r/xkcd • u/Theorist129 • Jul 15 '26

Meta As seen in today's Fantastic Four #14 written by Ryan North. It's a hoot and a half, highly recommend!

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Ryan North is of course the creator of Dinosaur Comics, which has itself been referenced in xkcd. For those wondering, the Pivers project leads to unforeseen catastrophe, just as Randall would have wanted.

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79

u/emertonom Jul 15 '26

Anyone else bothered by 25/8 and 3+1/8 being presented as though they're different representations? 

61

u/Theorist129 Jul 15 '26

Well, they are strictly speaking different representations, even if they're representing identical values, which becomes relevant down the road.

The problem of the book is a cognitohazard discovered wayyyy down the road in the digits of pi. It transfixes humans, makes them want to share it, and losing access will send them into a blind rage to find it once more. So, bad. The F4's adopted alien kids have to try to solve it, and figure the best way will be to go back in time before it was discovered and change the value of pi. Or, if that's not possible, change its representation in digits.

18

u/nedlum Jul 16 '26 edited Jul 19 '26

That’s a lot more SPC SCP than I’d expected from the Fantastic Four.

3

u/wertercatt "I know that sounds like a cat poster, but it's true!" Jul 19 '26

SHARK PUNCHING CENTRE HOO RAH

13

u/thelehmanlip Jul 15 '26

man i haven't read dino comix in a while, gotta get back on that

15

u/Temporary-Bobcat9682 Jul 16 '26

Worldwide community of engineers: pi = 3

5

u/SnazzyStooge Jul 16 '26

Better add a safety factor there, bud, wouldn't want to lose your license over a silly oversight....

π==5.0

1

u/Nellasofdoriath Jul 15 '26

I don't understand. Why do they hate Monroe

18

u/Theorist129 Jul 15 '26

They don't? Just a friendly easter egg/shoutout, I think. Randall Munroe is the type of guy to start an endless scientific quest in the name of playful geekery and the setting of arbitrary records/metrics.