A place for majestic STEMLORD peacocking, as well as memes about the realities of working in a lab.
Rules
This is a science community. We use the Dawkins definition of meme.
I'm not being funny but it can be both.
Square root is an operator that maps a number to the positive number that when squared returns the original number, but there is also a square root symbol.
Similarly, % can be an operator that maps a number x to x/100, but there's also a percent symbol.
It just depends if you're talking about functions or fonts.
Let's not forget that it's also the symbol for modulo operation. So many opportunities for ambiguity!
I thought they meant modulo actually
At first glance I thought it was a joke about how programmers use modulo as an operator, while mathematicians use it as a relations thing. I never really understood the way the mathematicians use it tbh
The difference between you and the people this meme is about is you understand that both space or no space are fine.
For more context, I was trained to use a space between a number and its unit (e.g. 2 mol, 3 g, 1 M) for scientific writing. This includes the % sign when it follows a number (i.e. 100 %). So percent yields would be reported as 78 % instead of 78%. On the flip side, units that contain the % sign would not use a space. For example, mol% and wt% would not use a space to separate the % sign from the rest of the unit (i.e. 2 mol%).
Since I was taught this from the very beginning of university, I never really questioned where the convention came from. Now, I work for a PI who does not use the space for %. Every time I write something (presentations, manuscripts, etc.), they clarify that % is a mathematical operator so there is no space. After a search to defend my position, I found the SI brochure from the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures that clearly states the use of a space.
Recently in group meeting, while talking about something kind of related to units, they said that I believe there should be a space for %. I quickly clarified (and showed the SI brochure as evidence) that I do not "believe" there should be a space; this isn't something I have created in my mind. Finally, they said that since it is their lab any manuscripts must follow their convention. Now when I write, I write my way and change it when I self edit before sending it to my PI.
The "it's my lab, so you follow my conventions" for a thing a silly as the space before % (and after you've used a rightful source to stand your point) is a very dumb power move IMO.
I was taught the same thing at uni (chemistry) but almost all journals in my field of work (toxicology) use no space.
Square root is an operator that maps a number to the positive number that when squared returns the original number
Nah, dog. You're arbitrarily ignoring negatives. The square root of 4 is ±2.
I assume you're nerd baiting* with that, but it's infuriating how many math teachers actually teach that.
It's not that complicated. x² = n isn't the same thing as x = √2 because then square rooting isn't a function, which is asinine. (Similarly to why 0! isn't defined to be 0, because otherwise it's a stupid notation that would need a piecewise function definition for just about every single application of the factorial function.)
*link to xkcd: Duty Calls
Edit: my phone autocorrected "isn't" to "is", lol.
x² = n isn't the same thing as x = √2
I guess that's what I was thinking. I don't think I can even blame my math teachers.
don't forget to make the space non-breaking :D
Thank you for your comment! I had no idea what this meant, but I just looked it up. I will now be sure to use a non-breaking space from now on and look out for a number and its unit on different lines.
what is the difference between an operator ane a function? is there any? one could argue that the common operators are just common useful functions and thus there is no reason why % is not one of them
edit I thought you meant modulo operator not percent
Yes, it was only after the comments mentioned modulo operator that I realized the % symbol has many meanings across different disciplines. I was coming from a chemistry perspective, and I should have specified from the beginning.
5 % 2 = 1
Freaking hell even ddg search gives that answer.
Let the operator m be such that x m = (1 metre)x
And since it's a function with one argument we can interpret the exponent to mean repeated application.
xm³=x(1 meter)(1 meter)(1 meter)
xm³=x(1 meter)³
It all checks out.
I mean, it's not like the percent operator only appears when the calculator is in scientific mode. 🤷♂️