnrokr55 24 days ago
It’s Danae the boat rocker, I like it ! ;-)
ptvroman 24 days ago
No, but that’s how business accounting works.
Blackthorne42 24 days ago
Well, if that doesn’t explain Elon Musk (That Weird Kid) to a T.
Tootsie Premium Member 23 days ago
Feel like Jeffrey in the 4th panel. Read Scientific American.com/article/what-trumps-executive-orders-mean-for-science/
raybarb44 23 days ago
It is actually what we do. The answer is going to Mars. You now have to work your way back through each obstacle in a descending order. Though it would seem to be more work that way. But good luck ….
M.K.Staffeld 23 days ago
I can see numerous math teachers just sighing and shaking their heads…
pamela welch Premium Member 23 days ago
Poor Jeffrey, looks like his head is going to explode! LOLOL
keenanthelibrarian 23 days ago
Just don’t confuse inches with centimetres.
eb110americana 23 days ago
Danae’s more a shuttle-exploding-on-the-launchpad kind of engineer.
Richard S Russell Premium Member 23 days ago
Survival of the Richest: Escape Fantasies of the Tech Billionaires is a 2022 book by Douglas Rushkoff that explains how the super-rich fully anticipate a global meltdown or catastrophe in their own lifetimes and are laying plans for how they can survive it. It’s everything from underground bunkers to private islands to space stations to wholly owned 3rd-world countries to (you guessed it) Mars. The biggest stumbling block in these elitist survivalist scenarios is where they’re going to get all the flunkies that they’re going to need to supply their services (most notably including all the necessary kowtows). The poor babies may have to actually save some peons as well!
Ermine Notyours 23 days ago
On the Fastrack (Comics Kingdom) is also going to Mars this month, catching up with Safe Havens, which is ten years ahead of it.
eddi-TBH 23 days ago
As a matter of fact Danae is correct. But while her method would create many nifty explosions, Jeffery’s will actually get things to Mars and back.
tomgraves 22 days ago
Mr. Miller, you have unlocked the MAGAT (MakeAmericaGreatAgainTrump) math used by Elon Musk to destroy our democracy! Thank you!