this post was submitted on 14 Aug 2024
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Anything that makes you apply your hand to your face.
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That's exactly it: heuristics are mental shortcuts. It's about avoiding the thinking part. No, I don't think that larger digits mean larger numbers in every case. But when scanning over multiple numbers without putting thought into it, it is a shortcut which works most of the time.
It's not fully logical. It might even be considered dumb. But that doesn't mean it doesn't fit the description of the word. That's just not how words work.
You seem to be ignoring the problem solving part. If it doesn't provide a response in the ballpark of the true solution it is not heuristic, it's just wrong line of thought.
No, it's the correct line of thought in most cases, as most numbers we work with on a daily basis are not fractions. This might be skewed differently in the US, but it's a solution which works in most cases. Heuristics are not necessarily perfect solutions and additional considerations need to be applied when they fail.
Heuristics is not most cases mate, get that through that thick skull of yours. Heuristic is about solving a problem, the problem in this case being "which of these fractions represents the largest number?".
Jesus fucking Christ on a toast!
You're discarding all the sources and arguments we're discussing, insulting me with childish language and throwing a hissy fit. I thought we had a reasonable discussion going, but this is obviously over.
Good day.
Finally.