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Cournot noted that if one averaged the respecticvee sides…

“Cournot noted that if one averaged the respecticvee sides of a collection of right triangles, the resulting figure would not be a right triangle...” quote by Stephen Stigler
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““Cournot noted that if one averaged the respecticvee sides of a collection of right triangles, the resulting figure would not be a right triangle...””

Stephen Stigler

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A humorous observation that averaging the sides of right triangles does not guarantee a right triangle shape.

In simple terms: Averaging shapes doesn’t preserve their properties.

Key Takeaway

Beware of oversimplifying complex data.

Themes

mathematics geometry statistics humor

Mood

witty educational

Type

academic quote

When to use this quote

  • educational lectures
  • academic discussions
  • teaching geometry

Key Concepts

averaging geometric properties misconception

Questions to Reflect On

  • What assumptions fail when averaging shapes?
  • When is averaging inappropriate?
A Different Perspective

Averaging can mislead conclusions.

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