Comments on: Alice in Wonderland: Rule 42 http://blog.oup.com/2007/04/alice-2/ Academic insights for the thinking world. Fri, 24 May 2013 18:48:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Bruce Johnson http://blog.oup.com/2007/04/alice-2/#comment-198851 Bruce Johnson Fri, 07 Jan 2011 15:29:55 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2007/04/alice-2/#comment-198851 The proof is even stronger -- The first sign I've found is that original HHGTG radio plays were divided into "fits", the term Carroll used for the chapters of the "Hunting of the Snark" As for Carroll -- here is his most complex (and most often missed!) play on "42" - from chapter 2 of Alice in Wonderland. "I'll try if I know all the things I used to know. Let me see: four times five is twelve, and four times six is thirteen, and four times seven is--oh dear! I shall never get to twenty at that rate!" The Anotated Alice points out how Alice's calculations WORK... but note how the key is that base 42 does NOT work: Four times 5 is 12 in base 18. Four times 6 is 13 in base 21. If you keep going that way, increasing the base by 3, the product keeps increasing by one until you get to 20. Four times 13 is not 20 in a base of 42, but 1 followed by whatever symbol you are using for 10. 4 x 5 = 12 base 18 4 x 6 = 13 base 21 4 x 7 = 14 base 24 4 x 8 = 15 base 27 4 x 9 = 16 base 30 4 x 10 = 17 base 33 4 x 11 = 18 base 36 4 x 12 = 19 base 39 4 x 13 = 1* base 42 The proof is even stronger — The first sign I’ve found is that original HHGTG radio plays were divided into “fits”, the term Carroll used for the chapters of the “Hunting of the Snark”

As for Carroll — here is his most complex (and most often missed!) play on “42″ – from chapter 2 of Alice in Wonderland.

“I’ll try if I know all the things I used to know. Let me see: four times five is twelve, and four times six is thirteen, and four times seven is–oh dear! I shall never get to twenty at that rate!”

The Anotated Alice points out how Alice’s calculations WORK… but note how the key is that base 42 does NOT work:

Four times 5 is 12 in base 18. Four times 6 is 13 in base 21. If you keep going that way, increasing the base by 3, the product keeps increasing by one until you get to 20. Four times 13 is not 20 in a base of 42, but 1 followed by whatever symbol you are using for 10.

4 x 5 = 12 base 18
4 x 6 = 13 base 21
4 x 7 = 14 base 24
4 x 8 = 15 base 27
4 x 9 = 16 base 30
4 x 10 = 17 base 33
4 x 11 = 18 base 36
4 x 12 = 19 base 39
4 x 13 = 1* base 42

]]> By: Tony Geraghty http://blog.oup.com/2007/04/alice-2/#comment-146762 Tony Geraghty Sat, 05 Jul 2008 22:49:42 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2007/04/alice-2/#comment-146762 If I remember correctly, it was the producer of the original radio series of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy who suggested 42 as the answer to life, the universe and everything. And yes, it was a link with Lewis Carroll. There is also another piece by Carroll which was written when he was 42. The Hunting of the Snark has, as one character, the Baker who had 42 boxes (which were left behind on the beach). One of the illustrations shows a number of boxes piled on a beach, one of which is clearly labelled as No. 42. If I remember correctly, it was the producer of the original radio series of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy who suggested 42 as the answer to life, the universe and everything. And yes, it was a link with Lewis Carroll.

There is also another piece by Carroll which was written when he was 42. The Hunting of the Snark has, as one character, the Baker who had 42 boxes (which were left behind on the beach). One of the illustrations shows a number of boxes piled on a beach, one of which is clearly labelled as No. 42.

]]> By: Peter Morgan http://blog.oup.com/2007/04/alice-2/#comment-84562 Peter Morgan Sun, 25 Nov 2007 03:15:31 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2007/04/alice-2/#comment-84562 I had always believed that Adams answer was based on the significance in numerology of the numbers 6 and 7; often identified with the Devil, no.6 and God, no,7. The figure 42 could then be considered as the product of good versus evil. Carroll's 'oldest rule in the book' however would seem to be closer to Adam's sense of humour. I had always believed that Adams answer was based on the significance in numerology of the numbers 6 and 7; often identified with the Devil, no.6 and God, no,7. The figure 42 could then be considered as the product of good versus evil. Carroll’s ‘oldest rule in the book’ however would seem to be closer to Adam’s sense of humour.

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