> The reason this library was initially written was to optimise the layout of inflatable space habitats which may one day be constructed on the Moon and Mars.
>> "I have the solution, but it works only in the case of spherical cows in a vacuum".
I get the joke, but that's not really what modeling means. There's no "only" determination here.
So sure, the researchers devised a model, in which the cows were spherical and in a vacuum. That produced a solution, but there's nothing to show that solution would work less in an air environment with regular cows [1].
I bring this up only because elsewhere here is a discussion of computer fundamentals (and their lack in juniors / self taught folk, and AI output). The quote above is logically flawed (likely on purpose to create the joke) but understanding that it is a logical joke may not be obvious to everyone.
[1] to show that they would have to build a model with air and meat to show the solution fails, at which point the original model would be discarded.
This trail of thought is not logically sound. The whole argument is built on the notion of what modeling is and isn't, but the original quote doesn't make the assumptions you imply. Sure, they might have a model that assumes cows are spherical and etc, but it might also very well be that they have hard constraints that make it work only for spherical cows and nothing else. There isn't enough information in the quote to make the argument you're trying to make.
Cylindrical straw not included. Limited time offer. Warranty may be void if spaceship uses any reaction wheel or propulsion system. Other exclusions and limitations apply, see ...
Wow, they even deliver on the “in a vacuum” bit
- But what should they do? Yeah yeah yeah yeah
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xgnuxd0tiHk
I get the joke, but that's not really what modeling means. There's no "only" determination here.
So sure, the researchers devised a model, in which the cows were spherical and in a vacuum. That produced a solution, but there's nothing to show that solution would work less in an air environment with regular cows [1].
I bring this up only because elsewhere here is a discussion of computer fundamentals (and their lack in juniors / self taught folk, and AI output). The quote above is logically flawed (likely on purpose to create the joke) but understanding that it is a logical joke may not be obvious to everyone.
[1] to show that they would have to build a model with air and meat to show the solution fails, at which point the original model would be discarded.
You only have to show that it fails for square (or any non-spherical shape) cow in vacuum or for spherical cow in air.
Maybe "Space Performance [something ... something] Optimization for Weightlessness"?
Moooow!