First Blog

Inconsistency and Impossible Problems Definition of INCONSISTENCY from the American Heritage Dictionary. 1. Displaying or marked by a lack of consistency, especially:         Not regular or predictable; erratic: inconsistent behavior.         Lacking in correct logical relation; contradictory: inconsistent statements.         Not in agreement or harmony; incompatible: an intersection inconsistent with the road map. 2. Mathematics. Not solvable for the unknowns by the same set of values. Used of two or more equations or inequalities. Inconsistencies in problem solutions seem to be correlated with the social competence of students.  Remarkable but apparently true. Impossible problems also arise from inconsistency.  This implies a type of conflict at the systemic level. When we have a system with inconsistent truths within, we are naturally led to impossible problems.  This can occur from regulations that are contradictory.  These can come from government agencies or industry leaders who

Impossible Problems - Arising from Conflicting Information by Don Allen In this second part of our series on Impossible Problems , (see http://used-ideas.blogspot.com/2013/09/impossible-problems-arising-from.html ) we take up those arising from conflicts and conflicting information, and in some cases too much information.   Nonetheless, people and institutions must make decisions, regardless of the circumstances.   Doing nothing leads to conflicts and problems of another sort. How should one deal with conflicts and/or conflicting information?   Suppose the birth date of some historical figure is in question.   There are solutions offered.   What normally is done is further research followed by a decision on which date to accept.   That done, is the issue resolved?   Indeed not, it well can be that the decision made is incorrect.   In fact, when restricted to the Internet for information sources, consider the paper by Yin, Han, and Yu in which are developed consensus ideas.