Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Applications of set theory

While the use of mathematics in economics has been criticized by many it is hard to see how the discipline could advance without the use of at least some calculus, algebra and statistics. Set theory, on the other hand, would bore the pants off you. So it is nice to see a Venn Diagram being used for something interesting: a corn dog.
















I am indebted to another colleague (who shall remain nameless but it is not me) for this further contribution to applied mathematics:


Note that one cannot draw causal inferences from the negative correlation between being truly happy and wearing pants. Clearly one needs some good instrumental variables.

2 comments:

Enda Hargaden said...

How much does the Lisa Hannigan tag have to do with the latter diagram?

Kevin Denny said...

She has a song called Venn Diagram which I particularly like.