Why Do We Have Four Pigeonholes?
Connor Ebanks
The Pigeonhole Concept
I chose to do my enrichment paper on the Pigeonhole concept. What caught my eye about this concept it that it seems to be very simple and complex all at the same time. There are so many different ways you can interpret this, but you can only get one answer. No matter how many variables you add into the equation, you will always be able to say the one answer with confidence. The basis of this concept is so simple, but it is pretty interesting to me. In the article it describes this concept in a very basic way by saying, “Suppose we have four pigeons but only three pigeonholes. No matter how we assign a hole to each pigeon, at least two pigeons will have to share the same hole.” This alone seem like it would be …show more content…
When in reality, you can do the numbers any way and no matter how many variables, or how big the numbers are, there is always one single answer. This answer will always be completely true, and will never be wrong. On the same hand, there can be many different variables added into this theory to make it complicated in finding the answer. What I found more interesting though, is the fact that there is always going to be a definitive answer regardless of the amount of numbers and variables in the equation. You can not set parameters into play in the equation and come up with numbers that do not give you a single definitive answer. While reflecting on the application that this might have in my life or to anyone’s life, I have come to the realization that almost everything holds this truth. No matter how many variables you add into specific situations, you will always be able to come up with a single outcome. Making this more applicable, I am writing this paper because I am in a math 108 class. In this class we are learning about interest and loans right now. When thinking about what these things are, and how they work. You will always be able to come up with one definitive answer, and it
The Pigeonhole Concept
I chose to do my enrichment paper on the Pigeonhole concept. What caught my eye about this concept it that it seems to be very simple and complex all at the same time. There are so many different ways you can interpret this, but you can only get one answer. No matter how many variables you add into the equation, you will always be able to say the one answer with confidence. The basis of this concept is so simple, but it is pretty interesting to me. In the article it describes this concept in a very basic way by saying, “Suppose we have four pigeons but only three pigeonholes. No matter how we assign a hole to each pigeon, at least two pigeons will have to share the same hole.” This alone seem like it would be …show more content…
When in reality, you can do the numbers any way and no matter how many variables, or how big the numbers are, there is always one single answer. This answer will always be completely true, and will never be wrong. On the same hand, there can be many different variables added into this theory to make it complicated in finding the answer. What I found more interesting though, is the fact that there is always going to be a definitive answer regardless of the amount of numbers and variables in the equation. You can not set parameters into play in the equation and come up with numbers that do not give you a single definitive answer. While reflecting on the application that this might have in my life or to anyone’s life, I have come to the realization that almost everything holds this truth. No matter how many variables you add into specific situations, you will always be able to come up with a single outcome. Making this more applicable, I am writing this paper because I am in a math 108 class. In this class we are learning about interest and loans right now. When thinking about what these things are, and how they work. You will always be able to come up with one definitive answer, and it