Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun mathematics A theorem which states that there does not exist an
injective function onfinite sets whosecodomain is smaller than itsdomain .
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Examples
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sionnach commented on the word pigeonhole principle
The pigeonhole principle states that if n pigeons are put into m pigeonholes, and if n > m, then at least one pigeonhole must contain more than one pigeon. Another way of stating this would be that m holes can hold at most m objects with one object to a hole; adding another object will force you to reuse one of the holes. The first statement of the principle is believed to have been made by Dirichlet in 1834 under the name Schubfachprinzip ("drawer principle").
February 11, 2010
yarb commented on the word pigeonhole principle
A.k.a. the bleedin' obvious principle.
February 11, 2010
mollusque commented on the word pigeonhole principle
Assuming none of the pigeons depart before the pigeonholing is finished. Maybe their condo association allows timesharing?
February 11, 2010
bilby commented on the word pigeonhole principle
I used to think mathematics was about numbers but obviously its about pigeon accommodation crises.
February 11, 2010
sionnach commented on the word pigeonhole principle
It is true that one of the fundamental concepts in mathematics is the idea of a one-to-one correspondence between elements of two distinct sets. Satisfactory accommodation is nothing more than establishing such a correspondence between guests and available rooms, so bilby is not far off the mark, despite his regrettably cavalier attitude about the use of apostrophes.
February 11, 2010
bilby commented on the word pigeonhole principle
*wrap's an apo'strophe around a s'tick o' dynamite and s'tuff's it in s'ionnach's ear*
February 11, 2010
PossibleUnderscore commented on the word pigeonhole principle
*grabs video camera and carrier pigeon*
February 11, 2010
ruzuzu commented on the word pigeonhole principle
I've reported the cavalier apostrophe usage over on the bilby feedback page.
February 11, 2010